Pinnacle Bank Horns’ Juniors stay hot

    With four more wins under their belt, the Pinnacle Bank Legion Junior team is 18-3 heading into its final regular season games.
    The Horns took a four-inning win over Frontier County June 22.
    The Curtis/Maywood team jumped out to a two-run lead after its first at-bat, but Imperial quickly responded. Hitting in the third spot, Jaret Peterson hit a three-run homer. The Horns had more in the tank and added three more runs in the first inning.
    Pitcher Thomas Reeves settled in and pitched two innings of scoreless ball.
    Errors started to pile up for Frontier County in the second and third innings. Imperial scored two runs on one hit in the second inning, but left the bases loaded.
    The Horns only had two hits in the third inning, including a Tristan Jablonski double, and still managed to score eight runs.
    Mason Wallin came on in relief in the fourth to sit the side down in order.
    Reeves and Wallin allowed two hits, five walks and struck out six in the 16-2 win.
    Saturday was busy for the Horns, starting off with a 10-3 win over Gothenburg.
    Although Imperial only had one more hit in the game than Gothenburg, 5-4, the Horns made the most of their offense.
    While Gothenburg led off the game with a single and a run, the Horns capitalized on Melons’ errors. Three first inning errors by Gothenburg helped Imperial to a 4-1 lead.
    After a scoreless top half of the inning, Imperial tacked on  one more run in the second.
    Two walks and a double turned into two runs for the Melons in the top of the third inning. They would be Gothenburg’s final runs of the game.
    Imperial answered with two runs in the fourth inning and three in the fifth inning that included a Wallin triple.
    Both teams were scoreless to finish out the game.
    From the mound, Cooper Dillan and Peterson combined in walking two and striking out 11.
    Saturday’s evening JV contest that was supposed to be against Mitchell in Ogallala turned into a game against Ogallala.
    The Horns found ways to get guys on base right off the bat and scored three runs in the first inning. Ogallala responded with two runs, but left the bases loaded to end the inning.
    Jet Peterson’s double to lead off the second inning set the plate for a two-run homer by Reeves. The Horns held Ogallala scoreless in the second inning, but both teams added to their total in the third.
    Holding a 5-2 lead, Imperial scored two runs in the third inning, but allowed three runs by the bottom half of Ogallala’s order.
    The teams traded a run each in the fourth inning to send the game to the fifth inning with the Horns leading 8-6. Two singles and two walks scored two runs for Imperial, but Ogallala got one run back in the bottom of the inning.
    Despite Imperial scoring three runs behind back-to-back-to-back singles in the sixth inning, Ogallala was far from done.
    The Horns led 13-7 heading into the bottom of the sixth inning. Ogallala scored one run in the sixth inning and held the Horns scoreless in the seventh. Imperial walked Ogallala’s first two batters in the seventh and both came around to score. The Horns hung on to a 13-10 lead with two outs and the bases loaded before a fielder’s choice ended the game.
    Jet Peterson pitched into the fourth inning for the Horns. Camron Lempke, Jablonski and Gavin Wisnieski closed out the game. As a group they allowed eight hits, six walks and had seven strikeouts.
    Sunday the juniors matched up with Cozad.
    A clean defensive game made the difference for the Horns in the 14-3 win. Each team had six hits, but the Reds had seven errors to only one by Imperial.
    The Horns started off the game with one run, but missed their chance to score more by leaving the bases loaded. Cozad came out swinging, hitting four singles to take the lead.
    Imperial took the lead for good in the second inning with three runs and didn’t give up another run in the contest.
    Two Horns’ runners scored in the fourth inning and eight more scored in the fifth when eight of Imperial’s 11 batters put the ball in play.
    Wallin went the distance, striking out seven and walking two.
Up next
    After a junior/senior doubleheader against Hershland Tuesday, the Horns headed to Frontier County for a junior/senior doubleheader Wednesday.
    The regular season will wrap up Saturday with a juniors-only doubleheader with Overton.
    Imperial will host Bridgeport, Cambridge-Arapahoe, Gordon, Hershland and Mitchell for the Area 7 district tournament late next week. Games will begin Friday, July 8, and run through Wednesday, July 13.
Mid-Nebraska League West
Team    Win    Loss
Holdrege    11    1
Imperial    11    3
Broken Bow    9    3
McCook    6    6
Gothenburg    6    8
Ogallala    3    8
Cozad    1    7
Lexington    0    11