Pony team earns big win over O’Neill to improve to 22-1
NELIGH — The Hartington Pony baseball team won the Quad County League championship Monday with a rout of runner-up O’Neill.
Hartington now boasts a 22-1 record on the season.
Hunter Bensen hit two home runs and drove in three as the Hartington Pony team defeated the O’Neill Irish 16-3.
Bensen homered in the third and fifth innings.
Hartington got on the board in the top of the first inning after Micah Cattau singled to drive in a run. Easton Hochstein then tripled to score two runs, and Tate Fischer singled, scoring another Hartington run.
Hartington added to its lead with two runs in the top of the third inning thanks to home runs by Cattau and Bensen.
The Hartington Pony team scored seven runs on eight hits in the top of the fifth inning.
The barrage was started off by Bodie Hochstein, who singled, scoring one run. Cattau doubled, scoring two runs; Bensen homered to center field, scoring two runs. Grady Haberer then hit a ground-out sacrifice to plate one more and Justin Heimes singled to score another.
Eli Banks hit a solo home run to center field in the bottom of the fifth frame for O’Neill.
Bensen earned the win for Hartington from the mound. He allowed five hits and three runs over five innings, striking out eight and walking one. Xavier Parks took the loss for O’Neill, going two innings, allowing six runs on seven hits, striking out three and walking one.
Hartington tallied 19 hits in the game. Fischer and Cattau each collected four hits for Hartington. Cattau provided pop in the middle of the lineup and led Hartington with four runs batted in. The catcher went 4-for-4 on the day. The Hochsteins, Bensen and Lane Heimes each collected multiple hits for Hartington’s 14U Tournament Team.
The last action for Hartington Pony players will be Sunday at Plainview when six Hartington players will take part in the Quad County All-Star game.
Hunter Bensen, Easton Hochstein, Bodie Hochstein, Micah Cattau, Grady Haberer and Tate Fischer were all selected for the All-Star squad.