Legion splits with Ogallala; juniors to start districts

Baseball fans got their fill of excitement at the June 29 Imperial Legion games against Ogallala.
The evening started with a come-from-behind win for the juniors.
Ogallala’s leadoff hitter scored to open the game, but a double play at the plate and first base ended Ogallala’s chances.
The Horns easily matched that total. Triston Hite walked, stole second, advanced to third on a passed ball then scored on a single by Jaret Peterson. Carter Leibbrandt and Mason Wallin loaded the bases. All three would score, as would Tyler O’Neil.
The teams traded scoreless halves in the second and third innings. The Horns left runners on third in the second and third inning.
Ogallala bounced back to take a 6-5 lead with three runs in the fourth and two runs in the fifth innings.
Nolan Foster’s walk and stolen base set him up to tie the game on a single by J. Peterson in the sixth. With runners on second and third, the Horns looked to be in good position to bring more runs across the plate, but a double play ended the sixth inning.
Ogallala gave the Horns their best shot in the seventh inning. Ogallala had runners on first and second with no outs. A fielder’s choice and fly outs to left and center fields gave Imperial a shot to end the game without going into extra innings.
That shot looked bleak early in the inning when Imperial’s first two batters grounded out.
T. O’Neil walked to keep the Horns alive and stole second base.
Colin O’Neil singled to move T. O’Neil to third. Camron Lempke put the ball in play to score the winning run in the 7-6 walk off win.
Hite and Leibbrandt pitched for the Horns, walking three and striking out eight.
Imperial was out hit 6-10 in the game.
J. Peterson went 3-4 for the Horns.
The seniors weren’t as lucky in their contest.
Ogallala went three up, three down in the game’s first five innings, giving Imperial the opportunity to take a 4-0 lead.
Imperial loaded the bases in the first inning on a Hite single, Trevor Peterson walk and single by J. Peterson. A base on balls to Emmitt Zuege scored Hite and T. Peterson scored on a wild pitch, but Imperial stranded runners on second and third.
Imperial loaded the bases again in the third inning, but didn’t score any runs.
The Horns took advantage of two wild pitches to increase their lead to 4-0 in the fifth inning.
After two strike outs to start the sixth inning, Ogallala loaded the bases thanks in part to two walks. It took a third strike out by pitcher Nolan Burrell to end the threat.
Despite stranding Bennett Bauerle on third in the bottom of the sixth, the Horns were looking good with their lead.
Ogallala had something different in mind. A single and a walk set up a three-run homer. Ogallala used three more walks and three more singles to tack seven runs on the scoreboard in the top of the seventh.
The Horns alternated a batter hit by a pitch and a walk with strikeouts to end the game.
Burrell and Zuege allowed seven hits, six walks and five strikeouts in the loss.
Imperial stranded 10 runners to Ogallala’s five. The Horns also had 14 strikeouts.
Up next
The juniors were to host Overton Tuesday, but the games were cancelled.
Districts are up next for the juniors, which begin Friday at Gordon and Rushville.
The top-seeded Horns will open against Hershland at 5 p.m. MT. Valentine and Sheridan County round out the district. Their game will be at 7:30 p.m. Opening ceremonies will be between games.
The seniors will have to wait their turn until after the juniors’ state tournament.
Seniors’ districts are scheduled for July 23-28 in Bridgeport.