Teams ready for opening baseball, softball games

    Track season is winding down, and that means a move right into baseball and softball games. Imperial’s younger teams are part of the Tri-County Youth League.
    Ball teams in Imperial have been practicing for weeks, and some of the squads will open their seasons next week.
    Imperial summer recreation director Ryan Wisnieski reports that 150 youths (not including Legion baseball) are playing on Imperial’s youth baseball and softball teams.
    Most of Imperial’s teams last year didn’t have seasons due to COVID-19, but the Tri-County League is in full operation in 2021.
    Imperial has teams in the league’s T-Ball (age 5-7 boys, age 6-8 girls), Pony (age 8-10 boys, age 9-11 girls), Pee Wee baseball (age 11-13) and junior softball (age 12-14) divisions this summer.
    All teams in the Tri-County League play in Imperial at Schroeder Park.
    All Tri-County ball schedules are on the city website: imperial-ne.com.
T-Ball
    Imperial has one girls’ and two boys’ teams in T-Ball. They’ll play against teams from Grant, Hershey, Ogallala, Paxton, Sutherland and Wallace.
    Boys—Coaches John Lechtenberg (#1) and Aaron Richards (#2). First games May 31. Tournament in Hershey June 28-July 3.
    Girls—Coach Stephanie Ambrosek. First game June 3. Tournament in Paxton June 28-July 2.
Pony teams
    Imperial has three boys teams and two girls teams, who will play against Grant, Hershey, Ogallala, Paxton, Sutherland and Wallace.
    Boys—Coaches Jensen Olsen (#1), Todd Siverson (#2), Derek Stafford (#3). First games May 28. Tournament in Hershey June 28-July 3.
    Girls—Coaches Bruce Curtis (#1), Jennifer Stafford (#2). First games May 25 and June 1. Tournament at Paxton June 28-July 2.
Pee Wee baseball
    Imperial has three teams. They’ll play against Grant, Hershey, Ogallala, Paxton, Sutherland and Wallace.            Coaches—Philip Pankonin #1), Eric McDaniel (#2), Dustin Harris (#3). First games May 26 and June 2. Tournament at Paxton July 5-10.
Junior softball
    Coach—Denise Smith. Other teams from Grant and Wallace. First game June 3. No post-season tournament.