Just four years into the program the Nemaha Central baseball team will be making their first trip to State after winning their Regional at Wathena in Class 3A. 

The Thunder went into Regionals riding a wave of momentum and nothing changed in the postseason as Nemaha Central who was the one seed at the 3A Riverside Regional took to the field on Thursday in the Semifinals against Pleasant Ridge after a first round bye. The Thunder took the lead in the bottom of the second with a pair of runs and added three in the fifth and one in the sixth on their way to the 6-0 win over Pleasant Ridge in the Regional Semifnals. The offense got it done for the Thunder out-hitting the Rams 11-1 and Nemaha Central had a four hit game for Dalton Hiltibrand, which included a home run and double. Tristan Allen added a multi-hit game for the Thunder, while Neil Sudbeck through five innings for the win recording nine strikeouts. 

Oskaloosa earned a 2-1 win over Maur Hill-Mount Academy in the other Semifinal behind a one-hit hitter by Dalton VanHoutan earning them the right to play Nemaha Central for the Regional title in Wathena. 

In the Championship it was Oskaloosa to get on the board first plating a run in the top of the second but that would be the only offense the Bears would muster as Austin Gerety was nails on the mound going the distance for Nemaha Central to earn the win giving up just one run on one hit and striking out 10. The Thunder took the lead in the bottom of the third with an RBI triple by Hiltibrand to tie the game and a two-run homer by Kurtis Niehues to snag the lead and ultimately the 3-1 win. Hiltibrand had a two-hit game, while Niehues had the homer and drew a pair of walks. 

The win earned Nemaha Central their first trip to the State tournament in baseball while improving them to 20-1 on the season (accredited a win via the first round BYE in Regionals). Heading into the Class 3A State tournament next week in Manhattan the Thunder will carry a 14-game winning streak when they hit the field at Tointon Family Stadium opening up the State tournament on Thursday, May 26th.