Two pitches into the Kearney Misko Seniors opening game of their home tournament against the Colorado Dirt Devils, they were already down 1-0 and had committed one error.
That didnt matter to starting pitcher Derrick Nonhof, who mowed down the next three batters en route to a 15-4 run rule victory in the first round of the Kearney/Hastings Tournament. Click here to listen to the broadcast replay.
The Misko Seniors left the first inning with a 4-1 lead, after free bases to start for Kaleb Larson (hit by pitch) and Jake Hansen (walk). Both would score on a single from Bryce Andersen and a double from Kole Throckmorton. Andersen would score on a single from Jase Blattner, and then Throckmorton’s pinch runner Charlie Loofe would score on a Rydge Jackson walk.
While the Dirt Devils would cut the lead to one run in the top of the second, Kearney would blast the doors wide open on thr game with a sacrifice fly from Hansen that would score Larson, and a 2-run home run from Andersen, followed up by a scoreless inning in the top of the third from Nonhof and the defense, in which two runners were thrown out caught stealing and picked off at second.
The Kearney lead would then balloon into an 11-3 game on a Rhett Mundorf single that would score Garrison Burns, Larson scoring on a fielders choice, and a Keegan Brand single sending Andersen home.
The Misko Seniors would add their final runs to clinch a run-rule game when Loofe would score on a wild pitch when Larson was at bat, Burns scoring on a pickoff attempt at second, and Hansen scoring on a Brand single.
The game could have gone into the bottom of the fifth with the bases loaded in the top of the fifth inning, but Nonhof’s seventh strikeout of the night (second looking) would end any attempt for the Dirt Devils to extend the contest.
The Misko seniors advance to 15-12 on the season, and face a Millard doubleheader tomorrow. They will face Millard South at 10AM, followed by Millard North at 7:30PM.
