Canon Rath - North Platte Post
McCook, Nebr - #2 Ogallala defeated #6 Broken Bow in walk off fashion in game one 4-3, then dominated Broken Bow in game two 17-8 to advance to the 2023 Class B State Tournament this weekend in Pierce, Nebraska. The tournament begins July 29th and runs through August 2nd.
Game One Recap
It was a pitchers/defensive dual between both teams. Ogallala's Caden Rezac who got the start game 1 started the game with a strike out but ended up walking the next four batters which gave Broken Bow an early 1-0 but after a mound visit from Ogallala Head Coach Ty Benson, Rezac went on to strike out the top half of the side.
Starting on the mound for Broken Bow was Central Methodist commit Gavin Goodner. First pitch he threw, Rezac sent flying down the right field line for a solo shot homerun to tie the game at 1. Both pitchers only allowed 1 run through three innings.
In the bottom half of the 4th, Ogallala's Jayden Curtis started the inning off with a single. Next batter Max Mueller would walk to first. Goodner would battle back to strike out the next two batters. With two outs and Curtis at third, Mueller at second, Michael Redden was at the plate. Goodner, who thought he struck out Redden, was called for a balk by the third base umpire which scored Curtis to give a 2-1.
Ogallala would add one more run in the bottom of the 6th to expand their lead 3-1. In the top of the 7th, Broken Bow third baseman Hagan Campbell started the inning off with a double. Next batter, Eli Coble would reach first on a walk. Brice Chaplin would hit a double to centerfield which brought in two runs tying the game at 3. A hard-hit ground ball to Curtis was fielded and the throw was in time for out #3.
Cole Stokey would lead off the bottom of the 7th with a single. Coming to the plate later in the inning was cleanup hitter Curtis who would send a deep ball to centerfield which scored the game winning run where Ogallala won game one 4-3.
Rezac would throw 5 2/3 innings striking out 14. He didn't allow a hit. Colton Knispel would come in relief to finish the game. Knispel struck out 1 in his appearance. Ogallala would combine for 6 hits in the game.
Game 2 Recap
Broken Bow's Caden Holm who is heading into his sophomore year of college and a member of the Hastings College Bronco baseball team would get his 2nd appearance against Ogallala. Aydan Halligan would get a single off Holm and later score in the top half of the inning where Holm walked him in. Ogallala would take a 1-0 heading to the bottom half of the 1st.
Colton Knispel would start the 2nd game for Ogallala after he had thrown 29 pitches to stay under the pitch count previously. Broken Bow catcher Max Dension which reach base after sending a double to left center field. Next batter Brice Chaplin would hit a 2-run homerun to left field to give Broken Bow a 2-1.
Ogallala would remain scoreless after the top half of the 2nd while Broken Bow would add 3 runs in the bottom half. This postseason, Ogallala has had games where they would explode in an inning. In the top half of the 3rd, Ogallala would score 8 runs. Only 3 hits in the inning, however Holm who would walk 6 batters and was pulled from the game. Chaplin would come in relief but could not get things rolling and would give up a single to Stokey and walk 2 batters as well. Ogallala regained the lead 9-4.
Broken Bow would slowly chip away at Ogallala's lead as they would add 2 more runs in the bottom of the 4th to make it 9-6. However, Ogallala would add 4 more runs in the top of the 5th. Then, they would add 4 more runs in the top of the 6th to make the score 17-6. Despite a late run from Broken Bow, who would add 2 more in the bottom of the 6th, the game was called due to mercy rule and Ogallala wins game two 17-8.
Ogallala is the 2023 B6 American Legion Senior District Tournament champion and earned a bid to the 2023 Class B State Tournament. Ogallala will take on Springfield Post 143 in the first found at 9:30 mountain time. Pregame coverage will begin at 9:20 mountain time. We will have live coverage all weekend long on Flatrock 100.7 and online at flatrock1007.com/ . Game 2 will feature York Vs Wayne at 12pm mountain time, Chadron will take on Wahoo at 2:30pm mountain time, and the final game of the day will be Pierce Vs Haswell Construction out of Plattsmouth at 7pm mountain time.
(Interview with Ogallala Head Coach Ty Benson)
(Click the podcast below for a replay of Ogallala's Game 1 victory, as heard on Flatrock 100.7 FM.)
(Click the podcast below for a replay of Ogallala's Game 2 victory, as heard on Flatrock 100.7 FM.)