GRAND ISLAND – Brad Archer’s swan song has yet to finish, the woman singing has yet to wrap up, and the Runza Seniors have yet to lose in the A7 District tournament as they play for a championship tonight at Grand Island’s Ryder Park.
The Kearney Runza Seniors (21-17) entered the district tournament over last weekend as the fourth overall seed, yet have earned their way through stiff competition sitting favorably entering the final day of the tournament. Their final step includes overcoming top seed Hastings Five Points Bank… again. Kearney downed the Hastings Seniors 4-2 on Sunday, pushing Five Points Bank to the consolation bracket.
The Runza Seniors began their tournament run on Saturday due to a weather delay pushing back the entire tourney a day. In the opening contest of the A7 Tournament, Kearney fell behind early but worked back a lead and took down Lexington Pinnacle Bank 6-5.
In Game Two, Kearney matched up with Hastings Five Points Bank and trailed the majority of the contest, using a late push in the bottom of the sixth (including a Bryce Andersen two-run homer) and excellent defensive play at the top of the seventh to move past the top seed 4-2.
In Game Three on Monday afternoon, Kearney sat in the Winner’s bracket facing the North Platte FNBO Nationals. Kearney had not beaten North Platte this regular season. The tide turned with conservative play in a one-run contest, as Quinn Foster punched in twelve strikeouts and completed a combined no-hitter to move on in the 1-0 victory.
On Tuesday night, Kearney faced the host team and No. 2 seed Grand Island Home Federal. The Runza Seniors kept their unblemished mark against Grand Island true this season, blasting a nine run lead in the top of the first inning and holding on late to punch their ticket to the championship game after an 11-10 victory.
The Runza Seniors match up with Hastings today at Ryder Park with first pitch scheduled for 4 PM. If Kearney loses, a winner-take-all contest will follow the first game.
Pregame coverage on KGFW begins at 3:45 PM with Austin Jacobsen and Mitchell Brandt on the call. Hear Runza Senior Legion Baseball action on 1340 KGFW, 96.1 FM, on the free KGFW mobile app, and online at KGFW.com.
