COLUMBUS – Wednesday evening marked the fourth meeting between Wayne and Columbus Lakeview in Junior American Legion baseball action, third time since the start of the Area Tournament.
From Pawnee Park in Columbus, Wayne has defeated Lakeview three times this season prior to Wednesday (1-0 on June 13 in Wayne; 7-3 last Monday in B5 Area action in Wahoo and 16-3 on Sunday/Monday in State play).
It didn’t take Wayne long to secure a three-run lead in the first inning. After three scoreless innings for Post 43, they tacked on another run in the fifth to lead 4-0. Wayne held on the for the 4-0 win to improve to 23-4 on the season ending Lakeview’s season at 14-10-1. Post 43 has secured their fifth trip to the Championship game in Class B Junior Legion play.
Wayne has runner-up results in 2006 (Crete) and in 1978 (Beatrice), both times losing to Beatrice. The last Class B Junior State Title came in 1966 over Auburn in Aurora and their first in 1963 over Syracuse in Aurora.
Wayne vs. Lakeview:
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 R H E
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 3 0 – Lakeview Post 283
3 0 0 0 1 0 X 4 9 2 – Wayne Post 43
Hagan Miller paced Wayne offensively with three singles and two runs scored. Reid Korth added a single, double and RBI; Gunnar Jorgensen doubled and drove in two runs, Victor Kniesche singled and doubled, Blake Bartos singled as Josh Lutt and Jacob Kneifl each scored a run.
Brooks Kneifl picked up the complete game, shut-out win in seven innings allowing three hits while striking out five batters, walking two and hitting two.
For Lakeview, Blake Thompson singled twice as Adam VanCleave singled.
Caleb VanDyke suffered the loss in six innings allowing four runs off of nine hits while walking five batters and striking out one.
Earlier Wednesday, Hickman eliminated Ashland, 9-0.
The Wayne Post 43 Juniors will take on Hickman-Norris Post 105 for the second time in sate action. Wayne, who is 4-0 in tournament play will face 3-1 Hickman at 5 p.m. on Thursday needing to win just one game while Hickman would need two wins.
Wayne defeated Hickman on Monday, 4-3.
Join Sports Director, Aaron Scheffler on Big Red Country 104.9 and online at waynedailynews.com with pregame coverage set for 4:45 p.m.
