When Kearney Runza was scheduled to play Associated Fire Protection (Papillion-La Vista South) earlier this American Legion baseball season, Mother Nature intervened.
That game was rained out, but the teams will get another chance Saturday at 6 p.m. in Kearney. And this time, the Class A state championship is on the line.
Both squads won division titles earlier this week in the 16-team state tourney. Kearney went 5-0 to capture the eight-team American Division crown in Papillion. Associated Fire (30-11) also went 5-0 to win the eight-team National Division in Columbus.
The teams enter the game knowing they will both advance to regional play after Saturday night. One will compete in the Central Plains Regional in Blue Springs, Mo., and the other will travel to the Mid-South Regional in Grand Prairie, Texas.
“We're excited about Saturday night,” Kearney coach Steve Spongberg said. “But the best thing is that we'll both be able to continue our seasons.”
Kearney (45-5) began American Division play with a 6-1 win over the Deeb Mustangs (Millard North) and didn't let up until it defeated DiGiorgio's (Omaha Gross) 25-6 four days later in the final.
“We really played well in the tournament,” Spongberg said. “Our pitching staff did a good job, and that's a big key.”
Chandler Klute tossed a four-hitter in the tourney opener to put away the Mustangs. That was followed by a seven-strikeout performance by Dillon Schroeder against host Pinnacle Bank in an 8-3 win; an 11-0 shutout by Taylor Fish in Kearney's first game against DiGiorgio's; a strong relief effort by Tyler Shields in a 15-13 slugfest over KB Building Services (Omaha Westside); and a victory by Alex Johnson in the division championship game.
“None of our guys are really overpowering,” Spongberg said. “But they're usually around the strike zone, and that helps cut down on the walks.”
The Kearney offense often gave those pitchers a nice cushion, averaging 13 runs per game in the tournament.
“We hit the ball pretty well and also played good defense,” Spongberg said. “Put it all together, and that was the reason we were able to win our division.”
Associated Fire also was impressive in division play, outscoring opponents 59-26. The team was especially impressive on the final day of the tourney, racking up 20 runs and 20 hits in the championship against the PrimeTime Patriots (Millard South).
“Everything I've heard about them is that they're very solid,” Spongberg said. “They make you earn everything.”
Associated Fire Protection's success has been a continuation from the spring, when Papillion-La Vista South won the high school title.
“We've got some great senior leadership,” coach Bill Lynam said. “And they're a tough-minded group. They want to do everything they can to achieve our goals.”
The coach added that he has a lot of respect for Spongberg and his Kearney team.
“He's done a great job with that program,” Lynam said. “They've got another good record this year, so we know that will be a tough game for us Saturday night.”
Associated Fire received division tournament pitching wins from Matt Milz, Mark Lukowski, Austin Wright, Justin Paul and Albert Johnson. Paul also was one of the hitting stars in the division final, smacking four doubles and driving in four.
“We feel it's really important to win that game Saturday,” Paul said. “You want to be known as the state champion.”
Lynam agreed with Spongberg, saying the best thing about the game is that both teams will advance to regionals.
“That's the beauty of it,” he said. “Win or lose, we're still going to travel somewhere and represent Nebraska.”
Contact the writer:
444-1350, mike.patterson@owh.com
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