WAYNE – Monday night marked the fourth meeting between a pair of northeast Nebraska Senior American Legion baseball programs for the summer.
From Hank Overin Field in Wayne, the Class B Area 5 Tournament showcased an elimination game on day four of the tourney which was also a rematch from last Friday between #2 Wayne and #3 Pierce.
Wayne 43 held on for the 4-3 victory to improve to 15-5.
Pierce took the early lead with two runs in the bottom of the first but left the bases loaded. Following a scoreless second, Wayne cut into the deficit with a run in the third and posted a three-run fourth inning. Pierce was able to score one more run in the seventh as Wayne held on for the 4-3 victory.
Wayne vs. Pierce:
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 R H E
0 0 1 3 0 0 0 4 3 0 – Wayne
2 0 0 0 0 0 1 3 4 2 – Pierce
Max Miller drove in three runs off a double while Devin Anderson accounted for a single and run scored. James Dorcey also singled as other runs scored came from Jacob Kneifl, Blake Bartos and Justin Sherman.
Aiden Liston (106 pitches) secured the win in six innings in relief after entering with the bases loaded allowing three hits while striking out five batters and walking four. Blake Bartos (21 pitches) started the game allowing two earned runs while walking three batters. Wyatt Heikes (22 pitches) earned the save in the final inning allowing an earned run off one hit while striking out and walking one batter each.
Wayne Post 43 will now need to win twice on Tuesday during the Class B Area 5 Championship game against #1 Columbus Lakeview. This will mark Wayne’s four game while Lakeview has only played two games winning over #4 O’Neill 27-2 on Saturday and defeating #2 Wayne, 9-3 on Sunday.
Pregame coverage is set for 3:40 p.m. on The City ‘KCTY’ 98.9/1590 and waynedailynews.com. If Wayne wins, the winner-take-all championship game would be played shortly after.
Class B Area 3 Tourney from West Point Monday scores:
#6 Fort Calhoun handed #4 Arlington their first loss, 8-7 as #3 Waterloo-Valley eliminated #5 Albion, 8-7. Fort Calhoun will face Waterloo-Valley at 5 p.m. with the winner to face Arlington shortly after in the finals.
From Scribner during the Class C Area 2 Senior Legion elimination game, #2 Wakefield fell behind early but avenged a loss to #5 Tekamah-Herman by winning 10-6. Post 81 scored three runs in the third and seven more in the fourth.
Wakefield will now need to defeat #1 Pender twice as game one is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. tonight.
Class C Area 1 Tourney from Crofton Monday score:
Monday schedule: #2 Battle Creek eliminated #1 Creighton, 17-3 and will next face undefeated and host #5 Crofton at 5 p.m. on Tuesday.
