Titans fall in Legion season opener

On Tuesday, May 24, the newly-formed Tri-County Titans debuted as a Junior Legion team, when they opened the baseball season at Orchard versus Randolph.

The Tri-County Titan team consists of 12 players from six different towns - Orchard, Ewing, Page, Verdigre, Niobrara and Center - in Antelope, Holt and Knox counties, with home base being Orchard American Legion Post #136.

The Titans battled the whole game to keep it close and even took a one run lead into the seventh inning, only to fall by a score of 15-17.

"It was an excellent experience for our team, considering that it was Randolph's Senior Legion team, so there was no harm to our season record," Shabram said. "The weather, however, was a miserable 45 degrees and rain the whole game. This made for a long night for the pitchers."

Wyatt Shabram pitched the first three innings and then re-entered in the sixth inning.

Jake Schroeder and Dane Miller pitched the last third of the third inning, along with the fourth and fifth innings.

Landon McAllister came in for the seventh inning, due to pitch count limits for the other pitchers, and did very well, nearly closing out the game, only to see Randolph go on a two-out rally to take the lead.

Scoring was balanced for the Titans. Connor Thomson reached base six times, scoring two runs. Wyatt Shabram reached base five times, scoring four runs. Kaiden Bauer reached base three times, scoring two runs.

Other runners scoring included Jake Schroeder, two runs; Dontae Justo, two runs and Joseph Pavelka reached base five times, scoring two runs;

William Drobny accounted for one RBI. Keenan McAllister scored one run. Isaac Pavlik reached base safely two times. Dane Miller reached base safely three times. Matt Umphress patrolled right field.

Box score...

Tri-County: 0 3 0 4 5 2 1 15

Randolph: 0 1 3 5 3 1 4 17

The Titans were slated to host Stanton, Tuesday, in a home contest.

Shabram said, "Stanton is another senior team, so we need to look to improve each game."

Tri-County is then at home, in Orchard again Friday, June 3 at 7p.m. The Titans host O'Neill.