MNB Seniors end season one win short of area tourney finals

Steve Kodad/McCook Daily Gazette McCook National Bank Seniors base runner Gavin Harsh (right) dives safely back to first base as the Broken Bow infielder awaits the throw on a pickoff play during Class B Area 6 Legion baseball action at Minden July 24. McCook saw its season come to a close with a 3-1 loss.

MINDEN, Neb. -- All good things must come to an end.

The McCook National Bank Seniors run through the Class B Area 6 Tournament ended Tuesday, July 24, with a tough 3-1 loss to Broken Bow in action at Ollie Bjorkland Field in Minden.

McCook had won two consecutive games in the two days before after a 7-1 loss to Holdrege in winner's bracket semifinal play Saturday, July 21. Broken Bow, the top seed in the Area 6 Tournament, dropped an 8-6, eight-inning decision to Holdrege Monday, July 23, in the winner's bracket final. The McCook-Broken Bow winner would advance to a rematch with Holdrege in the area tournament finals Wednesday, July 25.

Steve Kodad/McCook Daily Gazette McCook National Bank Seniors hitter Will Burkert (right) couldn't get his bat on the baseball on this bunt attempt in the sixth inning of McCook's 3-1 loss to Broken Bow in the Class B Area 6 Legion tournament July 24 at Minden.

Tuesday's game turned into a pitcher's duel between Clint Beguin of McCook and Michael Coleman of Broken Bow.

Coleman limited McCook to just two hits, with 10 strikeouts, in the complete game win. Beguin allowed just four hits.

"Trying to get on that kid, it was tough, it was really tough," McCook head coach Mike Jonasen said of Broken Bow's pitcher. "We worked on hitting and everything else. It wasn't meant to be."

McCOOK  SCORED its lone run in the opening inning when Cash Bortner scored on a hit by Cameron Burkey. Broken Bow tied the score in the bottom of the second when Beguin's pickoff throw at second base sailed high, allowing a runner to score from third.

Broken Bow turned a double-play in the third to end a McCook threat.

The winners put runners at first and second with no outs in the bottom of the sixth, but catcher Justin Terry wiped out the runner at first in a rundown. The lead runner advanced to third and scored when Escher knocked down a hard shot at third base but could not recover to make a play.

McCook second baseman Cash Bortner then fielded a ground ball going to his left, he pivoted and tried to get the lead runner at second on an off-balance throw. Cameron Burkey at shortstop couldn't hold on to the ball, as Broken Bow put runners on first and second. Bortner made a play at first on a ground ball for the second out, then the next Broken Bow hitter smashed a hard grounder between third and shortstop. Burkey made a diving stop, but he couldn't make a throw in time as the winners added an insurance run. The next hitter grounded to Burkey, who threw to first for the third out.

McCook got a runner on base with one out in the top of the seventh, but Broken Bow turned a double play again to end the contest.

Coach Jonasen said he was proud of his team's defensive effort Tuesday. He had special praise for Josh Escher, the McCook third baseman who knocked down several hard-hit ground balls that could have went for extra bases if they had gotten into the outfield, plus Chris Conroy at first base.

McCook rallied several times this season to win games in their final at-bats.

"We never counted ourselves out," Jonasen said. "This situation here (vs. Broken Bow), I never counted us out, and neither did they -- they fought, they wanted it, they wanted to get on (base), come back and tie it up. But it happened the way it happened."

COACH JONASEN has five players who have used up their Legion baseball eligibility, and those five will be hard to replace. Jonasen credited Clint Beguin, Will Burkert, Chris Conroy, Tyler Howard and Justin Terry for great seasons. All five were starters and key contributors to the team.

"But we've got to look forward to next year," Jonasen said.

The Seniors will have a good nucleus of players returning, led by the middle infield combo of Cast Bortner at second base and Cameron Burkey at shortstop, versatile Lucas Post (catcher, first base), outfielder Gavin Harsh and pitcher-infielder Justin Kefalas.

Broken Bow beat Holdrege trice Wednesday to win the Area 6 Tournament title and a trip to the Class B state tournament at Wahoo July 28-Aug. 1.

NEBRASKA AMERICAN LEGION CLASS B

Friday, July 20 First Round Results

Shelton-Gibbon 22, Cozad 12 (6 innings)

McCook National Bank 14, Gothenburg 0

Holdrege 15, Kearney County-Minden 6

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Saturday, July 21 Results

Elimination Bracket First Round

Kearney County-Minden 11, Gothenburg 7 (Gothenburg eliminated)

Winner's Bracket Semifinals

Broken Bow 5, Shelton-Gibbon 1

Holdrege 7, McCook National Bank 1

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Sunday, July 22 Results

Elimination Bracket Quarterfinals

Kearney County-Minden 13, Shelton-Gibbon 7 (Shelton-Gibbon eliminated)

McCook National Bank 15, Cozad 1 (5 innings) (Cozad eliminated)

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Monday, July 23 Results

Elimination Bracket Semifinals

McCook National Bank 7, Kearney County-Minden 3 (Minden eliminated)

Winner's Bracket Finals (winner to championship game)

Holdrege 8, Broken Bow 6 (8 innings)

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Tuesday, July 24 Results

Elimination Bracket Finals (winner to championship game)

Broken Bow 3, McCook National Bank 1 (McCook eliminated)

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Wednesday, July 25 Results

Championship Finals

Broken Bow 4, Holdrege 2

Championship Finals II

Broken Bow 17, Holdrege 4 (5 innings)

Broken Bow advances to Class B Seniors state tournament at Wahoo July 28-Aug. 1