It was a busy five days for Rolling Hills Supply Wayne Post 43 Junior American Legion baseball with five games in O'Neill for the Class B Area 5 Tournament.
Wayne Juniors finish second during Class B Area 5 tourney
A fifth straight day of Junior American Legion baseball was in store for Rolling Hills Supply Wayne Post 43.
One final trip to O'Neill marked the Class B Area 5 finals between #3 Wayne and #1 West Point on July 15.
It also marked the second time in three days the two teams met (West Point winning 6-2 on July 13).
The afternoon contest favored the top seed as West Point used a five-run top of the fourth inning.
Post 43 led 3-2 going into the fourth but suffered a 7-5 loss to end their season at 17-6.
The Wayne Juniors began by scoring twice in the home half of the first inning.
Following a scoreless second, both teams scored a run in the third.
West Point then took control with a 5-1 advantage in the fourth inning and scored once more in the top of the sixth to lead 7-4.
Post 43 plated one final run in the home half of the sixth while neither team scored in the seventh.
Final favored West Point winning 7-5 and outhitting Post 43, 10-6.
Wayne committed two errors compared to one by West Point.
Aiden Peterson doubled and scored twice while Brodey Munter singled, drove in two runs and scored.
Jaxson Kneifl singled, drove in a run and scored; Chase Nelson singled and scored; Parker Patefield and Blake Smith both singled as Chase Sturm accounted for two RBI.
Spencer Moormeier (91 pitches) suffered the loss in four and a third innings allowing seven runs (two earned) off seven hits while striking out two batters, walking three and hitting two. Sturm (27) worked an inning allowing one hit while striking out one batter and walking three.
Munter (30) closed out the final inning and two-thirds allowing two hits while striking out two batters and hitting one.
Earlier in the B5 Area tourney, Post 43 began with a 3-2 win over the host #4 O'Neill on July 11, followed by an 8-7 victory against #2 Central City on July 12, lost 6-2 to #1 West Point on July 13 and won an elimination game of 15-7 over #5 Lakeview on July 14.
Members of the Juniors were scheduled to join the Rolling Hills Supply Wayne Post 43 Seniors (18-2) for a doubleheader on July 16 in Grand Island against 5 Points Chiefs 18u and Grand Island Home Federal Bank 18u. Both games were canceled with no make up date.
Wayne Juniors survive elimination, advance to B5 Area finals
Thanks to an 11-run home half of the first inning, Rolling Hills Supply Wayne Post 43 lived to fight another day in the Class B Area 5 Juniors Tournament.
Back in O'Neill, #3 Wayne competed against #5 Lakeview on July 14 picking up the 15-7 victory.
Post 43 improved to then 17-5.
Chase Sturm singled four times and drove in three runs; Chase Nelson singled three times, drove in two runs and scored twice as Blake Smith singled three times, drove in a run and scored three times.
Parker Patefield singled, doubled, drove in two runs and scored; Jaxson Kneifl doubled, drove in two runs and scored twice; Brodey Munter also singled twice, drove in a run and scored twice while James Birkel doubled and scored.
Aiden Peterson scored twice as Easton Endicott and Reece Ames both scored.
Camden Hall (51 pitches) picked up the win in three innings allowing six earned runs off eight hits while striking out and hitting one batter each. Chase Sturm (7) worked an inning striking out one batter.
Blake Smith (12) closed out the final inning allowing an earned run off three hits while striking out one batter.
Earlier in the tournament Wayne won 3-2 against #4 O'Neill on July 11, defeated #2 Central City 8-7 on July 12 and lost 6-2 to #1 West Point on July 13. Post 43 competed in the B5 finals on July 15 and dropped a 7-5 decision against #1 West Point.
Wayne Juniors suffer first tournament loss
A third consecutive trip to O'Neill was in store for Rolling Hills Supply Wayne Post 43 Junior American Legion baseball.
From Fred Appleby Field, #3 Wayne battled against #1 West Point during the Class B Area 5 semifinal round. This also marked their first meeting of the season on July 13.
After Wayne took a one run lead, West Point scored all of their runs in a single inning to win 6-2. Post 43 fell to then 16-5.
Neither team scored the opening three innings until Wayne plated a single run in the bottom of the fourth. The next half inning, West Point capitalized thanks to a six-run top of the fifth.
Following a scoreless sixth, Wayne closed with one more run in the seventh. Final favored West Point winning 6-2 as West Point also outhit Wayne, 9-6.
Jaxson Kenfi singled, doubled and drove in a run while Blake Smith singled and drove in a run.
Chase Sturm singled and scored; Chase Nelson and Parker Patefield both singled as Brodey Munter scored.
Easton Endicott (104 pitches) suffered the loss in four and a third innings allowing five earned runs off seven hits while striking out seven batters, walking two and hitting two. Reece Ames (32) worked two and two-thirds allowing an earned run off two hits while striking out one batter.
Rolling Hills Supply Wayne Post 43 previously won 3-2 over the host #4 O'Neill on July 11 and 8-7 against #2 Central City on July 12 before picking up a 15-7 elimination victory over #5 Lakeview on July 14 and dropped a 7-5 decision against #1 West Point during the B5 finals.
Wayne Juniors survive one run victory
For the second straight evening, Rolling Hills Supply Wayne Post 43 was in a battle during the Class B Area 5 Junior American legion baseball tournament.
Back at Fred Appleby Field in O'Neill, #3 Post 43 competed against #2 Central City on July 12.
It was a back and forth battle late which showcased Wayne catching fire late to win 8-7 and improve to then 16-4 on the season.
Post 43 started with a 1-0 first inning before adding another run in the top of the third. Central City then scored single runs in the home half of the third and fourth innings to tie the game at 2-2.
Following a scoreless fifth, Wayne began the sixth with three runs as Central City added five runs to go up 7-5. In the top of the seventh, Post 43 recorded three more runs to win 8-7. Both teams finished with 11 hits.
Jaxson Kneifl singled, doubled twice and drove in five runs; Brodey Munter singled twice and scored twice as Chase Nelson singled twice.
Blake Smith singled, drove in a run and scored twice; Reece Ames singled, drove in a run and scored; Parker Patefield and James Birkel both singled and scored as Chase Sturm accounted for a RBI
Easton Endicott (15 pitches) picked up the win in an inning and a third of relief striking out three batters. Kneifl (107) started the opening five and two-thirds allowing seven runs (six earned) off 11 hits while striking out six batters, walking three and hitting one.
Rolling Hills Supply Wayne Post 43 previously won 3-2 over the host #4 O'Neill on July 11 before dropping a 6-2 decision with #1 West Point on July 13, winning 15-7 against #5 Lakeview on July 14 and dropped a 7-5 decision against #1 West Point on July 15 in the B5 Area finals.
Wayne Juniors capitalize on fourth inning surge
Day one of the Class B Area 5 Junior American Legion baseball tournament began on July 11 for Rolling Hills Supply Wayne Post 43.
From Fred Appleby Field in O'Neill, #3 Wayne started with the host #4 O'Neill.
After falling behind early, the Wayne Juniors took control halfway through and held onto the 3-2 win. Post 43 improved to then 15-4 and avenged a 2-0 home loss during the Wood Bat Tourney on June 8 in Wayne against the Irish.
O'Neill started with single runs in the first and second innings to go up 2-0. Following a scoreless third, Post 43 recorded a three-run fourth inning. Neither team scored the final two and a half innings. Both teams recorded four hits.
Parker Patefield singled twice while Chase Nelson singled and drove in two runs.
Jaxson Kneifl singled; Brodey Munter accounted for a RBI as single runs came from James Birkel, Aiden Peterson and Blake Smith.
Spencer Moormeier (59 pitches) picked up the win in four and a third innings of relief allowing one hit while striking out five batters and walking two. Camden Hall (3) recorded the final out to close out the game.
Reece Ames (44) started the opening two and a third innings allowing two earned runs off three hits while striking out two batters, walking one and hitting one.
Rolling Hills Supply Wayne Post 43 then won 8-7 against #2 Central City on July 12, lost 6-2 to #1 West Point on July 13, won 15-7 over #5 Lakeview on July 14 and dropped a 7-5 decision with #1 West Point in the B5 finals on July 15.
