CHAPPELL, NE – The Sidney American Legion Seniors wrapped up their regular season by splitting a doubleheader against the Buckley Bombers on Monday in Chappell. Buckley captured the first game of the day in five innings 16-2, while Sidney squeaked out the nightcap 10-9.

The Bombers jumped out early in game one, scoring 13 runs on eight hits, including a two-run home run from Nolan Hofrock, to take a commanding lead after two innings of play. Sidney got on the board in the fourth inning when Micah Schneider laced a two-out single to left field followed by a Connor Hurt double to center. Both players scored on Patrick McCartney’s two-RBI single to center for Sidney’s only runs of the game. Buckley added three more runs in the bottom of the fourth and then set Sidney down in order in the top of the fifth inning for the 16-2 win.

Game two of the doubleheader looked like it might be a repeat of game one as the Bombers scored six runs on five hits, including a homerun by Jake Gordon, to take a 6-0 lead after two innings of play. Sidney got on the board in the top of the third on a two-out RBI single by Reid Fiscus to score Landon Riddle from second. Buckley answered in the bottom of the third inning with their third round-tripper of the day, this time an inside-the-park home run by Joey Uyemura to lead off the inning.

The rest of the scoring in the second game came in the last two innings. Sidney sent 10 batters to the plate in the sixth and nine batters to the plate in the seventh, scoring nine runs on 11 hits to take a 10-8 lead. Buckley got a run back in the bottom of the inning, and had the tying run on third base, but Sidney held on for the 10-9 victory.

The Sidney Seniors will be back on the diamond on Friday when they travel to Ogallala for the American Legion B7 Area Tournament. The Area Tournament runs Friday, July 22 through Tuesday July 26.