MNB Seniors reach Area 6 final

Friday, July 23, 2004
Tyler Bieck/McCook Daily Gazette McCook National Bank Seniors' Derick Lorentz scores MNB's first run in the bottom of the second inning during Thursday's American Legion Baseball Class B Area 6 district game at Holdrege. The baseball got away from the catcher. The MNB Seniors won 2-0.

Beckenhauer's

shutout lifts

McCook squad

HOLDREGE -- Leaning upon another dynamic district performance from pitcher Matt Beckenhauer, the McCook National Bank Seniors defeated Holdrege 2-0 to advance to the finals of the Class B Area 6 District American Legion baseball tournament.

Beckenhauer, who pitched a one-hitter against Red Cloud in the district's first round, held Holdrege to four hits. He struck out six and walked two.

"I was confident throwing the fastball, but with the curveball I was a little shaky," Beckenhauer said, adding that MNB seems to finding its 'game' for district time. "There's something about districts -- we come around."

Holdrege pitcher Scott Reiner went head-to-head with Beckenhauer until the sixth inning when he started to lose control.

Reiner limited MNB to five hits and relied on a solid Holdrege defense that turned double plays in both the fourth and fifth innings.

But MNB head coach Justin Wacker said he knew could count on Beckenhauer to keep the Holdrege offense in check.

"It's tough to get things going when they keep turning all the double plays, it prevented some big innings. Both teams played great defense. We hit the ball hard, but they were making all the plays," Wacker said. "With Beckenhauer on the mound, you know he's not going to give up a lot of runs."

MNB grabbed a one run lead in the bottom of the second with a Jason Eder RBI single that drove in Derick Lorentz. Eder led MNB at the plate with two singles.

While the MNB offense had three up-three down stints in the third and fourth innings, Beckenhauer continued to handcuff Holdrege from the mound with his arm and glove.

In a pivotal play in the top of the fifth -- with a Holdrege runner on first base and a batter attempting a bunt -- Beckenhauer pulled off a double play when sprinted to the first base line to catch the popped up bunt and then hrew the runner out at first base.

Those two outs came in handy two batters later in the fifth when Beckenhauer got Derrick Doolittle to ground out with runners on first and third base to end the Holdrege threat.

MNB added a security run in the bottom of the sixth.

Leadoff hitter Mason Pohl reached on a single and was advanced to second after a Jayce Dueland sacrifice bunt.

With one out, Holdrege intentionally walked MNB slugger Jeff Holthus.

During the second pitch of the intentional walk, Reiner threw over his catcher's head. Pohl reached third base while the ball rolled to the backstop. Reiner nearly tossed another wild pitch on the third ball of the intentional walk.

MNB's next batter Jared Muehlenkamp made Holdrege pay for Reiner's mistake with a fielder's choice groundball that brought in Pohl and put MNB on top 2-0.

And after Beckenhauer sat Holdrege's order down in the seventh, MNB advanced to the Area 6 final on Saturday at 7:30 p.m. in Holdrege.

Holdrege drops to the loser's bracket in the double elimination tournament and will play at 7 p.m. Friday at Holdrege against the winner of the Gothenburg-Cozad matchup.

After three solid district games, Wacker is feeling good about his squad.

"I'm happy with our performances, we're where we need to be," Wacker said. "We're hitting the ball well, in the right positions on defense and pitching well."

Because of its unblemished district record, MNB will have to lose twice.

If MNB loses on Saturday, then the decisive game will be played at 7:30 p.m. Sunday in Holdrege.

"We're in a good situation," Wacker said about having a game to give. "I don't think anybody is thinking about losing. They want to get the tournament over on Saturday."

Holdrege 000 000 0 -- 0 4 2
MNB Seniors010 001 x -- 2 5 1

MNB -- Beckenhauer. H -- Reiner. W -- Beckenhauer. L -- Reiner. 1B -- Lorentz, Eder (2), Ball, Pohl, MNB. Anderson, Wells (2), Wheeler, H.

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