Extra base hits key in Post 43 Area 5 final, next up National Division
Entering July 29, two northeast Nebraska Senior American Legion baseball programs knew they would be advancing to the next round but still a championship was on the line between Wayne and West Point.
From Hank Overin Field in Wayne, the fifth day of the Class B Area 5 tourney also marked the second meeting between #1 Rolling Hills Supply Wayne Post 43 and #2 West Point Post 70.
Wayne pitched the shutout and used a late push to win 6-0 to win the Area 5 title. Post 43 is now 22-2 after starting 4-0 in the postseason. They also played the first three games as the visiting team based on a coin flip.
"Two out hitting was huge for us all tournament long," said head coach Robbie Gamble. "In the Pierce game the first nine runs were two outs. Our defense has been absolutely amazing all year. We have been able to shut teams down with defense and pitching then score runs."
Wayne started with a 2-0 lead after the bottom of the first inning on July 29.
Following three straight scoreless innings, Post 43 added a single run in the fifth and closed with a three-run sixth. Wayne outhit West Point, 12-6.
Hayden Kelley singled, tripled twice and drove in a run; Gavin Redden singled, doubled, drove in a run and scored as Brodey Munter singled, doubled and scored. Ethan Synovec also doubled and drove in two runs.
Kelley led Post 43 with nine hits and nine RBI followed by Adrian Contreras with eight hits; Drew Reinhardt drove in eight runs as Kaleb Moormeier scored a team-high nine runs in four games.
Also on July 29, Contreras singled twice and drove in a run; Moormeier singled, drove in a run and scored; Alex Rodriguez singled while Jaxson Kneifl scored.
Redden (96 pitches) picked up the complete game shutout victory in seven innings allowing six hits while striking out two batters, walking one and hitting two.
"We feel really comfortable with our team whether it’s hitting with runners in scoring position, defense or pitching," Gamble added. "We wanted to make sure we win our area tournament to possibly host the playoff game."
"We will take Wednesday off and practice Thursday and Friday to go over defensive detail and get some swings in as well as most likely traveling to Minden Friday," said Gamble.
Wayne will next travel to Minden for the National Division representing Area 5 as the champion and West Point will play in Auburn during the American Division as the Area 5 runner-up.
Wayne will face York while West Point will take on Seward with a complete schedule to be posted on thewayneherald.com once available from the nelegionbaseball.net webpage. Both games would be the third game of day one with times TBA for Saturday.
New this year to Class B Seniors, both eight-team tournaments will last August 2 - 6. Each Division Champion will play in the Class B Senior Playoff game hosted by the National Division winner on August 9.
"The competition will be fierce as usual in a Class B state tournament," Gamble mentioned. "Really proud of the team for having a target on their back all year and being able to have a very successful year but the boys know there is more work to be done."
Wayne also picked up wins of 12-3 on July 26 over #5 Pierce, 9-1 against West Point on July 27 and 23-1 over #4 David City on July 28.
UPDATED: Wayne will open the National Division on August 2 in Minden against York at 1 p.m.
Reinhardt with two triples, Anderson shuts the door for Post 43 during day four of B5 Area
Following a combined 21 runs in two weekend games, Rolling Hills Supply Wayne Post 43 took over their July 28 outing as the offense came to play.
Back at Hank Overin Field in Wayne, #1 Post 43 took on #4 David City Post 125 during the Class B Area 5 Senior American Legion baseball tournament.
It didn't take long for Wayne, who scored seven runs in the first and eight runs in the fourth and final inning, to win 23-1.
Post 43 improved to then 21-2 on the season.
Rolling Hills Supply also scored back-to-back four-run innings in the second and third while only giving up one run in the bottom of the third.
Drew Reinhardt recorded two triples, five RBI and three runs scored; Hayden Kelley singled twice, drove in three runs and scored twice as Jaxson Kneifl singled twice and scored three runs. Sam Etter-Gomez and Chase Sturm both doubled, drove in two runs and scored.
Kaleb Moormeier singled and scored four times; Alex Rodriguez singled, drove in a run and scored; Chase Nelson singled and scored; Gavin Redden accounted for a RBI and three runs scored; Ethan Synovec added a RBI and two runs scored as Adrian Contreras and Brodey Munter both tallied a RBI and run scored.
Gavin Anderson (46 pitches) picked up the complete game victory in four innings allowing one run off two hits while striking out one batter and hitting one.
Earlier in the Class B Area 5 Senior American Legion baseball tournament, #1 Wayne defeated #5 Pierce 12-3 on July 26 and won 9-1 over #2 West Point on July 27.
Post 43 closed the Area Tourney on July 29 with a 6-0 victory against West Point.
Both Wayne and West Point will advance to their respective State Tournament Divisional round starting on Saturday, August 2.
(Area 5 champion) will travel to Minden for the National Division and face the Area 4 runner-up.
(Area 5 runner-up) will travel to Auburn for the American Division and face the Area 4 champion.
The two champions from the National and American Division will play in the first-ever Class B Senior Playoff game on Saturday, August 9 hosted by the National Division winner.
Wayne Post 43 Seniors outscore weekend opponents, 21-4 during B5 Area
It was a busy stretch of Class B Area 5 Senior American Legion baseball tourney games being held in Wayne from July 25 - 27 where nine outings were held and two featured the home team.
From Hank Overin Field, #1 Rolling Hills Supply Wayne Post 43 earned a first round bye on July 25 followed by wins of 12-3 over #5 Pierce Post 72 on July 26 and 9-1 against #2 West Point Post 70 on July 27.
Post 43 is now 20-2 on the season.
During their first round game on July 26, Wayne held a 6-2 lead through two innings before opening up with a six-run top of the sixth inning to win 12-3.
Gavin Redden singled, doubled, drove in a run and scored; Hayden Kelley singled, doubled and drove in two runs as Drew Reinhardt doubled, drove in two runs and scored twice.
Ethan Synovec singled twice, drove in a run and scored twice while Kaleb Moormeier singled and scored three runs.
Adrian Contreras (53 pitches) picked up the win in two innings allowing two runs (one earned) off one hit while striking out three batters, walking three and hitting one.
Brodrick Tiedtke (60) worked three innings allowing an earned run off three hits while striking out six batters, walking one and hitting one. Alex Rodriguez (24) closed out the final inning striking out three batters and walking two.
In the July 27 victory, Wayne started strong again leading 6-1 through two innings and won 9-1.
Contreras, Synovec and Kelley all singled twice and drove in two runs.
Gavin Redden also singled and scored twice as Jaxson Kneifl scored twice.
Synovec (107 pitches) picked up the win in three and two-thirds allowing an earned run off one hit while striking out five batters and walking seven.
Gavin Anderson (three) worked a third of an inning as Gavin Redden (12) closed out the final inning striking out two batters.
Rolling Hills Supply Wayne Post 43 was right back in action on July 28 against #4 David City Post 125 winning 23-1. Post 43 then closed out the Class B Area 5 Tournament on July 29 and punched their ticket to the first-ever Class B Divisional state round where the eight champions and eight runner-up teams from the Area round will be placed into the American and National Divisions.
Other wins for Wayne included a 23-1 victory on July 28 against #4 David City and 6-0 win over West Point on July 29 in the finals. See 1B for championship recap.
