For the fourth time this season and second straight week with four games in five days, the Wayne High baseball team played earlier in the day ahead of Easter weekend.
From Kernel Field in Central City, the Blue Devils visited Central City/Centura on Friday marking a fourth game in five days during the busy month of April.
Despite leading 3-0 after the first inning, Wayne High suffered a 4-3 loss which snapped a five-game winning streak. The Blue Devils fell to 12-6 while Central City/Centura remained undefeated at 12-0.
The host Kernels all season had an average margin of victory in their previous 11 games being 8.3 with a four-run difference being the closest before a one-run game with Wayne.
Wayne High built a three-run lead right from the beginning in the top of the first inning. Senior Calvin Ankeny reached safely on an error allowing sophomore Chase Nelson to score; junior Drew Reinhardt reached safely on a fielder’s choice driving in sophomore Jaxson Kneifl while sophomore Chase Sturm reached safely on an error scoring senior Gavin Redden.
Central City/Centura then began to pick up some steam with a single run in the home half of the second inning and two runs in the third to tie the game at 3-3.
The host Kernels brought in the go-ahead run in the home half of the fourth before neither team would score the remainder of the seven-inning game.
Final favored Central City/Centura winning 4-3 while outhitting Wayne High, 6-3. Wayne committed three errors compared to two errors by the Kernels.
Sophomore Adrian Contreras, senior Alex Rodriguez and junior Parker Patefield all singled.
Calvin Ankeny and Drew Reinhardt both accounted for a RBI as Jaxson Kneifl, Gavin Redden and Chase Nelson all scored.
Contreras (91) suffered the loss in four innings allowing four runs (two earned) off five hits while striking out three batters and walking two. Junior Gavin Anderson (32) worked the final two innings allowing one hit while striking out and walking one batter each.
The Blue Devils will also visit Aurora on Friday, April 25 and play twice on Saturday, April 26 during the Seward Tournament.
