Beatrice Seniors state bound

CRETE - Beatrice’s Exmark American Legion Seniors are headed to the Class B State Tournament as the Area 1 champions.

Beatrice defeated Hickman Norris, 15-4, in the area title game Tuesday night in Crete, earning the right to advance to state play.

“It was a good all-around game for us,” Beatrice coach Paul Valentine said. “The guys really came out focused and ready to play ball tonight.”

With its win, Beatrice will take on Lexington at 2 p.m. Friday in the first round of the Class B American Legion Seniors State tournament in St. Paul.

Justin Wittler pitched the complete game for Beatrice against Norris, facing 23 batters in five innings. He allowed four runs on three hits, three walks and one hit batter, while striking out two.

“Witt did a really nice job pitching,” Valentine said.

Valentine said Beatrice’s defense made several “nice” plays behind Wittler.

With Wittler, Beatrice’s starting shortstop moving to the mound, Valentine made several defensive changes.

Korey Diekman moved from second to shortstop and Devin Schroeder moved from the outfield to second base.

“We brought Devin Schroeder in to play second and he stopped everything that was hit to him,” Valentine said. “Korey played shortstop and had a couple really great plays including one where he stopped a ball in the hole and got off his knee and still threw the guy out.”

Beatrice gained the early lead in the title game thanks to some new-found power from Schroeder.

Justin Coleman led off the bottom of the first for Beatrice with a double, bringing Schroeder to the plate.

After hitting his first career out-of-the-park home run in his final at-bat in Beatrice’s previous tournament win over Auburn, Schroeder went back-to-back with long balls, hitting a two-run shot over the left-field fence for a 2-0 Beatrice lead.

Valentine said Schroeder has been hitting the ball hard for the last several games, but wasn’t always getting it to drop in for hits.

“He (Schroeder) was hitting the ball hard and driving it out there,” Valentine said. “It was great to see him get another home run tonight.”

Leading by two runs going into the bottom of the second inning, Beatrice’s offense exploded for eight more.

“We really hit the ball,” Valentine said. “When you start hitting the ball everybody feeds off that.”

Mitch Randel led off with a single and advanced to second as Tommy Luers walked.

An error on a ball hit by Coleman scored Randel and moved Luers to third.

Schroeder reached on an error, scoring Luers and moving Coleman from first to third.

James Rivers singled, scoring Coleman and advancing Schroeder to third.

A single by Garrett Bruhn scored both Schroeder and Rivers.

After Bruhn ended up at second base on a throw to the plate, Matthew Benson went in to run for the Beatrice catcher.

Benson advanced to third on a single by Diekman and scored on a single by Wittler.

An error after Wittler’s basehit allowed Diekman to move to third and Wittler to take second.

A sacrifice fly by Sam Busboom scored Diekman.

Ryan Poling, in to run for Wittler, advanced to third on a single by Randel and scored on a groundout by Luers.

After two complete innings, Beatrice led 10-0.

Hard-hitting shortstop Ryan Busboom helped Norris’ offense get on the scoreboard in the top of the third inning.

With two outs, Tim Onweiler started things off for Norris with a double and Garrett Nelson reached first on an error.

Busboom then hit a three-run home run over the centerfield fence, making it a 10-3 contest.

Beatrice answered, however, in the bottom of the inning.

Schroeder led off with a single, advanced to second as Rivers reached on an error and took third on a single by Bruhn.

A single by Diekman scored both Schroeder and Rivers and moved Benson, running for Bruhn, to second.

Benson advanced to third on a fly-ball out by Wittler.

An error on a ball hit by Randel allowed Benson to score and moved Diekman to second base.

Luers then doubled over the center fielder’s head, scoring both Diekman and Randel and putting Beatrice up 15-3.

Norris was able to add one run in the top of the fifth inning.

Spencer Evans led off for Norris with a double, advanced to third on a wild pitch and scored on a groundout by Nelson.

Busboom was issued a two-out walk, but the game ended on the 10-run rule as Wittler struck out the next Norris batter.

Beatrice finished with 13 hits in the game.

Schroeder led the way with a home run and single ,while Rivers had a double and single and Bruhn, Diekman and Randel added two singles each.

Coleman and Luers each doubled and Wittler singled.

Norris had just three hits, the home run by Busboom and doubles by Onweiler and Evans.

Starter Blake Price took the loss for Norris and was credited with one official inning. He left the game with Beatrice leading 9-0 in the second inning and no outs on the board.

Price gave up nine runs on seven hits and two walks, while striking out one.

Throwing in relief of Price, Tyler Hunter allowed six runs on six hits in four innings. He struck out two.

When it came to winning the Area 1 championship, Beatrice put itself in a good position by advancing through the first five days of the tournament as the only undefeated team.

Norris, on the other hand, lost in the first round and had to battle back through the loser’s bracket.

After falling to Nebraska City, 2-1, Norris defeated Friend, 16-1, and Crete, 5-3.

Monday night, Norris played in two elimination games.

Norris downed Syracuse, 13-2, with Nate Hoover earning the win.

Norris had 12 hits in the game against Syracuse, all singles.

Taking on Auburn in the loser’s bracket final, Norris earned an 8-1 victory.

Nelson threw the complete-game win for Norris.

Norris picked up 10 hits in the win over Auburn, including doubles by Busboom and Taylor TeKolste.