A trio of northeast Nebraska teams are set to compete in the Class C Senior American Legion baseball state tournament.
From Eaton field in Wakefield, Crofton and Pender will join the host Wakefield. Legion baseball will last from Aug. 3 - 7.
The night cap Saturday night featured the host and Area 2 Runner-Up Wakefield Post 81 vs. Area 3 Champion Tecumseh Post 2 at 7 p.m.
Wakefield is 14-15 on the season following a 9-4 loss to Pender in the Area 2 finals played last week in Pender.
Opening Saturday were Area 1 Champion Crofton Post 128 vs. Area 6 Champion Albion Cornerstone Bank Post 162 followed by Area 2 Champion Pender Post 55 vs. Area 5 Champion Palmer-Wolbach-Greeley Post 120/236/186.
The Crofton/Albion loser would face the Pender/PWG loser at 10 a.m. in the elimination round on Sunday while the two winners would play at 4 p.m. on Sunday.
Game three on Saturday showcased the defending Class C Seniors champion and this year’s Area 4 Champion Malcolm Post 354 vs. Area 7 Champion Imperial Horns Post 304.
The Malcolm/Imperial loser would face the Wakefield/Tecumseh loser on Sunday with the two winners playing Sunday night.
The 2023 Class C Senior American Legion baseball final favored Malcolm over DCB last year. Malcolm Seniors have won back-to-back Class C titles while their Juniors program just won state two weeks ago for their third straight.
Pender will be in their sixth straight state tourney over the past seven summers (2020 canceled) after going 0-2 last year, 1-2 in 2022, 1-2 in 2021, a runner-up finish in 2019 and champion in 2018.
