Grand Island wins again, will face Millard North
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BY RYLY JANE HAMBLETON / Lincoln Journal Star
Grand Island’s giant-killing ways continued Tuesday in the Class A state baseball tournament, but the Islanders aren’t so sure their victories should be labeled as upsets.
Grand Island, which came into the state tournament unranked and seeded eighth, knocked off third-ranked Omaha Westside 2-1 at Haymarket Park to advance to the Class A winners’ bracket final today at 4 p.m. against Millard North. The Mustangs beat Millard West 1-0 in the other semifinal.
The Class B winners’ bracket final at 7 p.m. will pit defending state champion Elkhorn against Omaha Gross.
“Early in the season, we had to exorcise some demons. We have good players, but we had some inexperienced players,” said Islanders coach Rick Kissack, whose team improved to 18-13 after starting the season 6-10.
Pitcher Eric Schwieger, who said getting players back from injuries helped the Islanders, held Westside to three hits.
“I knew we were on a roll once the pop-outs and ground-outs started coming,” he said. “My offspeed pitch was great and I was able to keep them off-balance.”
The Islanders upended top-ranked Creighton Prep 8-2 in the first round after beating No. 2 Millard North in their district final to earn the state tournament berth.
“Everyone always talks about experience. We’ve been here four times in six years,” said Kissack. “To some degree, we’ve figured out the mentality of playing here and quit overemphasizing things and just play baseball.”
Grand Island got the winning run in the fifth inning when Nebraska recruit Kash Kalkowski tripled into right center past the outstretched glove of Alec Williams. Luke Farrar, who moved to Grand Island from Lincoln High this year, followed with an RBI single up the middle.
“I had a few butterflies when I walked up there. But I was just looking for something to jump on,” said Farrar. “I got hold of the first pitch and drove it.
“This team is playing with a bunch of confidence. Something clicked for us and we’re going strong.”
The Islander defense turned in some outstanding plays, including a leaping grab of a line drive by Kalkowski, who also displayed his range at shortstop.
Nathan Zook tripled into the right-field corner to open the fourth for Grand Island and tied the game on a groundout by Casey Griffin.
Millard North 1, Millard West 0
Millard North scored its run in the first inning and pitcher J.R. Rehmann made it stand up, allowing just two hits and no walks.
In the first, Brady Hohl walked, stole second and moved to third on a Ryan Sheetz single to left. He scored on a sacrifice fly.
Millard West threatened in the bottom of the seventh, but Rehman got a strikeout to end the game.
Elkhorn 5, Ralston 3
In Class B action, Jake Ritzdorf was 3-for-4 with a double and an RBI to lead the Antlers in Tuesday’s win. Elkhorn had 12 hits in the game and held Ralston to only four hits.
Omaha Gross 7, Gretna 6
Jesse Parker drove in the winning run in the bottom of the eighth when he was hit by a pitch. Gretna had taken a 6-4 lead into the bottom of the seventh before Brandon Winkelman connected on a two-run home run to send the game into extra innings.
Ryly Jane Hambleton at 473-7314 or rhambleton@journalstar.com.
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