City team capsules
Lincoln North Star
The Gators had a few tense moments Tuesday night waiting to learn their fate.
North Star earned a wild-card berth in the Class A state tournament when Omaha Creighton Prep held off Omaha Burke 6-3 in a rain-delayed district final.
“A couple of players, a few parents and another coach and I went up to watch the game,” said Gator coach Lanny Bolles. “We felt pretty good most of the time, but it got a little tense in the sixth when Burke scored three runs.”
The No. 4 Gators will meet fourth-ranked Millard West tonight at 7 at Sherman Field.
“We feel like we didn’t have one bad night, we had one good season,” said Bolles. “We earned the right to be in this tournament.”
Bolles was undecided about his starting pitcher. He said he would likely use either Jacob Hiatt or Ricky Ideus.
“Jacob would probably be considered our ace the last two years, but he pitched Monday and sometimes he requires a little more rest,” said Bolles. “Ricky has a rubber arm because he throws more sliders and offspeed pitches.
“A lot of these kids played the last couple of years on varsity, and they play loose and hard. They aren’t likely to get psyched out.”
Lincoln Southeast
Josh Scheffert was a one-man wrecking crew in the Knights’ district championship game. He tossed a two-hitter, struck out 10 batters and also drove in a pair of runs to lift Southeast to the title.
“Josh has had a terrific year. His earned-run average is under one (0.43), and he’s been dominant,” said Southeast coach Randy Brolhorst. “We’re going into state with confidence. The kids have played enough to know how to play consistent baseball.”
The Knights will be without season leader Jake Kuebler when they open the state tournament at 4 p.m. at Sherman Field against second-ranked Millard North. Brolhorst said the Nebraska recruit was suspended for the tournament for violation of team rules. Kuebler was 7-0 with a 0.12 ERA and also led the Knights with a .545 batting average.
“There’s no question it will affect us. He’s one of the best players and the best pitcher in the state, and we will also miss his bat,” said Brolhorst. “The other kids realize they have to pick it up a notch.
“Jordan Kirk may be out at second, and with Scheffert on the mound and Jake out, we need to fill in at second, third and short. Griffin DePriest will play shortstop, but we need to get good play at the other two positions.”
Lincoln Pius X
The Thunderbolts will be looking to win the rubber game of its series with Omaha Gross.
Pius X will take on Gross today at 1 p.m. at Den Hartog Field in the first round of the Class B state tournament. The game is a rematch of the district final, which Gross won 10-9 in nine innings. Two weeks ago, the Thunderbolts won 7-5 at the Cougars’ home field.
“There’s an advantage because everyone has seen everyone else. I think going in, we feel our game plan is solid,” said Pius X coach Troy Charf. “You do lose the element of surprise you would have playing somebody you haven’t played before.
“But when you get to this point, pitching dictates a lot of what happens, and we feel we have a solid staff.”
Charf said he will likely throw Aaron Molinaro. He also expects the full return to the lineup of Pat Essay, who suffered a hamstring injury two weeks ago and served as designated hitter in the district final.
“He had to sit a couple of games, but we hope he’ll be playing in the field,” said Charf. “But we got some awesome play from Drew Welsh, who is a junior. I think we have a nice, solid corps of players and others who can step up and fill in when needed.”
The Gators had a few tense moments Tuesday night waiting to learn their fate.
North Star earned a wild-card berth in the Class A state tournament when Omaha Creighton Prep held off Omaha Burke 6-3 in a rain-delayed district final.
“A couple of players, a few parents and another coach and I went up to watch the game,” said Gator coach Lanny Bolles. “We felt pretty good most of the time, but it got a little tense in the sixth when Burke scored three runs.”
The No. 4 Gators will meet fourth-ranked Millard West tonight at 7 at Sherman Field.
“We feel like we didn’t have one bad night, we had one good season,” said Bolles. “We earned the right to be in this tournament.”
Bolles was undecided about his starting pitcher. He said he would likely use either Jacob Hiatt or Ricky Ideus.
“Jacob would probably be considered our ace the last two years, but he pitched Monday and sometimes he requires a little more rest,” said Bolles. “Ricky has a rubber arm because he throws more sliders and offspeed pitches.
“A lot of these kids played the last couple of years on varsity, and they play loose and hard. They aren’t likely to get psyched out.”
Lincoln Southeast
Josh Scheffert was a one-man wrecking crew in the Knights’ district championship game. He tossed a two-hitter, struck out 10 batters and also drove in a pair of runs to lift Southeast to the title.
“Josh has had a terrific year. His earned-run average is under one (0.43), and he’s been dominant,” said Southeast coach Randy Brolhorst. “We’re going into state with confidence. The kids have played enough to know how to play consistent baseball.”
The Knights will be without season leader Jake Kuebler when they open the state tournament at 4 p.m. at Sherman Field against second-ranked Millard North. Brolhorst said the Nebraska recruit was suspended for the tournament for violation of team rules. Kuebler was 7-0 with a 0.12 ERA and also led the Knights with a .545 batting average.
“There’s no question it will affect us. He’s one of the best players and the best pitcher in the state, and we will also miss his bat,” said Brolhorst. “The other kids realize they have to pick it up a notch.
“Jordan Kirk may be out at second, and with Scheffert on the mound and Jake out, we need to fill in at second, third and short. Griffin DePriest will play shortstop, but we need to get good play at the other two positions.”
Lincoln Pius X
The Thunderbolts will be looking to win the rubber game of its series with Omaha Gross.
Pius X will take on Gross today at 1 p.m. at Den Hartog Field in the first round of the Class B state tournament. The game is a rematch of the district final, which Gross won 10-9 in nine innings. Two weeks ago, the Thunderbolts won 7-5 at the Cougars’ home field.
“There’s an advantage because everyone has seen everyone else. I think going in, we feel our game plan is solid,” said Pius X coach Troy Charf. “You do lose the element of surprise you would have playing somebody you haven’t played before.
“But when you get to this point, pitching dictates a lot of what happens, and we feel we have a solid staff.”
Charf said he will likely throw Aaron Molinaro. He also expects the full return to the lineup of Pat Essay, who suffered a hamstring injury two weeks ago and served as designated hitter in the district final.
“He had to sit a couple of games, but we hope he’ll be playing in the field,” said Charf. “But we got some awesome play from Drew Welsh, who is a junior. I think we have a nice, solid corps of players and others who can step up and fill in when needed.”
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