On another hot summer day, Hiawatha hosted Doniphan County for a NEK League double header at Noble Park.

In want proved to be a night of pitching duels between the two teams it was a split of the double header with Hiawatha coming out on top in game one 2-1, while Doniphan County used a three-run fifth to win game two 4-1 a scheduled five inning affair.

Game one, both Dylan Gabriel for Doniphan County and Taylor Jacobsen for Hiawatha worked out of jams throughout the contest with Hiawatha ultimately capitalizing enough to grab the 2-1 win. Doniphan County got on the board first plating a run in the third inning, but when they tried to make it two runs Ryker Smith threw out Quenton Munger at home for the third out of the inning. Smith returned to the lineup for Hiawatha for the first time this season since the NEK League tournament earlier in the season when he suffered a elbow injury.

Hiawatha had a few opportunities in the contest but finally broke through in the fifth plating two runs after three infield singles to lead off the inning, Baxter DeFore and Parker Hasenkamp picked up RBI's in the inning.

Jacobsen and the Hiawatha then shut down Doniphan County the rest of the way stopping any opportunity they tried to muster. Taylor pitched the complete game giving up just one run on eight hits and three walks, while striking out four, perhaps none more important than the strikeout to end the top of the fifth that left the bases loaded for Doniphan County. For his pitching performance and working out of multiple jams Jacobsen earned McDonald's "Player of the Game" honors on KNZA .

While, Jacobsen pitched a solid game Doniphan Counties Gabriel did too, giving up only two runs on 10 hits and a walk, while striking out eight to take the tough loss.

Offensively Ryker Smith in his first game back continued to tattoo the ball going 2-3 (came into game 9-11 in the first four games of the season), while Dakota Bayles added a 2-3 game.

Quenton Munger and Gabriel both had multi-hit games for Doniphan County in the loss.

In game two action it was another pitching duel on the night this time between Hiawatha's, Shawn Green and Doniphan Counties, Nathan Gaarder.

Just like in game one Doniphan County took the early lead scoring a run in the second as Cody Israel scored on a wild pitch after he lead off the inning with a single. Hiawatha quickly responded with run of their own in the bottom of the frame to tie the game at 1-1.

Going into the final frame, the top of the fifth, Doniphan County used four singles and a walk to tally three more runs and take the lead. Hiawatha down to their final out started a two-out rally with a pair of singles but the comeback attempt fell short there, sending Doniphan County to the 4-1 win.

Gaarder out dueled Green on the mound as he pitched five innings, giving up only one run on four hits and a walk while striking out three to earn the win. Green pitched four and two-thirds giving up four runs on six hits, three walks and a hit batter, while striking out two.

Israel lead the offense for Doniphan County with a 2-3 game tallying two RBI and a run scored, while Gabriel was 1-3 with an RBI and run scored. Brendan Steele for Hiawatha went 2-3 in the loss, coming up with half of Hiawatha's hits in the game.

With the split on the evening both teams registered a league win and loss on their records. Doniphan County is now 15-12 on the season and 7-2 in league play will next play Sunday July 14th at Seneca at 4:00pm as their scheduled game on Saturday versus Holton will be a forfeit win for them.

Hiawatha with the 1-1 night is now 7-19 on the season and 6-11 in league play and now turn their attention to a double header with Marysville on Saturday at 6:00 and 8:00pm at Noble Park.

Updated NEK League Legion Standings -- click here