GRAND ISLAND – After the dust settled in a two game championship series, the Runza Seniors of Kearney could not hold off Hastings Five Points Bank, ending as A7 District Tournament Runner-Up on Wednesday night at Ryder Park.
Kearney began the day unbeaten in district play, having downed the top seed Hastings on Sunday 4-2.
GAME ONE:
Despite an early home run shot by Nolan Smith, Kearney was unable to preserve their unblemished mark in district play falling 4-3 in Game One of the A7 District Championship. Click here to listen to the broadcast replay.
A7 District Championship // KGFW
Kearney fell in the opening game, scoring three runs on five hits with two errors. Hastings won with four runs on eight hits and three errors.
Nolan Smith’s solo home run to left field began the early bats for Kearney, however Hastings’ Jaxen Gangwish had a missile of his own sent to left as well scoring two to give the edge to Five Points Bank in the top of the second.
Kearney tied the game in the top of the sixth at three runs each with a Quinn Foster single. However, the final run came in the top of the seventh as Hastings took the 4-3 lead then forced Kearney into a double play to end the contest in the final frame.
A7 District Championship // KGFW
Rhett Mundorf pitched three and one third innings of relief for the Runza Seniors, surrendering three hits and one run while striking out two and walking one. Bryce Andersen started for Kearney, allowing two hits and two runs over one and two-thirds innings.
GAME TWO:
After a brief delay, the top two teams remaining in the A7 District squared off for a winner-take-all matchup at Ryder Park. In the high-scoring affair, it would Hastings claiming the victory 12-11 to earn the A7 Title. Click here to listen to the broadcast replay.
A7 District Championship // KGFW
Hastings won scoring twelve runs on fifteen hits and no errors, while Kearney dropped the contest scoring eleven runs on ten hits and one error.
A sloppier contest began as Kearney and Hastings had went deep into their bullpens, throwing new arms for the first time in the tournament. Despite a 3-2 lead at the end of the first inning, Kearney allowed Hastings to bully their way to a six run advantage by the top of the fifth inning.
Kearney then challenged with a seven run scoring inning at the top of the fifth. The biggest score came from Kole Throckmorton lifting his own two run homer over left field.
With the game tied at eleven runs, Hastings plated the game sealing run on a hit between short and third to bring home the finish.
A7 District Championship // KGFW
Both teams move onto the state tournament as Kearney heads to Bellevue West and Hastings will host at Duncan Field.
Tournament brackets will be released on Thursday. More details to come at KGFW.com.
