Seniors advance with big win at Holdrege

    It was a nail-biter, but Imperial’s seniors held onto a 3-2 lead late in the game to win their first round in the Mid-Nebraska League’s west division tournament.
    No. 5 seed Imperial traveled to No. 4 Holdrege on Sunday, where it became a pitcher’s duel as 18 batters went down on strikes in the game.
    Holdrege scored its only two runs in the first after a two-out, RBI single.
    They held the 2-0 lead until the fourth, when Imperial took advantage of a fielding error and wild pitch to score two, with the third run coming on a fielder’s choice.
    Nolan Burrell not only was Imperial’s winning pitcher, but also led the team’s offense with a double and single. Imperial’s only other hit, a single, was recorded by Tysen Lempke.
    On the mound, Burrell struck out eight, walked two and gave up Holdrege’s four hits in six innings of work.
    The hosts threatened in the seventh after getting a runner on after he was hit by a pitch, then advanced to second on a wild pitch, but he was left stranded.
    Dominic Sis pitched that final inning for Imperial. After the hit-by-pitch and wild pitch, Sis sat down the next three batters after a line drive out to center field and two strikeouts, ending the game.
    Coach Bruce Peterson credited his pitchers for their performance Sunday.
    The win upped the seniors’ season record to 4-5, and advanced them to face top-seeded Ogallala Tuesday night in Ogallala.