On Tuesday, July 22, Wagner’s Post 11 Senior Legion team traveled to Platte for first round play in the region 4B tournament and took on the Scotland-Menno-Freeman- Canistota 79ers.

The 79ers got on the board first as they used a walk and a double off starting pitcher Frank Soukup to plate one run. They tacked on two more in the third as they used a walk, an error, a wild pitch and a sacrifice fly to take a 3-0 lead. Two singles and an error allowed one more 79er run to score in the 4th inning.

In the meantime, Wagner was unable to mount any real type of scoring threat as they put only one runner in scoring position through the first six innings. SMFC did add some insurance in the final inning without the benefit of a hit as three walks, some stolen bases and errant throws allowed two more runs to cross the plate.

Wagner did score one run in the bottom of the 7th as Dominic Doom scored on a wild pitch.

Soukup did his part on the mound but unfortunately, wasn’t backed up with much help defensively. He allowed four runs, two earned, on five hits while walking three and striking out eight. Edward Ulrich relieved Frank and allowed one earned run on no hits while walking two and striking out three. Doom got the last two outs. He gave up an unearned run as he walked two and struck out one.

The loss put us in the losers bracket the next day as we faced the Platte-Geddes Whitecaps in an elimination game.

The Whitecaps got on the board first with a solo homerun in the first inning. Wagner did answer back with two runs in the 2nd as Hunter Loeffler and Malakai Segura scored on a throwing error by the catcher. Platte-Geddes tied it up in the bottom half of the inning on a couple of singles and an error.

The score would remain knotted at two until the top of the 7th. Ulrich led off with a single and advance to third on a double by Javian Pesicka. Two on and nobody out quickly turned into two on and two out as a pop-out and strikeout brought Trasin Dilts to the plate and he would come through with an infield single which scored Ulrich.

After two outs and walk in the bottom half of the inning, a lineout to second base ended the game as Wagner hung on for the 3-2 win.

Pesicka pitched a complete game for the victory. He allowed two runs, one earned, on six hits. He only walked one batter and struck out eight. Soukup, Ulrich, Pesicka, Doom, Dilts, and Landon Mudder each collected a hit for Wagner with Dilts getting the only RBI.

That win pitted us against Tabor in another elimination game. Tabor got out to a quick 4-0 lead after the first inning and would go on to win by a 9-2 margin.

Ulrich got the start for Wagner and allowed six runs, three earned, in four innings of work. He allowed six hits and walked one while striking out three. Doom then came on in relief and allowed three earned runs on four hits as he walked three and struck out two. Soukup, Doom, and Ulrich each had two hits with one of Soukup’s being a triple. Pesicka also had one hit. Soukup scored both of Wagner’s runs.

This loss ended the senior legion season. While it was a disappointing region tournament, these boys did put together a solid season, ending the year with a 13-8 record.