No rest for Legion Juniors; Horns play five games in six days

    Coming off a three day tournament in Broken Bow, the Pinnacle Bank Junior Legion team continued to stay busy with five games last week.
    Imperial played a juniors only double header against Cambridge/Arapahoe June 13.
    The Horns routed the visitors 11-2 in the first game and 12-3 in the second.
    Kaden Vogt pitched a complete game to start the night. Vogt pitched four scoreless innings before giving up two runs in the top of the fifth.
    Thomas Reeves went 3-3 in te game, including a  three-run walk off home run that capped a four-run fifth and gave Imperial the eight run advantage needed to end the game.
    Reeves started game two and pitched three innings before Conner Stromberger came on in relief to finish up the no hitter.
    The Horns scored early and often. Imperial batted around in the first inning, scoring its first four batters and loading the bases with walks. The Horns scored six in the second inning before recording an out and were up 11-1 when the smoke cleared.
    One run in the fourth inning wrapped up scoring in the five inning win.
    Reeves had both Imperial hits in the win. The Horns walked 15 times in the game.
    Imperial continued to rack up runs Thursday at Hershey with a 12-3 win over Hershland.
    Imperial had nine hits in the game and only gave up two hits to the Trojans, both in the second inning. The Horns were firmly in command before giving up three runs in the bottom of the fifth inning.
    The Horns used three young pitchers in the game, Destry Oxford, Carter Kuenning and Cristobal Tarango. Together they struck out six, walked 10 and only gave up two hits.
    Imperial suffered its third loss of the season Saturday at home against Broken Bow.
    Hot bats gave the visitors a four-run lead after one inning.
    The teams traded runs in the second inning and Imperial closed the gap to 3-5 with two runs in the bottom of the third after Broken Bow hit one batter with a pitch and had two errors on one Horns at bat.
    Imperial wasn’t able to cut into the lead anymore. Broken Bow scored two runs in the fourth that Imperial countered with one run in the bottom of the inning.
    Imperial’s deficit grew to 10-4 by the bottom of the seventh inning. The Horns scored one but left the bases loaded to end the game.
    Camron Lempke pitched two innings and Noah Rau came on for five innings of relief. They combined to give up 12 hits, five walks and five strikeouts.
    Lempke, Jaret Peterson and Oxford each had two hits.
    What looked to be a comfortable game against Gothenburg turned into a closer win than expected Sunday.
    Imperial jumped all over the Melons early, holding Gothenburg scoreless in the first and using home runs by Peterson and Carson Terryberry to take a 5-0 lead.
    Gothenburg responded with a two-run homer in the second inning.
    The Horns got back on the board in the third inning, scoring a run on a sac fly by Terryberry.
    Following a scoreless fourth inning, Imperial lead disappeared. The Melons used four hits and a walk to score four runs and tie the game. One run by the Horns in the bottom of the fifth increased its lead back to one run, 7-6.
    Imperial added an insurance run in the sixth inning,  but it’s pitching and defense retired Gothenburg’s final six batters to seal the 8-6 win.
    Peterson and Gavin Wisnieski each went 3-3. Terryberry had three RBIs.
    On the mound, Peterson pitched a complete game, striking out eight, allowing eight hits and walking one.
Up next
    Five junior-senior doubleheaders will continue to keep Imperial busy.
    The Horns started off three games in three days Tuesday the Horns at McCook. Wednesday was a makeup game at Lexington and Thursday will be a match up at Ogallala.
    Games continue with trips to Broken Bow Saturday and Holdrege Sunday.
    Next week will feature juniors only games. The B team will host a double header with Ogallala Tuesday. Next Thursday the Horns will go to Cambridge for another juniors only double header with Cambridge/Arapahoe.