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HARTINGTON — The Hartington American Legion Post 4 Security Bank Junior Buzzards used a three-run seventh inning and a two-run eighth to rally for an 8-7 walk-off win over the Ponca Post 117 Juniors June 19 at Felber Park.
The victory secured the No. 1 seed in the Ralph Bishop League Tournament North Division and earned Post 4 homefield advantage when play opens June 27.
Hartington had trailed 6-3 entering the bottom of the seventh before mounting its comeback.
Hudson Whitmire scored by stealing home, and Grady Haberer followed with an inside-the-park home run that scored Gavin Klug and tied the game at 6-6.
Ponca scored once in the eighth, but the Buzzards answered in the bottom half.
Rex Lippert started the inning at second base under Legion Baseball extrainning rules. Maddox Haberer laid down a bunt single past the pitcher to move Lippert to third, then stole second.
Cade Kleinschmit grounded to second, allowing Lippert to score while Haberer advanced to third. Haberer was later picked off third base, but Parker Leise singled to left field.
Whitmire was intentionally walked before Klug hit a ground ball to shortstop. The throw to first got past the Ponca first baseman, allowing Leise to race home with the winning run.
Rylan Fischer pitched the final four innings to earn the win. He allowed three hits and struck out five Ponca batters.
The Buzzards collected eight hits in the victory. Grady Haberer went 2-for-4 with two RBIs and an inside-the-park home run. Fischer was 2-for-2 with an RBI, while Whitmire, Klug, Maddox Haberer and Leise each added a hit.
Earlier in the week, Hartington rolled to a 19-3 five-inning win over Wisner-Pilger/ Howells-Dodge June 17 in Wisner.
Klug led Post 4 at the plate, going 3-for-4 with a double, three runs and two RBIs.
Keaton Keiser and Lippert also doubled.
Grady Haberer went 2-for-4 with three RBIs and earned the win on the mound. He pitched three innings, allowing one run on four hits.
Fischer went 2-for-4 with two RBIs, while Keiser scored three runs. Eli Bensen scored three times, and Lippert went 3-for-3 with a double and an RBI.
The Juniors were set to face Hooper/ Scribner June 24 before opening Ralph Bishop League Tournament play. Post 4 will host Pierce June 27 at Felber Park. First pitch is scheduled for noon.
Ponca00204001—782 Hartington30000032—881 WP: Rylan Fischer. LP: Gunnar James. 2B: Grady Haberer (H). HR: Grady Haberer (H). PON (4-6) 0 0 2 0 4 0 0 1 - 7 8 2 HAR (9-2) 3 0 0 0 0 0 3 2 - 8 8 1 WP: Rylan Fischer LP: Gunnar James. 2B: Grady Haberer (H). HR: Grady Haberer (H). Lineup AB R H RBI BB SO Hudson Whitmire 2 2 1 0 3 0 Gavin Klug 4 1 1 1 1 0 Grady Haberer 4 2 2 2 0 1 Rylan Fischer 2 1 2 1 1 0 Keaton Keiser 3 0 0 0 1 3 Rex Lippert 4 1 0 0 0 2 Blake Bensen 3 0 0 0 0 3 Maddox Haberer 1 0 1 0 0 0 Cade Kleinschmit 3 0 0 1 0 1 Reid Potts 1 0 0 0 0 0 Parker Leise 4 1 1 0 0 0 TEAM 31 8 8 5 6 10 HAR (9-2) 4 2 9 0 4 X X - 19 15 0 WPHD (4-10) 0 0 1 0 2 X X - 3 6 6 WP: Grady Haberer LP: Isaac Meyer. 2B: Gavin Klug, Keaton Keiser, Rex Lippert (H); Isaiah Coufal, Isaac Meyer (W). Lineup AB R H RBI BB SO Hudson Whitmire 5 1 1 1 0 0 Gavin Klug 4 3 3 2 1 0 Grady Haberer 4 2 2 3 1 1 Rylan Fischer 4 2 2 2 1 0 Keaton Keiser 5 3 1 1 0 0 Reid Potts 3 2 1 2 0 1 Eli Bensen 2 3 1 1 0 0 Blake Bensen 2 1 1 0 3 0 Marcus Haberman 2 1 0 0 1 0 Maddox Haberer 2 0 0 0 0 0 Rex Lippert 3 1 3 1 1 0 TEAM 36 19 15 13 8 2
