WAYNE – Throughout Saturday morning and afternoon 16 Class B softball teams played a best two-of-three series to decide the eight best teams who advance to the state tournament.
From the Wayne Softball Complex, #4 Wayne High hosted #13 Adams Central during the B-4 District Final. Earlier this year, the Blue Devils topped Adams Central 13-0 on September 28 during the Adams Central Invite.
WHS held on for a low scoring game one win, 2-0 before the Blue Devils scored early and late to win 7-2. Wayne High improves to 30-3 and have now won 25 straight while the Patriots fell to 19-14.
The Blue Devils will make their 17th state tournament in program history 13th straight. Wayne has won three Class C titles (2003, 2004, 2018) and three runner-up finishes (2007, 2009, 2013) but no hardware from Class B.
In the first game, Tori Kniesche recorded a solo home run while Hope O’Reilly tripled as Brooklyn Kruse doubled and scored.
Tori Kniesche picked up the complete game win in seven innings allowing four hits while striking out 13 batters and walking one.
Game One:
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 R H E
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 4 1 – AC
1 1 0 0 0 0 X 2 3 0 – Wayne
During the second game, Dorey took control with two doubles, a homerun, two RBI and two runs scored for Wayne. O’Reilly singled, doubled and drove in two runs as Kayla Fleming and Taytum Sweetland both doubled and scored. Virginia Kniesche singled and drove in two runs; Amara Hurlbert singled and scored as Hailey Schroeder scored twice.
Tori Kniesche picked up the complete game win in seven innings allowing two runs (one earned) off two hits while striking out 13 batters and walking one.
Game Two:
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 R H E
3 1 0 0 0 1 2 7 9 1 – Wayne
0 0 0 0 1 0 1 2 2 0 – Adams Central
The 2019 NSAA State Softball Championships will be played in Hastings from the Smith Softball Complex Wednesday, October 16 – Friday, October 18. Class B teams will open their first round at 9 a.m., Class C at 11:30 a.m. and Class A around 2 p.m.
Official District bracket:
#1 Omaha Skutt Catholic won twice over #16 McCook (10-2/12-2)
#2 Beatrice won twice over #15 York (11-1/10-0)
#3 Crete won in three over Gering (1-6/11-0/13-0)
#4 Wayne won twice over #13 Adams Central (2-0/7-2)
#5 Hastings won twice over #12 Blair (12-4/4-3)
#11 Seward won in three over #6 Waverly (3-4/5-4/1-0)
#7 Norris won in three over #10 GI Northwest (6-5/2-4.3-2)
#8 Omaha Gross Catholic won twice over #9 NEN (7-4/6-3)