Legion baseball to host Thursday game

Baseball season is here and will throw everything its got at the Imperial Legion teams over the next week.
“We’re ready to get going with games but it’ll be a tough test with six junior games and four senior games in the first week,” Head Coach Bruce Peterson said.
“As always, conserving pitching with games back to back is one of the biggest challenges, especially early in the season when arms may not be fully in shape yet,” he said.
The Horns have 25 players available, seven of whom are strictly seniors. Returner Carter Leibbrandt will be unavailable due to injury.
The juniors have 17 players, some who will play on the senior team, as well. Four players are in their first year of Legion.
Practices began in late March. The team has been practicing two or three times per week.
“The weather has made it difficult to get full practices in, but the players have been really good about staying focused in the cool windy evenings,” Peterson said.
Imperial will play in the Mid-Nebraska League again this year.
Among the West division teams are Holdrege, Cozad, Gothenburg, Ogallala, Broken Bow and Lexington. McCook rejoins the league and Cambridge and Mitchell once again have Legion teams.
Peterson said the league, mostly Class B schools, will be tough, but he has a great group that will work to become better and show up for battle each game.
Peterson will be joined on the sidelines again this year by Jeff Lempke. Trevor Peterson, who played for the seniors last year, will be an assistant coach this year.
Busy opening week
After traveling to Gothenburg Wednesday, the Horns host Cambridge for junior and senior games starting at 4:30 p.m. Thursday.
Imperial will host two double-headers this weekend—Saturday vs. Lexington and Sunday vs. Holdrege, both with noon starts. On Tuesday they’ll host  McCook with first pitch at 4:30 p.m.