For the first time in the past six tournaments in which the Wayne High baseball team appeared in, 2025 marked a 1-0 start to state action.
From Fricke Field in Papillion, #6 Wayne opened the Class C NSAA State Baseball Championships against #3 Adams Central on May 17.
Thanks to an early surge and late run production, the Blue Devils picked up a 6-1 victory over Adams Central to win their fifth straight and improved to 19-9. The Patriots saw their seven-game winning streak snapped, falling to 21-7.
Wayne High is competing in their 14th state tournament and last won a first round game in 1976 (also qualified in 1979, 1983, 2023, 2024).
WHS produced four runs in the top of the first inning before Adams Central drove in their lone run of the ball game in the home half of the second.
Following four straight scoreless innings, the Blue Devils added two insurance runs in the top of the seventh.
Wayne High held onto the 6-1 win while outhitting Adams Central, 9-3. Both teams committed two errors.
Senior Gavin Redden singled twice, drove in a run and scored twice; senior Alex Rodriguez singled twice and scored twice as junior Parker Patefield singled twice and drove in a run.
Senior Calvin Ankeny and junior Brodey Munter both singled and drove in a run; junior Drew Reinhardt singled and scored; sophomore Chase Sturm accounted for a RBI and four total walks as sophomore Jaxson Kneifl scored once.
Redden (90 pitches/60 strikes) picked up the win in six and two-thirds allowing one run off three hits while striking out seven batters and walking one (he was pulled ahead of his 91st pitch which would meant been four days of rest). Junior Gavin Anderson (four pitches) recorded the final out being a flyout.
