Legion faces teams from Holdrege, Sterling

    Imperial’s Legion teams finished a combined 3-1 in games the past week against Holdrege and Sterling, Colorado 14’s.
    The juniors and seniors both won at Holdrege June 19, while the juniors split a double-header with Sterling last Thursday. The split with Sterling was the juniors’ first loss this season.
    As of Sunday, the juniors are 13-1 while the seniors held a 7-3 record.
Holdrege games
    Despite a five-run seventh from Holdrege, the seniors held on for a 9-8 win.
    An insurance run in Imperial’s seventh came when Hayden Bahler scored on a sacrifice grounder from Lincoln Waters that assured the one-point victory.
    But Imperial’s offense was strong early, with three runs in the second, two in the third and another three in the fifth.
    Holdrege put a dent in Imperial’s lead, tightening the score as they put five runs across in their seventh on six hits. A pair of ground-outs ended Holdrege’s threat.
    Imperial tallied 10 hits in the game, to Holdrege’s nine.
    Offensive leaders were Bennett Bauerle, 3-4, all singles; Duncan Rector, 2-3, double and single; and Ryan Bernhardt, 2-4, singles.
    Trevor Peterson started and finished four innings on the mound, as he struck out six, walked three and gave up three hits and three runs.
    Rector pitched three, struck out three, walked one, while giving up six hits and five runs.
    It was a much easier win for the juniors at Holdrege, as they brought home a 14-4 win.
    Imperial racked up 15 hits in the game. Holdrege was held to six.
    Mason Nordhausen led at the plate, going 3-3 with a trio of singles. Bernhardt hit a double and single, while Nolan Burrell and Emmitt Zuege each went 2-2 with singles.
    Burrell was the starting pitcher. In two innings, he struck out one, walked one and gave up a hit with no runs.
    Coming in on relief were Lincoln Waters, who went an inning, and Morel Jurado, who finished two.
Juniors vs. Sterling 14’s    
    The juniors fell a little short in the opener last Thursday, losing a 9-5 contest to Sterling 14’s. It was Imperial’s first loss on the junior schedule.
    Imperial took an early 3-2 lead after two, but couldn’t come back after Sterling’s four-run third.
    Sterling outhit the home team 10 to six.
    Imperial plate leaders were Bernhardt and Zuege, both racking up a pair of singles.
    Jurado toed the rubber for Imperial. He finished five innings, striking out nine and walking five, while giving up seven hits and six runs.
    Carter Leibbrandt, Tysen Lempke and Jake German all came in on relief.
    Imperial gained some payback in game two of last week’s double-header.
    It came down to the wire when a two-out, walk-off single in the bottom of the sixth from Leibbrandt sealed a 6-5 win for Imperial.
    Leibbrandt put the single into left on the first pitch.
    Imperial bettered Sterling at the plate in this game, nine to six on hits. Jurado was 2-4 with a double and single, Bernhardt finished 2-2 with singles, while Leibbrandt was 2-4 with two singles.  
    Jaret Peterson went 4.2 innings on the mound, striking out eight, walking four, while giving up five hits and five runs.
    Zuege pitched 1.1 innings in relief, as he struck out one, walked two, gave up a hit and no runs.
Games ahead
    Two game dates the past week had to be rescheduled, Coach Bruce Peterson said.
    Saturday’s home games with Gothenburg were played Monday this week.  
    Rain forced postponement of Sunday’s games with Holdrege. A new date hasn’t been set.
    It’s a busy schedule now until early next week:
    June 27—Ogallala at Imperial, junior/senior DH, 4:30 and 7 p.m.
    June 29—Imperial at Sidney, junior DH, 4:30 and 7 p.m.
    June 30—Cozad at Imperial,  junior/senior DH, 12 noon and 2:30 p.m.
    July 1—Imperial at Sterling, Colorado 14’s, junior DH, 4 and 6 p.m.