Sidney Seniors’ Season Ends with Loss to Alliance

ALLIANCE — The Sidney American Legion Seniors’ season came to an end on Saturday morning with a 12-1 loss to the top-seeded Alliance FNBO Spartans in the Panhandle COVID Conference Tournament in Alliance. The Sidney Seniors, finish the year at 7-11.

Sidney, earned the number three seed in the tournament and opened play on Friday at noon against the fourth-seeded Chadron Senior Nationals.

Chadron got off to a quick start in the top of the first, scoring a run on singles by Dawson Dunbar, Trevor Berry and Cole Madsen. Sidney responded in the bottom of the inning when Luke Kasten led off with a single to centerfield. Tommy Ellwanger’s Sacrifice Bunt moved Kasten to second and Nolan Hofrock followed up with a single past second baseman Dawson Dunbar to score Kasten and tie the game at 1-1.

Both teams went down in order in the second inning, but in the top of the third Chadron scored two runs on three hits, two of them doubles to take a 3-1 lead. Chadron added another run when Sidney pitcher Sam Hashman was called for a balk, with a runner on third base, making the score 4-1.

Micah Schneider hit a line-drive to right to start the Sidney third, but was thrown out at second on Luke Kasten’s ground ball to Dunbar at second base. Kasten stole second and then advanced to third on Tommy Ellwanger’s ground-out to pitcher Cole Madsen. Kasten gave Sidney their second run on a passed ball by Chadron catcher Ryan Vahrenkamp.

Both teams added a run in the sixth inning to make the final score Chadron 5, Sidney 3. Cole Madsen pitched a complete game, allowing three runs on six hits while striking out two and walking two. Sam Hashman took the loss for Sidney giving up four runs on eight hits.

With the loss, Sidney moved to the top of the bracket to face top-seeded Alliance, who survived against eighth seeded Gordon, 6-5 on Friday afternoon.

On Saturday morning, Alliance scored twice on three hits in the bottom of the second inning to take a 2-0 lead. Sidney got on the board in the top half of the third on an RBI triple by Nolan Hofrock to cut the Alliance lead in half, 2-1.

That’s as close as Sidney would be the rest of the game. Alliance exploded for nine runs on seven hits in the bottom of the third to take a commanding 11-1 lead. The Spartans added another run in the bottom of fourth to wrap up the scoring.

Sidney got their lead off batter on base when Micah Schneider walked to open the top of the fifth inning. However, Schneider was retired when Luke Kasten hit into a 4-6-3 double play. Tommy Ellwanger flew out to left and the Sidney Seniors’ season came to an end with the 12-1 loss. 

Chance Crowe pitched all five innings for the Spartans, allowing only one run on five hits. He struck out six and walked only one. Tommy Ellwanger, Sawyer Dickman and Nolan Hofrock combined to give up twelve runs on nine hits, while striking out two and walking five. Sidney committed five errors in the game.

Gering moves into finals of Panhandle Conference Tournament

By: NBC Nebraska - Scottsbluff

ALLIANCE, Neb. (KNEP) - The Gering Platte Valley Companies Legion Post 36 team one win away from earning the Panhandle Conference Tournament in baseball.

After a win over Bridgeport on Friday, Gering opened day two action with a 6-0 win over Chadron. Anthony Walker threw a complete game shut-out in the win.

Platte Valley Companies took that momentum into the semi-final round to defeat the top seed and host Alliance. Gering came out scoring early taking a 1-0 lead after two innings and then a 5-1 lead after six and hold on to pick up a 5-3 victory over the Spartans. Brady Radzymski finished 3 for 4 in the win for Gering while Joel Baker finished 3 for 4 for Alliance.

Gering will face the winner of Alliance and Chadron Sunday afternoon in the championship round at 1pm in Alliance.

Panhandle Conference Senior Tournament Day Two Scores

Alliance 12 Sidney 1 (Sidney eliminated)

Gering PVC 6 Chadron 0

Gering PVC 5 Alliance 3

Chadron 17 Sheridan County (Gordon) 12 (Sheridan Co eliminated)

Panhandle Conference Senior Tournament Day Three Games (Sunday July 26)

Chadron vs Alliance (Elimination Game @ 10 am)

Gering PVC vs Chadron/Alliance (1pm)

Gering PVC vs Chadron/Alliance (3pm/if necessary)

Senior Nationals Stay Alive In Conference Tourney

By: Chadrad.com

The Chadron FNBO Senior Nationals are one game away for playing for the championship of the Panhandle COVID Conference Senior Tournament in Alliance.

A winners bracket loss to Gering, 6-0, on Saturday afternoon forced the Nationals in to the elimination bracket where they knocked off Sheridan County 17-12 to stay alive.

Chadron will meet the loser of Alliance and Gering at 10:00 am on Sunday morning and will need to win three games to claim the title.