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Taryn Burrell | Johnson Publications
It’s always tough to see the season end, but Coach Bruce Peterson told his team their 5-2 season-ending loss last week was to a very good Ogallala team. The seniors ended the short season with a 4-6 record and good prospects for next year.

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Taryn Burrell | Johnson Publications
Trevor Peterson was strong at the plate last week, going 3-3 against Ogallala.

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Taryn Burrell | Johnson Publications
Second baseman Lincoln Waters gets the ball to Morel Jurado at first for out early in the game at Ogallala.

Late runs hurt Imperial seniors, as 2020 shortened season ends

    After an opening game win, the Imperial seniors fell to top-seeded Ogallala, 5-2, last week in the semi-finals of the Mid-Nebraska League’s west division tourney.
    The loss ended the seniors’ shortened 2020 season with a 4-6 record.
    Ogallala went on to win the west division, beating Broken Bow 12-0 in a July 29 game, then defeated Kearney (east division winner) for the league championship.
    There were no state Legion-sponsored baseball tournaments this year due to COVID-19 concerns and restrictions. However, individual leagues could hold their own tournaments.
Ogallala scores late to win
    After trailing 1-0 through four innings, Imperial tied the game 1-1 in the fifth when a sacrifice grounder from Morel Jurado scored Lincoln Waters, who opened the inning with a single.
    Imperial then took its first lead of the game in the sixth after Trevor Peterson scored on an RBI grounder from Nolan Burrell, putting the ‘Horns up 2-1.
    But, it was short-lived.
    In their half of the sixth, Ogallala tallied a pair a singles and a walk, and took advantage of two infield errors to score four runs, and retake a 5-2 lead.
    That lead held through the seventh when Imperial’s seven, eight and nine batters went down in order on a strikeout and two grounders.
    Head Coach Bruce Peterson credited a good Ogallala team in their win, and said both teams were strong on the mound in the July 28 game.
    “We had the lead going into the last inning, but Ogallala took advantage of our errors,” he said.
    But he took nothing away from his team, knowing they gave Ogallala a very good game, noting one-sided defeat of Broken Bow for the league championship.
    Imperial outhit Ogallala five to three, as Trevor Peterson went 3-3 at the plate with a trio of singles.
    Also recording singles were Waters and Emmitt Zuege.
    Peterson also praised Dominic Sis, who went the distance for Imperial, striking out six, walking four and giving up the three hits.
    Ogallala pitcher Laviaguere struck out 11 Imperial batters, walked none and gave up five hits.
    In other stats, Imperial had four errors in the game and left four runners on base.
    Ogallala stranded six and had one error.
    Coach Peterson said their extra work on hitting showed up in the game. Several of their outs were hard-hit balls, he said, and last week’s offense was an improvement since Imperial’s opening tourney win at Holdrege July 24.
    After the game, Peterson told his team the loss may hurt then, but after a few days he hoped they realized how well they played a very good Ogallala team.
    He also reminded them to feel fortunate that they finished their season. Some teams didn’t play at all this year, due to COVID-19, and others shut down their seasons early.
    Ogallala’s team is comprised of players all in the senior age group, where as Imperial had six true seniors this season with many juniors playing up.
    That bodes well for next year.
    Peterson said eight to nine pee wee players will move up next year, and all of this year’s team can play again in 2021.
    “We could have up to 30 guys next year,” he said.
    There’s a lot of good baseball ahead for Imperial, he added.
Juniors have good year
    The Imperial juniors wrapped up their season in the league championship game, losing a close 1-0 game to Shelton-Gibbon the week before.

 

The Imperial Republican

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Imperial, NE 69033