WISNER – North Division met the South Division on Saturday during the Ralph Bishop League American Legion baseball Senior and Junior Tournaments.
From Wisner, Rolling Hills Supply Post 43 Seniors found themselves in the evening finals while the Post 43 Juniors opened the day during the consolation round.
North Division #1 Wayne Seniors (20-1) won 8-0 over South Division #2 Pender to earn the RBL title while North Division #1 Wayne Juniors (15-3) picked up a 9-7 victory over South Division #4 Arlington finishing third.
In the Senior championship game, Rolling Hills Supply led 1-0 after the first inning.
Following a scoreless second, Post 43 added two runs in the third to lead 3-0. Rolling Hills Supply scored one run in the fifth and four more runs in the sixth to win 8-0 and outhit Pender, 10-5.
Gavin Redden singled, doubled, drove in two runs and scored; Kaleb Moormeier doubled, drove in two runs and scored three times while Wyatt Heikes singled, doubled, drove in a run and scored twice.
Aiden Liston singled and drove in two runs; Calvin Ankeny singled and drove in a run; Alex Rodriguez and Jase Dean both singled and scored as Adrian Contreras singled.
Contreras (102 pitches) picked up the complete game shutout win in six innings allowing five hits while striking out five batters and walking four.
During the Junior third place outing, Rolling Hills Supply Post 43 led 4-0 after the first inning and then 5-0 following the second.
Both teams scored two runs in the third as Rolling Hills Supply led 7-2.
Arlington answered with a five-run fifth to tie the game at 7-7 before Wayne scored twice in the top of the sixth to win 9-7 and win the hit department, 7-2.
Jaxson Kneifl singled twice, doubled, drove in a run and scored three times; Brody Munter doubled and scored twice while Drew Reinhardt singled twice, drove in a run and scored.
Brayden Rajaee-Hallgren singled and drove in a run; Alex Rodriguez accounted for a RBI and run scored as Gavin Anderson and Parker Patefield both scored.
Rodriguez (22 pitches) was credited with the win in an inning of relief striking out one batter and walking two.
Parker Patefield (81 pitches) started the opening four innings allowing two earned runs off one hit while striking out three batters, walking four and hitting two.
Chase Sturm (24) worked a third of an inning allowing four earned runs while walking four batters.
Chase Nelson (19) pitched a third of an inning allowing an earned run off one hit while walking two batters and hitting one. Drew Reinhardt (one pitch) came in for the final out.
Seniors third place result favored #3 Arlington (South) winning 17-1 over #2 Battle Creek (North).
Juniors champion went to #2 Pender (South) who won 7-3 over #2 Hartington (North).
The Rolling Hills Supply Post 43 Wayne Juniors will open the Area 3 Tournament in Blair as the #1 seed with a first round bye on Saturday, July 13.
Wayne will play at either 2 or 5 p.m. on Saturday. Joining Wayne and Blair will be Fort Calhoun, Omaha Roncalli, Schuyler, West Point and Valparaiso. An official bracket will be posted once approved by the legion office.
The Class B Junior Area Legion Tournament will last from Friday, July 12 – Wednesday, July 17.
The Rolling Hills Supply Post 43 Wayne Seniors will next play on Thursday, July 11 vs. Seward 7 p.m.
