By Aaron Scheffler
For The Herald
WEST POINT – With state tournament competition beginning in a few days, the Rolling Hills Supply Post 43 Wayne Seniors needed just one win in order to continue their season.
Back at Neligh Park – Anderson Field for a fifth consecutive day, #1 Wayne competed in the Class B Area 5 Senior American Legion baseball final on Tuesday.
The first game of the night favored #4 Bank of the Valley Post 283 (Columbus Lakeview) winning 9-8 over #2 West Point Post 70 (18-6).
#1 Rolling Hills Supply then avenged their tournament loss by holding onto a 2-1 victory over Lakeview. Wayne improved to 25-3 while Lakeview ended their season at 13-10.
Earlier in the tournament Wayne suffered a 4-3 loss on Saturday against Lakeview.
Following a scoreless first inning, Columbus Lakeview scored one run in the home half of the second inning. Wayne answered with two runs in the top of the third. Neither team would score during the final four innings. Rolling Hills Supply Post 43 Wayne secured the 2-1 win despite being outhit, 5-2.
Calvin Ankeny singled and drove in a run while Kaleb Moormeier singled and scored.
Aiden Liston accounted for a RBI as Gavin Redden scored.
Redden (106 pitches) picked up the win in six innings allowing an unearned run off four hits while striking out 10 batters, walking two and hitting two. Gavin Anderson (21) earned the save in the final inning allowing one hit while striking out one batter.
This marks the second straight year Post 43 has qualified for the Class B Senior American Legion baseball state tournament. Last year, Wayne went 2-2 at state in Pierce.
The 2024 Class B Senior American Legion baseball state tournament will be hosted by Holdrege from Saturday, August 3 – Wednesday, August 7
Rolling Hills Supply Post 43 Wayne will match up against the Area 2 Champion of Hickman (beat Beatrice twice on Tuesday: 5-3 and 9-4) who played Tuesday night in Waverly.
Unofficial state bracket:
Area 1 – Elkhorn ETC Knights Black Post 211 vs. Area 6 – Central City Post 6;
Area 2 – Hickman Gana Trucking Post 105 vs. Area 5 – Rolling Hills Supply Post 43 Wayne;
Area 4 – Wahoo State Bank Post 82 Reds vs. Area 7 – Auburn First National Post 23;
Host – Holdrege (Area 6 runner-up) vs. Area 3 – Blair Post 154.
