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MALCOLM — After taking the two-time defending Class C Nebraska Junior American Legion Baseball champion, Malcolm, to the limit in a 1-0 loss the day before, the Hartington Post 4 Juniors missed a chance for a repeat in the finals with the hosts, dropping a 7-3 semifinal game decision with Meridian/Tri County.
Both teams scored a couple of runs in the first frame, but Tri County scored three more in the third inning and added two more in the fourth to take control of the contest.
“We certainly didn’t have our best game here today,” said Post 4 manager, Don Whitmire. “Those things happen, you’re not always going to have your best stuff every game. This wasn’t the best day for us to be a little off.”
After Tri County put up the two runs to open the game, Hartington came back in the bottom of the frame.
Hudson Whitmire singled into right field to get things going then stole second base.
Tate Fischer drew a walk before Grady Haberer smacked a single into left field which scored both runners and evened the game.
After starting pitcher, Drey Puppe shut down Tri County in the second inning, Post 4 started up the offense again in its turn at the plate.
After an out, Sam Wiebelhaus worked a walk and stole second base.
He was replaced by courtesy runner, Keaton Keiser, who was picked off of second base right before Rylan Fischer belted a double to left.
Back-to-back walks to Whitmire and Tate Fischer loaded the bases, but the next batter struck out and ended the threat.
“We just couldn’t get the big hits when we needed them,” said Whitmire. “It’s like I said yesterday, that’s baseball. Sometimes the harder you try, it just doesn’t happen.”
The final blow for Hartington was a Jayton Jones home run blast to center field which scored two runs.
Post 4 did manufacture a run in the sixth when Easton Hochstein got on board with a single past the first baseman and eventually scored on an error by the Tri County catcher.
Grady Haberer was 2-for-4 at the plate and Rylan Fischer was 1-for-3 with the double. Hudson Whitmire swiped three bases.
“We had some untimely errors and couldn’t get a hit when we needed one,” Whitmire said. “We’ll get better from this and we’ll be fine in the future. This team has unbelievable talent, so we’ll reset and get back to work.”
MTC2032000-762 HAR2000010-363 WP: Maddox Haake LP: Drey Puppe. 1B: Grady Haberer (2), Easton Hochstein, Hudson Whitmire, Micah Cattau (H); Chestin Stewart, Drew Siems, Jason Wehrman, Maddox Haake (M). 2B: Rylan Fischer (H); Jason Wehrman (M). HR: Jayton Jones (M)
