By Jan Schultz
The Imperial Republican
Imperial’s Pee Wee baseball team will take a 6-2 record into its final game of the regular season Friday night when they host Ogallala White at the Schroeder Park field.
With their record, Coach Carl Zuege expects to be among the top seeds at the July 5-8 end-of-season tourney in Grant the following week.
In the team’s last four games, Imperial won three and lost just one. Here’s a recap.
Wallace game
Hosting Wallace on June 13,  Imperial collected seven hits in a shortened, four-inning win, 16-5.
Bryson Fisher started on the mound for Imperial, with Jack Bauerle coming in on relief. Each pitched two innings.
Imperial built an early lead and maintained it through the game with good work from both pitchers, Zuege said.
Hitting for Imperial were Zach Space, two doubles; Braden Space, one double; and singles from Nolan Spady, Bryson Fisher, Jorge Cervantes and Will Kuenne.
Grant game
Imperial’s only loss in the last four games was to Grant, 9-1, on June 15 on the road.
Coach Zuege said the team struggled with a Grant pitcher who threw a slower pitch. Jorge Cervantes had the only Imperial hit in the game, a single.
Imperial’s defense also struggled with five errors. At times, the team just “couldn’t put them away,” Zuege said, allowing a total of six runs with two outs on the board.
The game ended after five due to the eight-run rule.
Caleb Weiss was Imperial’s starting pitcher, and went four innings. Bryson Fisher finished.
Ogallala Black game
Imperial was back on the winning track June 20 when they took a 17-7 win from Ogallala Black on the Imperial home field in four innings.
Imperial exploded at the plate with 13 hits led by Bryson Fisher, who had a single, a double and homerun.
Other hitters included Caleb Weiss, single and double; Zach Space, single and double;     Nolan Spady, two singles; Trey Bahler, double; and singles from Jorge Cervantes, Bryce Zuege and Will Kuenne.
Bryson Fisher pitched the first inning. Jack Bauerle got the win as he worked the last three.
Hershey game
It was a nail-biter at Hershey Sunday, but Imperial pulled out a 12-11 win in 100-degree temperatures.
Imperial trailed for the first three innings, but took the lead in the fourth, going up 12-7.
Imperial didn’t score again in the game, but thwarted a late Hershey threat that went into the bottom of the sixth. Hershey rallied to pull within a run, 11-12, and had basedsloaded in the bottom of the sixth. Pitcher Nolan Spady struck out the last batter to secure the win.
Six hits were tallied by Imperial in the game, led by two singles from Caleb Weiss. Also credited with singles were Will Kuenne, Jorge Cervantes, Zach Space and Trevor Peterson.
Caleb Weiss pitched the first three innings for Imperial. Bryson Fisher was on the mound the fourth and fifth innings, with Nolan Spady finishing the game.
Imperial’s final regular season game at home this Friday against Ogallala White has a 6 p.m. start time.