Two State title contenders clashed on the diamond Friday afternoon: the Lincoln East Spartans (9-0) and the Gretna East Griffins (5-3). The Griffins came out victorious over the Spartans (2-1) in a cold-weather pitchers’ battle, bringing their season record to 6-3.
“We knew if we sacrificed a little bit, put bunts down, make them throw the ball around, good things might happen for us,” Varsity Baseball Coach Darrell Everhart said. “Even though there is a great team over there, we just go out and play our best baseball.”
Both teams made championship appearances last year in their respective classes. Heading into the April 4 game, the Griffins were rated #2 in Class B in the coach’s poll, and the Spartans were rated #2 in Class A. Taking on the, at the time, 9-0 team, provided the boys the competition they were looking for.
“We want to compete with the best teams,” Everhart said. “We [the coaching staff] joke around sometimes and say even if it was the Storm Chasers that took the other dugout, we’d still approach the game the same way.”
With that mentality in mind, pitcher, sophomore Colton Kuhl took the bump in the top of the first. He recorded two strikeouts in the first three batters faced and didn’t look back from there.
“I went with a curveball-fastball mix,” Kuhl said. “The umpire was giving the outside, so I took advantage.”
The top of the third led to the only action for the Spartans, catcher, senior Jeter Worthley singled to right field, then advanced to second base on an overthrown pick-off attempt from Kuhl. After a strikeout and ground ball to shortstop, sophomore Chase Neneman, Worthley advanced to third. In a 2-1 count, pitching to keep the game scoreless, Kuhl gave up a single to right, and the Spartans took the lead 1-0; however, the lead didn’t last long.
“We kept our energy high the whole time,” first baseman, junior Carson Herrmann said. “We just played our game, we knew if we kept our composure, we’d have a shot.”
They kept up the fight, and in the bottom of the fourth, Herrmann started the inning with a bloop single to right field. From there, the Griffins focused on small-ball play. As center fielder, senior Tanner Erdkamp dropped a bunt down the right foul line, which forced a crucial fielding error from the Spartans that allowed the runners to advance to second and third. After a ground out to third base from left fielder, junior Kuba Brown, catcher, senior Easton Leahy hit a ground ball and forced a throwing error from shortstop, senior Joey Senstock. Herrmann crossed the plate and brought the game to 1-1.
“I thought we pitched really well,” Herrmann said. “They [the pitchers] went out there and did an amazing job.”
Pitching and defense dominated the game, with no runs scored and just four hits from the two teams after the fourth inning. Still in a tie, the game came down to the bottom of the seventh. After a dropped third strike, third baseman senior Nolan Green reached first and the winning run was on. Another bunt base hit, this time by second baseman, senior Tyler Cox, advanced the runner into scoring position and after a throwing error on a ground ball to short, the Griffins walked it off.
“We are playing three of the top five Class A teams over the next five days,” Everhart said. “But as long as you’ve got guys on your team like Colton Kuhl, you’re in good hands.”
The team will get the opportunity to take on another powerhouse team this afternoon as Bellevue West (7-2) travels to the Griffin baseball field, “The Nest” at 4:30.