103.9 KNZA Broadcast of Game 2 - click here to listen

Longtime rival schools meet up for the first time in the sport of baseball on Monday as Nemaha Central hosted Sabetha in what proved to be a highly competitive games just like anything sport in the rivalry. At the end of the night it was Nemaha Central snagging two wins using some late runs in both games to win 10-8 and 2-1. 

Game one was full of base runners, runs, pitches, pitchers, errors and opportunities. Sabetha struck first in the Top of the first inning plating three runs on two hits, two Nemaha Central errors and a walk with an RBI double by Brayden Becker highlighting the frame. An RBI single in the bottom of the first by Chase Kramer scored Trent Henry for the Thunder to get them on the board but it was a 3-1 Sabetha lead after one. Another run across the board in the Top of the third for Sabetha made it 4-1 but Nemaha Central tied the contest at four with three in the bottom of the third batting around and a two RBI double by Kramer highlighting the scoring. Bluejays had an answer in the Top of the fourth early batting around themselves and with three hits and two walks scored two and added another in the fifth to lead 7-4. The Thunder came through again in the bottom of the fifth plating three runs on three hits including RBI singles by Lucas Schraad and Mitchell Henry, along with a walk and Sabetha error to tie the game at 7-7.

In the Top of the sixth Sabetha flew back into the lead taking advantage of free passes and a Thunder error and scored one to lead 8-7. In the bottom of the sixth Nemaha Central took advantage of two Sabetha errors and with two walks and two hits scored three to go up 10-8 and Austin Gerety entered in the Top of the seventh to close out the game and while Sabetha got a two-out base runner on an error Gerety shut the door striking out the final batter to preserve the 10-8 game one win for the Thunder. 

Both teams combined to stranded 20 base runners with Sabetha leaving 13 on the pads themselves, while the two teams also had a combined nine errors and 19 hits and eight different guys pitched in the contest. Kramer for Nemaha Central led the offense going 2-3 with three RBI's, three runs scored and a walk, while Paul Enneking and Mitchell Henry each were 2-4. Sabetha in the loss had a 2-4 game by Seth Burdick and 2-5 showing by Brandon Brownlee. 

Game two the opportunities on the bases were at a premium compared to the first game with both starting pitchers in Gerety for the Thunder and Brett Stallbaumer for the Bluejays both pitching strong. Sabetha got to Gerety early with two hits and a walk in the first and on two-out an RBI single by Burdick the Bluejays went up 1-0 in the Top of the first. That lead held for Sabetha until late in the game as the Thunder really only had one good scoring chance until late as they left the bases loaded in the bottom of the second. Trailing 1-0 entering the bottom of the seventh Enneking drew a leadoff walk for the Thunder and Mitchell Henry then reached on an error and the Bluejays made a pitching change as Blake Frey took over for Stallbaumer. Frey issued a walk to the first batter he faced in pinch hitter Derek Uphaus but during the at bat had a wild pitch that scored Enneking to tie the game at 1-1. Schraad then came to the plate with Henry now at third representing the winning run and Lucas delivered a walk-off RBI single to lift the Thunder to the 2-1 win in game two. 

In the win Nemaha Central had Gerety go five innings giving up one run on five hits, one walk and a hit batter while striking out 11 and Brent Heideman finished out the game pitching the final two innings. Schraad, Ryan Hasenkamp and Gerety registered the only Thunder hits in the win. Sabetha in the loss had Stallbaumer go into the seventh inning giving up two runs on just two hits, five walks and struck out a pair. The Bluejays only mustered five hits in game two with Joe Gruber, Preston Bruning, Frey, Stallbaumer and Burdick each getting a hit. 

With the sweep Nemaha Central improves to 3-3 on the season and 3-1 in Big Seven League action, while Sabetha falls to 2-2 overall and the same mark in League action. Both teams continue their season with more League play in their next doubleheader as Nemaha Central hosts ACCHS Thursday, April 13th in a rescheduled game and Sabetha takes to the diamond again on the Monday, April 17th at Perry Lecompton.