Polling triple sparks rally

After watching his teammates struggle through 6 1/2 innings Tuesday night, Ryan Polling came off the bench and provided just the spark the Beatrice Exmark American Legion Seniors needed to get a win.

Polling scorched a two-RBI pinch-hit triple in the bottom of the seventh, helping ignite the Beatrice offense to a five-run rally as they downed Crete, 11-10, at Christenson Field.

“Ryan Polling’s triple really got us going,” Beatrice coach Paul Valentine said. “It was great to see him come up and hit the ball hard like that.”

Valentine said Polling not only came through with the hit, but had enough speed to stretch the gapper into a triple.

Once the Beatrice Seniors got going in the seventh inning, Crete couldn’t stop them.

“The kids kept battling,” Valentine said. “Once we got a couple guys on, everybody started picking it up a little bit.”

Justin Wittler reached on an error to lead off the bottom of the seventh for Beatrice and advanced to second on a wild pitch.

Matthew Benson walked, putting runners at second and first for Polling.

The pinch-hit triple scored Wittler and Benson and left Polling at third with Beatrice trailing by two runs.

Tommy Luers grounded out, scoring Polling.

Justin Coleman walked, Devin Schroeder reached on an error and James Rivers walked to load the bases.

A sacrifice fly to right field by Garrett Bruhn scored Coleman with the game-tying 10th run and advanced the other runners to third and second.

“We were lucky to have Justin Coleman at third,” Valentine said. “It was a short pop-fly, but he was able to get in safe at home and tie it up.”

Kory Diekman walked to load the bases.

A wild pitch then allowed Schroeder to score the game-winning run.

“Schroeder is another guy with good speed and he was able to score there,” Valentine said.

Crete took the initial lead in the game, going up 3-0 in the top of the second inning.

Beatrice responded in the bottom of the inning, tying the game at 3-all with a two-out rally.

Luers and Coleman were issued back-to-back walks.

A single by Schroeder loaded the bases.

Rivers was hit by a pitch, forcing home Luers and leaving the bases loaded.

Coleman scored on a wild pitch.

A single by Bruhn scored Schroeder.

Crete regained the lead with a single run in the top of the fourth inning.

In the bottom of the inning, Beatrice rallied again.

Coleman tied the score at 4-all with a lead off solo home run.

Schroeder singled and advanced to third on an errant pickoff attempt. He scored on a throwing error.

Diekman reached on a single, advanced to second as Wittler walked and scored on a single by Benson, putting Beatrice up 6-4.

Crete, however, again regained the advantage in the top of the sixth, scoring four runs and taking an 8-6 lead.

In the top of the seventh, Crete added two more runs and led 10-6 as Beatrice came to bat.

Benson had a double and single to lead the Beatrice offense in hit production, while Schroeder had a pair of singles.

Coleman hit the home run, Polling the triple and Bruhn and Diekman added a single each.

Luers was the pitcher of record when Beatrice made its seventh-inning comeback and earned the win. He allowed two runs on three hits during the seventh inning, striking out one.

Rivers started the game for Beatrice and threw four innings, allowing four runs on six hits and four walks. He struck out seven.

Coleman threw two innings in relief of Rivers, allowing four runs on two hits and two walks. He struck out four.

Next action for the Beatrice Seniors, 20-7, will be tonight (Wednesday) as they host the Lincoln Northeast Seniors in a 7 p.m. nine-inning contest at Christenson Field.