Titans face tough field at Pender Invite

SUBMITTED ARTICLE

This past weekend, June 3 and 4, the Tri-County Titans junior American Legion baseball team traveled to Pender for a six-team pool play tournament.

Coach Jeff Shabram called the competition "outstanding," with many Class B and C state qualifiers in last year's junior legion baseball tournament, as well as district and state qualifiers in this spring's Nebraska School Activities Association baseball season.

"The Titans did not disappoint. We played toe-to-toe with some excellent teams," Shabram said.

Teams entered in the tourney included West Point, Twin River, O'Neill/Neligh, Pender and Sutton.

Tri-County's first game, Saturday night, was against 2022 American Legion state qualifier Pender.

"It was a heartbreak loss, 6-9, after Pender scored three runs in the final inning," Shabram said.

Ryan Rifer was the starting pitcher throwing only one-third inning with one strikeout before being replaced by Wyatt Shabram, who threw four innings, striking out six batters before being replaced due to pitch count. Connor Thomson closed the game, striking out two batters.

Offensively, the Titans were very balanced. Two runs were scored in the first inning by Shabram and Rifer. Jase Kotrous scored a run in the second inning. Then, the bats came alive again in the fifth, with runs scored by Dane Miller, A.J. Hobbs and Isaac Pavlik. Rifer, Miller, Hobbs, Pavlik and Riley Saul finished with one RBI apiece.

"Defensively, the gloves looked good, too, with Thomson, Kaiden Bauer, Landon Nelson, Rogan Robertson and Landon McAllister making solid plays. Great all-around team effort, boys," Shabram said.

The second game did not go as well, according to the coach.

This Titans played Sutton, with a nearly 9 p.m. first pitch. Sutton is a 2022 Class B junior legion state semi-finalist, and the game started immediately after the Pender game.

"It was evident the Titans were physically, emotionally and pitch-count drained," Shabram said.

McAllister started on the mound. Shabram and Jase Kotrous came in relief. Offensively, Thomson started the game off strong, getting on base in the first inning and was brought home by a Miller RBI. But that would be all for the Tri-County offense, as the strong pitching of Eli Nething of Sutton was outstanding.

"We actually did a nice job of putting the bat on the ball, but Sutton's defense is tremendous," Shabram said.

The game ended early with a final score of Tri-County 1 and Sutton 13.

The Titans would have to wake up early Sunday morning and travel back to Pender for a 10 a.m., game vs. O'Neill/Neligh.

"This was an excellent game for the first five innings. The Titans battled through injuries and heartache, only to lose going away, 5-12," Shabram said.

Rifer was the starting pitcher throwing five innings and striking out five batters before exiting on pitch count rules. Hobbs traded his catcher's mitt for the pitcher's mound, closing out the game and striking out two Irish batters.

Titan runs were scored by Thomson, Rifer, Schroeder, Hobbs and Bauer. RBI's were credited to Pavlik, three; Rifer and Hobbs.

Shabram said this was a rematch of a June 2 game in O'Neill, which the Titans lost in a close one.

"Physical and emotional fatigue again set in as Titan defensive errors, combined with crisp plays by the Irish defense, would ultimately determine the outcome of this rematch. It was a long weekend with four games played in a 37-hour stretch. Congratulations to O'Neill/Neligh on a well-played final game and to all teams on an excellent Pender tournament," Shabram said.

Tri-County was scheduled to host Atkinson, Wednesday, at 7 p.m.

Weekend games will see a highly-anticipated 6 p.m., home game, in Verdigre, Saturday, June 10, during Kolach Days festivities. The game will be a rematch of Tuesday's game against Valentine.

Shabram said, "We would love to see everyone come out to Verdigre for some junior American Legion baseball."

On Sunday, June 11, Tri-County travels to Randolph for a 7 p.m., league game.