For the 18th time in program history, Eaton Field in Wakefield is hosting a Nebraska American Legion baseball state tournament.
Closing out Saturday evening, the host and Area 2 runner-up Wakefield Post 81 Seniors took on the Area 3 champion Tecumseh Post 2.
Post 81 secured a first round state tournament victory over Tecumseh, 4-0. Wakefield improved to 21-17 while Tecumseh fell to 20-4.
Neither team scored the opening three innings until Wakefield posted a single run in the home half of the fourth. Post 81 added three more runs in the fifth. Final favored Wakefield Post 81 winning 4-0 and winning the hit department, 4-3.
Jesse Lundahl singled and doubled while Adrian Flores singled and scored for Wakefield.
Ryan Anderson singled; Johnny Birkley added a RBI as Cade Johnson, Cael Johnson and Mason Lamprecht all scored.
Lundahl (79 pitches) picked up the win in six and two-thirds allowing three hits while striking out eight batters. Timothy Kaufman (four) recorded the final out via strikeout.
The game prior favored the two-time defending Class C Legion state champion and this year’s Area 4 champion Malcolm Post 354 (23-5) winning 6-0 over Area 7 champion Imperial Horns Post 304 (18-10).
Earlier in the day, Area 6 champion Albion Cornerstone Bank Post 162 (23-6) won 3-1 over Area 1 champion Crofton Post 128 (14-13) while Area 5 champion Palmer-Wolbach-Greeley Post 120/236/186 (20-7) won 10-3 against Area 2 champion Pender Post 55 (22-7).
