It was the final weekend (July 12th-14th) of regular season action of legion baseball as the regular season comes to a close this coming week and this weekend was packed with action on the diamond.

Back on Friday, July 12th Atchison hosted Frankfort in a non-league double-header and Seneca played host to Rock Creek in a non-league double-header, as well. Atchison and Frankfort split their contests with Atchison punching out the offense in game one to win 12-1 in four innings and Frankfort holding off Atchison in game two with a 10-8 win. Seneca continued to roll this season on the diamond taking a pair from Rock Creek in a double-header (scores are yet to be known).

On Saturday, July 13th Hiawatha was the only NEK League team that actually played games on the diamond as they hosted Marysville for a double-header. While, Doniphan County was slated to take on Holton in a single league game but Doniphan County was awarded the forfeit win since Holton has forfeited the reminder of the season. For Hiawatha they kept it close in game one against Marysville but fell 7-5 and in game two Marysville pounded out 18 runs to grab an 18-8 win and the sweep.

Sunday, July 14th, brought out a full slate of games for all the NEK League teams. Hiawatha looked too responded from their non-league losses to Marysville as they hosted non-league foe Frankfort for a double-header. Hiawatha used a solid pitching performance and solid defense to fend off Frankfort 6-4 for a win in game one, but Frankfort responded with 15 runs in game two for the 15-2 win and the split. Sabetha took to the diamond in a non-league double-header, after their regular schedule double-header with Holton was forfeited by Holton for two Sabetha wins. Sabetha made it 4-0 on the weekend after using great pitching to top Oskaloosa 4-2 and 4-1.

In league matchups on Sunday, Doniphan County traveled to Seneca for a single showdown and Atchison traveled to Hoyt for a double-header with Royal Valley. Behind a complete game on the mound by Dustin Gosa Atchison took game one 14-4 over Royal Valley, but Royal Valley responded to split the double-header taking game two 9-1. Seneca made it a 3-0 weekend with by topping Doniphan County at home 5-1.

Updated NEK League Legion Standings -- click here

Friday July 12th: 

Atchison Splits Double-header with Frankfort 

Offense always comes and goes in baseball, but Atchison didn't seem to have a problem plating runs on Firday against Frankfort.

The A's wasted no time in game one, scoring two runs in the first inning. Atchison followed up the first with a seven-run second inning. The A's posted six hits in the inning, four of which were hits for extra bases.

Frankfort's lone run came in the fourth inning off an RBI-single by Christian Buessing. Atchison then scored two runs in the bottom of the inning to end the game.

In game two, it was Frankfort striking first, scoring three runs. The lead didn't last long though as Atchison plated seven runs off six hits to lead 7-3 after one inning.

Frankfort's offense exploded in the third inning and claimed the lead 8-7. Frankfort's Derek Trimble Porting moved from first to pitcher to close the door on the A's.

Porting recorded back-to-back 1-2-3 innings with four strikeouts in two innings of relief. Second baseman, Sam Steinlage was 2-3 with an RBI single and a run scored. Otheres with RBI hits include shortstop, Lucas Adams, Alex Surdez and right fielder, Jonathan Keating.

Second baseman, Jake Schmidt lead the charge for the A's going 1-3 with a two-RBi double. Jimmy Priest, Logan Blakely and Cody Calhoon each added RBI singles.

Plagued by Errors Hiawatha Falls to Marysville in DH 

Errors plagued Hiawatha in a non-league double-header against Marysville on Saturday as Marysville capitalized upon them to earn the sweep on the day with 7-5 and 18-8 wins.

Despite outhitting Marysville, seven errors plague Hiawatha as they fell short in a tough seven inning game, 7-5. Hiawatha took the early lead in the first behind an RBI double by Baxter DeFore, but Marysville responded with a three-run top of the second to gain the lead using a single, double, two walks and two Hiawatha errors. Hiawatha got one back in the bottom of the second, then regained the lead in the third frame with a pair of runs on back-to-back RBI singles from Parker Hasenkamp and Ryker Smith.

Hiawatha led it 4-3 going into the sixth when Marysville posted their second three-run inning of the game gaining the lead and added another run in the top of the seventh. Down to their final three outs, Hiawatha's comeback fell short plating only one run in the bottom of the inning to fall 7-5.

Brandon Fisher picked up the pitching win for Marysville going the distance giving up five runs on nine hits, while striking out 10. Dakota Bayles took the tough loss on the mound for Hiawatha pitching a complete game, giving up just six hits and striking out six.

Trevor Moser and Brock Watts led Marysville offense with 1-3 nights and 2 RBI each, while Watts scored a pair runs, also. For Hiawatha in the loss they got multi-hit games from Parker Hasenkamp, Dakota Bayles and Ryker Smith.

In game two, runs poured out for both teams but Marysville would complete the sweep on the night with the 10-run win, 18-8 in four innings.

Ultimately it was the errors once more that did Hiawatha in as they compiled 12 in contest and Marysville took advantage as 17 of their 18 runs were unearned. Marysville shoot out of the gate with a nine-run first, but it was cut to a four-run lead after a five-run bottom half of the frame by Hiawatha. Marysville then added an eight-run second inning from most of the games scoring.

Trevor Moser picked up the pitching win for Marysville pitching all four innings, will his offense behind him pounded out 18 hits, with six guys registering multi-hit games; led by Trent Truner and Ian Roever who each had two hits, four RBI and two runs scored.

Sunday July 14th: 

Hiawatha and Frankfort Split Non-League DH at Noble Park

In game one, Hiawatha used a four-run fourth and solid defense to hold off Frankfort for a 6-4 win. Hiawatha tallied a 1-0 lead after the first with a lead-off double by Brendan Steele who scored on a Baxter DeFore single. Frankfort tied the game in the top of the fourth after lead-off double by Sam Steinlage who scored on an error in the inning. In the bottom of the frame Hiawatha busted out for the big inning of the game plating four-runs on three singles, a double, two walks and an error. Scoring kept going in top of fifth with Frankfort tallying three-runs with three hit batters, single and fielder’s choice. Hiawatha added an insurance run in the bottom of the fifth on fielder’s choice after three walks to start the inning. Frankfort got a two-out base runner in the top of the seventh but couldn’t muster anything.

Despite giving up seven free passes (3 walks & 4 HBP), Marshall Swearingen only gave up two hits over seven innings earning the win on the mound. Offensively, Steele, DeFore and Parker Hasenkamp each had a multi-hit game with an RBI and runs scored, too.

Frankfort in the loss got their lone hits from Steinlage and Lucas Adams.

In game two, you could say Frankfort saved their offense fort that one winning the game 15-2 in four innings with at least two-runs in each inning, while out-hitting Hiawatha 14-3.

Frankfort took the early lead with two in the first and then plated six in the top of the second. Five singles, a double, walk and two hit batters helped Frankfort to their six-run second inning. They added four more in the third and three in the fourth. Hiawatha got their runs one in the first and other in the fourth. 

Cody Huerter lead the way on the mound for Frankfort giving up two runs on three hits in four innings while striking out five for the win. Offensively, Lucas Adams went 3-3 with two doubles, three runs scored, RBI and walk; while Sam Steinlage was 3-4 with five RBI and run scored.

Hiawatha in the loss got their lone three hits from Ryker Smith, Dakota Bayles and Dalton Lehmkuhl.

Sabetha Out Duels Oskaloosa on the Mound for DH Sweep

After picking up a pair of forfeit over Holton, Sabetha scheduled a double-header with Oskaloosa for Sunday and in a pair of pitching duels came out on top 4-2 and 4-1 for the double-header sweep.
 
In game one, Sabetha's Kyle Stallbaumer pitched a complete game in out dueling Wyatt Farris.  Stallbuamer only allowed two hits and fanned 11 hitters while allowing a pair of unearned runs.  Sabetha down 2-1 scored two in the fourth to comeback.  Adam Herl drove in the go-ahead run with a two-out single, while Keegan Schumann had a double in the bottom of the sixth to provide the final cushion.
 
Game two saw it was Nolan Keim with the great pitching going four and one-third without giving up a hit in a five inning game, helpin lead Sabetha to a 4-1 victory.  Sabetha got all their offense in the fourth tallying all four of their runs.  The big blow was a Taylor Bauman two-out single that scored a pair of runs to give Sabetha a 3-1 lead.  After Bauman stole second, Keegan Schumann had an RBI single for the final margin and giving Keim his second win in six days. 
 

Seneca Tops Doniphan County in Tough 5-1 Win

Behind the arm of Alex Hermesch, Seneca used eight hits to comeback from a 1-0 defiect in the game to top Doniphan County 5-1 on the night.

Doniphan County lead it 1-0 going into the fifth when Seneca plated two-runs to take the lead and then added three more in the sixth inning to push to a 5-1 lead and finish the game off with that score.

Hermesch went the distance giving up only three hits and striking out 11 over seven. Offensively, Seneca brought the balance attack from the top to the bottom of the order with eight total hits.

Royal Valley and Atchison Split Double-Header 

Atchison continued its hot streak in game one, winning 14-4. Dustin Gosa pitched a complete game, giving up five hits, three walks and recorded five strikeouts. Derek Belveal went 4-4 and Cody Calhoon went 2-4 to lead the offense. 

The offense disappeared in the second game, as Royal Valley held Atchison to five hits, earing the win 9-1. Jimmy Priest took the loss. Dustin Gosa went 2-2 for Atchison.