Horns’ Senior season ends at state in extra innings

Imperial’s Legion baseball season came to an end in Palmer Sunday with an extra-inning loss to Tecumseh.
Imperial opened its first-ever Senior Legion state tournament appearance with a loss to Louisville-Weeping Water Saturday.
After playing on an extremely dry field at Bridgeport in districts, the green, all-grass infield at Palmer was a different look, but wasn’t a problem for the Horns.
“The field in Palmer was unique. We had to make some adjustments to the field conditions. Infielders couldn’t play as deep as normal, it was wet and soft from rain the night before, but wasn’t a huge issue,” Imperial Head Coach Bruce Peterson said.
Dominic Sis started off the game for Imperial with a walk, but was left stranded on third base after two fly outs and a ground out.
On the mound, Sis walked one batter in the first inning, but struck out three LWW batters.
Both teams went down in order in the second inning.
Keenan Cole walked for the Horns in the third inning, but was part of an inning-ending double play.
LWW was the first to put runs across, scoring two in the third inning off three-straight singles.
Trevor Peterson and Nolan Burrell both singled in the fourth inning for Imperial, however the pair were left stranded before the Horns sat LWW down in order in the bottom of the inning.
Though Bennett Bauerle singled in the fifth, he was caught stealing for the first of three-straight outs.
The Horns sent Triston Hite to the mound in the fifth inning. Hite forced the first batter he faced to ground out to second base, but an error quickly gave LWW a baserunner.
Following a fly out to center field, LWW took advantage of the miscue. A single and walk loaded the bases, setting up a two-RBI single. LWW plated one more run in the inning to leave the Horns trailing 0-5 at the end of the fifth inning.
Hite reached base in the top of the sixth inning on a base on balls.
He was caught in a fielders’ choice, leaving Imperial with one on base and two outs. Clean up hitter Jaret Peterson made the most of his at bat, doubling and driving in the Horns only run of the game.
J. Peterson came on in relief in the fifth inning and took to the mound in the sixth inning, as well.
LWW loaded the bases in the sixth inning, before a 6-3 ground out ended the threat.
Needing runs to keep the game going, Bryder Hickey was Imperial’s lone base runner in the seventh inning after hitting a single.
Imperial pitchers combined to give up five hits in the 5-1 loss. The trio walked three batters and struck out six of the 29 batters they faced.
Peterson said his pitchers performed great.
“We had a couple untimely errors in the field and we struggled to move base runners into scoring position. We were never able to put the pressure on the other team by collecting a lead,” Peterson said.
Five different batters each had one hit for the Horns.
Other games on Saturday saw Shelby-Osceola-Stromsburg beating Tecumseh, Dannebrog-Cairo-Boelus beating Crofton and Palmer-Wolbach-Greeley taking down Pender.
Game slips away Sunday
Imperial took to the field once more Sunday morning against Tecumseh.
The first inning was quick with the game’s first six batters sitting down in order.
Burrell and Bauerle were hit by pitches in the second inning, but were not able to advance past third and second.
Though Tecumseh had the game’s first hit, a single in the bottom of the inning, Imperial kept them off the scoreboard.
Sis singled early in the third inning and moved into scoring position with a stolen base. The aggressive move paid off when Hite hit an RBI double.
An error and a balk set Tecumseh up with a runner on second base in the bottom of the third, but Burrell struck out one and fielded a grounder to get the third out at first.
After Imperial stranded a runner in the fourth inning, Tecumseh threatened to take the lead.
A single and a double set up Tecumseh with runners on second and third. J. Peterson fielded a grounder down the third base line and threw to T. Peterson for the out at home. The inning ended with the next batter flying out to second.
Pitching struggles helped the Horns extend their lead in the fifth.
Sis was hit by a pitch then Hite and T. Peterson walked to load the bases. J. Peterson came through again with an RBI single to keep the bases loaded.
Hite scored when Burrell was hit by a pitch and T. Peterson scored when Tecumseh fumbled a Bauerle hit.
Holding a 4-0 lead, Imperial’s half of the inning was over after an out at home plate.
The Horns’ defense had its own struggles in the bottom of the inning.
Two errors and a walk, coupled with a double and a sacrifice fly brought home two runs for Tecumseh.
Imperial went down in order to start the sixth lead, leaving the door open for Tecumseh.
Two more errors by Imperial and two singles allowed Tecumseh to tie the game at 4-4.
Hite started off the seventh inning with a walk before Imperial’s bats came alive.
T. Peterson drove Hite home with a triple. T. Peterson scored on a single by J. Peterson. Burrell also singled before three-straight strike outs ended the Horns’ at bat with runners on first and second and a 6-4 lead.
Its back to the wall, Tecumseh led off the inning with a fly out to right field. Back-to-back singles set Tecumseh up with runners on the corners, both of whom scored on a sac fly to left field to tie the game.
Starting extra innings, Imperial stranded Hite on first after a single, while Tecumseh went down in order in the eighth inning.
J. Peterson walked to start the ninth inning, but consecutive fielder’s choice plays left the Horns with two outs and Emmitt Zuege on first. Bauerle walked, but neither runner advanced as Imperial’s at bat ended on a ground out.
Tecumseh started their half of the inning with a fly out to left field, before hitting a single to left.
A stolen base and ground out had a runner on third with two outs. A single down the right field line drove home the winning run in the 6-7 Imperial loss.
Burrell, Hite and Peterson allowed 10 hits and one walk in the game. They combined to strike out six batters.
Imperial had six hits in the game, but struck out 11 times and left 11 batters stranded.
Peterson credited his pitchers for keeping the Horns in the game and said Imperial battled hard against a couple good pitchers.
“I’m very proud of the way they fought in this one. I ask them every game to ‘compete’ every pitch until the end of the game. That is exactly what they did in this one,” Peterson said.
“The hardest thing about Sunday’s loss is that I think everyone knew we had a chance to win both of those games and go farther into the bracket,” he added.
For five Horns, Sunday was their last Legion game after many years playing together. “It hurt, but it should hurt, if you play with heart and this team definitely played with heart. I saw more ‘family’ in this team than any other I’ve ever coached. That part was fun,” Peterson said.
In other games, Pender beat Crofton in the other losers’ bracket game Sunday.
In the winners’ bracket, LWW beat SOS and DCB beat PWG.
DCB remained unbeaten in the tournament with a win over LWW Monday.
SOS eliminated Tecumseh and PWG knocked out Pender.
Tuesday games included DCB facing SOS and LWW going up against PWG.
The championship will be played Wednesday evening.
The tournament definitely had a familiar flavor.
Peterson said most of the teams at the state tournaments are the same every year and many play each other throughout the season.
“They are quality teams that expect to be there perennially competing for a championship,” Peterson said.
Looking back on season
Peterson said it’s been a great season.
The Seniors finished with a 15-6 record, which Peterson said is a huge achievement.
“If you also consider that several of these players play both Junior and Seniors, they’ve combined for a record of 30-15 on the season,” Peterson said, adding, it’s something to be proud of for a Class C program playing a mostly Class B schedule.
Peterson said his teams played in front of some of the largest crowds, both at home and on the road, that he can ever remember.
It adds up to a lot of miles and time for friends and family, he said.
“We’ve had great support from fans, families, businesses, sponsors, anonymous donors, printers, photographers, media, sound, reporters, drivers, food and drink providers, announcers, umpires, field groomers, scorekeepers and concessions personnel that make all of it possible. I would like to say thank you to all of them,” Peterson said.