2016 Northeast Kansas League Legion Baseball Standings - click here

The legion baseball season is underway as the newly structure Northeast League opened League action on Wednesday night with double header show downs. 

Seneca Earns Swept Over Sabetha Using Late Offense to Cruise to Wins

With most of the players fresh off helping Nemaha Central Thunder high school baseball win the Class 3A State title Seneca Post 21 opened their Legion baseball season at home hosting Sabetha Post 126 who had already played four games in their Legion season going 3-1 against teams from Nebraska. On Wednesday Seneca snagged the swept with 10-3 and 9-3 wins at home versus Sabetha.

Seneca took the early lead in game one with a solo home run by Kurtis Niehues in the bottom of the first and then added another run in the second, capitalizing on two walks to make 2-0 early. Sabetha stayed to course to battle against Seneca starter, Neil Sudbeck and finally broke through in the top of the fourth scoring three runs on three hits and a Seneca error giving Sabetha the 3-2 lead; three of the two hits were doules coming from Kaid Allen and Brayden Becker. That lead for Sabetha held until the bottom of the fifth when Seneca posted a three run frame on four hits and a walk with Lucas Shcraad registering an RBI double in the inning, that regained the lead for Seneca at 5-3 and they doubled that score with a five run sixth inning to win 10-3. 

Sudbeck settled back in on the mound for Seneca to finish the game after the three run fourth for Sabetha as he picked up the win giving up three runs on six hits, no walks in seven innings, while striking out 13 and offensively added a 2-4 game with an RBI. Neil's performance earned him McDonald's "Player of the Game" on 103.9 KNZA. Niehues and Lucas Schraad each had two hits in the Seneca win, while Cody Rottinghaus drew three walks of the nine issued to Seneca batters. 

Sabetha in the loss was led by Becker who was 2-3 at the plate with a double, RBI and run scored, while Allen also went 2-3 with a double. Bryce Kramer took the loss going four innings as the starter for Sabetha. 

Game two Sabetha took the lead early capitalizing on a Seneca error in the second as Dustin Gruber delivered a RBI double to make it 1-0 Sabetha early. Seneca offense came alive later in the ballgame to back the strong pitching from Cody Rottinghaus as Post 21 scored three runs in the fourth nearly batting around, a Tristan Allen two RBI double highlighted the frame. The game was 4-1 after five as Seneca added a run in the fifth but Sabetha got two runs back in the sixth taking advantage of three walks and an error. Seneca responded added to their lead in the sixth inning with five runs as Sudbeck had a two RBI double, Rottinghaus a triple and Sabetha had seven errors in the inning and Seneca closed out the game with Dalton Hiltbrand on striking out the side on the mound to secure the 9-3 win. 

Sabetha with the two losses fell to 3-3 on the season and 0-2 in League action. Dustin Gruber had the lone it in the game, while Allen was on base three times with two walks and reaching on an error. Brett Stallbaumer pitched five innings giving up seven runs on five hits, three walks and hit batter, while striking out five. 

Seneca opened their legion season with a pair of wins to start 2-0 and were led by Rottinghaus who pitched six innings giving up three runs on one-hit and four walks, while striking 11 and going 2-3 at the plate with a run scored and triple. Trenton Henry went 2-3 at the plate with a run scored and RBI. 

Seneca and Sabetha are both back in action on Friday as Seneca hosts Oskaloosa and Sabetha will host Atchison. 

Doniphan County Opens Legion Season With Road Sweep of Atchison

After a State appearance last year Doniphan County legion baseball opened the 2016 season on the road in NEKL play against Atchison. Both games proved to be tight for a while and extra innings were needed to decide one game but ultimately Donpihan County secured 7-1 in 11 innings and 13-0 in five innings wins. 

In game one Doniphan County took the early lead up 1-0 after five but Atchison tied the game at 1-1 going into the seventh inning. Atchison worked the bases loaded in the seventh but ultimately could score and the game went to extras. In the 11th inning the offense broke through in big fashion for Doniphan County plating six runs and that pushed them to the 7-1 win. Wyatt Huss earned the win on the mound pitching four innings of no-hit no-run relief for Nathan Gaarder. Gaarder and Luke Smith led Doniphan County offensively with two hits each. 

Game two was scoreless until the fifth inning and the game ended after the fifth inning as Doniphan County blasted Atchison for 13 runs in the fifth and picked up the double header sweep with a 13-0 five inning win. Gaarder, Tucker Moriss and Wil Smith led Doniphan County with two hits each, while Brody Winder earned the win on the mound throwing five innings of shutout baseball giving up just two hits and one walk, while striking out 11. 

The wins start the season 2-0 for Doniphan County, while Atchison starts the year 0-2 with both games counting as League contests. 

Doniphan County will host Leavenworth on Friday to continue their season, while Atchison travels to Sabetha on Friday. 

Silver Lake Joins NEKL and Sweeps Corning to Open Season

Silver Lake and Corning teams are both new to the NEKL this year and it was Silver Lake making the early impression going on the road to secure two wins to start the season picking up the sweep 4-0 and 10-4 over Corning. 

Silver Lake took the early lead 1-0 after just the first inning against Corning and that would prove to be all they need as Garrett Huske navigated his way past the Corning lineup pitching seven innings of three-hit shutout baseball with 12 strikeouts to help Silver Lake win 4-0. Silver Lake added a run in the fourth and two in the sixth to their run in the first to gain the win. Alex Whitehead was on base three times for Silver Lake with a hit and pair of walks, while Huske and Justin Keller each had two hits. Colton Buessing took the loss for Corning pitching six strong innings giving up four runs, while striking out four. 

Game two say Silver Lake explode for seven runs in the third to take an early comfortable lead 7-0 after three. A pair of solo runs by Josh Boyd and Keller for Silver Lake highlight the seven run frame and Silver Lake added another run in the fourth to make it 8-0. Corning didn't go away quietly as they battled back in the bottom of the fifth as they took advantage of walks and scored four runs but the rally was cut short by Silver Lake and with two runs in the seventh Silver Lake picked up the 10-4 win to sweep the double header. 

Corning in the loss was out-hit 13-1 by Silver Lake and had Jackson Glessner take the loss on the mound going only three innings. The losses send Corning to 0-2 to start the year. 

Silver Lake with the wins open the season 2-0 and were led by their offense as both Boyd and Tyler Koelzer each had three hits each in the 13-hit attack for Silver Lake. Kyle Frick earned the win on the mound pitching four strong innings. 

The season roles along for Silver Lake on Thursday as they travel to Wamego for double header, while Corning will be back in action on Sunday at Atchison. 

Oskaloosa Starts Season With Road Series Sweep of Leavenworth

Oskaloosa welcomed Leavenworth to the NEKL with a pair of League losses on Wednesday as they traveled to Leavenworth for the League double header. Needing extra innings in the first game Oskaloosa earned the 8-5 win and swept the double header with a 6-0 win in game two. 

Up 5-1 until the seventh Oskaloosa had to use extra innings to gain the win in game one over Leavenworth as Leavenworth plated four to send the game to extras. In the 10th inning Oskaloosa scored three and picked up the 8-5 win. Dalton VanHoutan pitched the first six and two-thirds giving up just one hit but took a no decision in the game. 

Game two Oskaloosa got solid pitching from Mitchell Sullivan and Ethan Burghart partnered with strong offense to grab the 6-0 win. 

Leavenworth with the two losses open the season 0-2 and continue their season Thursday at home against McLouth in non-league action, while Oskaloosa starts the year 2-0 and travels to Seneca on Friday for a double header.