Legion baseball puts Imperial on map again

In my mind, the best part of the year for sports is summer. That’s because it’s the season when baseball is front and center in many of our lives.
    This summer’s season for Imperial Legion baseball has again put our community on the map. The Pinnacle Bank Imperial juniors won the Area 7 District title Tuesday night, and the team is heading to the state tournament in DeWitt this weekend. They play their first game in the eight-team tournament Saturday morning against Syracuse.
    It’s a repeat state tournament berth for the juniors, who also qualified in 2018, possibly for the first time in Imperial’s history (records are sketchy). This year, the Imperial juniors enter state with a 24-3 record, a big jump up from last year’s 12-7 pre-state record.
    This Imperial team is a fun one to watch. They have some great hitters, and probably will have one of the deepest pitching staffs as they compete this coming week. They know the game well, and coaches Bruce Peterson and Carl Zuege are great role models in their knowledge and love of baseball.
    Peterson commented at the start of the season that this team would be a strong one, and one he was looking forward to coaching. He noted much of the team is already on the field getting ready for practice before he even arrives a good half hour or more before the scheduled start.
    Another positive with the team is that, while named Imperial, it encompasses players from several area towns including Wauneta, Benkelman and Grant. Sports are a great way to bring communities together.
    In support of the team, the Chamber is encouraging all businesses to put out their Longhorn flags this week through Saturday, the day the tournament starts, to show their support and to celebrate with them.
    We all wish the team good luck as they play for a Class C state tournament title. If you can’t go, you’ll be able to listen to the games on our local radio station. We know the players will represent our communities well.