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It was an action packed Wednesday night in the Northeast Kansas League for legion baseball as all seven League teams were in action with three League double headers and one non-league twin bill.

The highlight of the night was the fact that the NEKL tournament title was to be decided between Seneca and Doniphan County in Wathena in the first game of their double header and Doniphan County defended the title with a 3-0 win. Seneca bounced back with a commanding 11-1 four inning win in the night cap.

In other League action it was sweeps for Atchison and Frankfort over Hiawatha and Sabetha, respectively. Atchison took down Hiawatha on the road, winning 10-2 in five innings and 4-0, while Frankfort came from behind down two-runs late in each game to score three runs and win in walk off fashion in each game, 7-6 and 9-8.

Oskaloosa hit the diamond in non-league play and hosted Geiger out of Leavenworth and took advantage of free passes to cruise to a 10-0 five inning win, along with a 12-4 victory.

Doniphan County Wins NEKL Tournament Title But Splits Double Header with Seneca

It was more than your normal League double header on Wednesday in Wathena as Doniphan County hosted Seneca and the NEKL tournament title was up for grabs in game one of the twin bill. Doniphan County defended the tournament title with a 3-0 win, but Seneca went home with the double header split after picking up the 11-1 four inning win in game two.

Game one didn't disappoint if you are a fan of pitching and defense as Nathan Gaarder and Dustin Rottinghaus tried to out duel each other on the mound in a great ball game, the only difference in the game was a pair of homers given up by Rottinghaus that produce the lone runs of the game. Gaarder put Doniphan County on the board in the bottom of the first with a two-run homer, scoring Reid Greaser who drew a leadoff walk in the inning; Greaser added a solo homer in the third inning to make it 3-0 for Doniphan County. Pitching and solid defense was the story of the outside of the homers as Gaarder went seven innings to earn the win pitching the complete game shutout giving up just five hits, two walks and struck out five, while going 1-3 with a two-run homer earning him McDonald's "Player of the Game" on Kanzaland radio. While Rottinghaus for Seneca pitched six strong innings yielding three runs on four hits, three walks and struck out 12 in the loss, while going 2-3 at the plate.

It was all Seneca in game as they used an 11-run second inning for the four inning 11-1 win. Doniphan County struck first in the contest plating their lone run of the game in the bottom of the first off an RBI single by Phoenix Keller, but Seneca took control in the second. Behind four hits, four Doniphan County errors and four walks Seneca batted around and scored 11 runs cruising to the win. Cody Rottinghaus started the game for Seneca pitching the first two innings for the win, while Devin Henry finished off the game as they combined to only give up five base runners to Doniphan County (one via error).

With the split Doniphan County and Seneca both moved to 10-3 overall on the season while Doniphan County is 3-3 in League play and Seneca is now 7-3 in League action.

Frankfort Erases a Two-Run Deficit Twice On Night to Sweep Sabetha

Frankfort earned their first League wins of the season with a sweep on their home diamond of Sabetha after erasing a pair of two-run deficits in each game to earn the walk off wins, 7-6 and 9-8. 

In game one Sabetha held the 6-4 lead going into the bottom of the seventh when Frankfort plated three runs on a pair of hits, hit batter, wild pitch and Sabetha error to come from behind for the 7-6 win. Cody Huerter pitched the final three innings for the win and finished the game with two hits for Frankfort, including a RBI double in the final frame. Sabetha in the loss out-hit Frankfort 10-7 and had a two-hit game from Adam Herl and Blake Popkess, while Jake Meyer took the loss.

Game two was a mirror image of the first at the end of the game was as Sabetha led by two-runs going into the bottom of the fifth and Frankfort scored three on four walks and a pair of hits to secure the 9-8 win in walk off fashion. Huerter again earned the win on the mound getting the final out of the top of the fifth, while Marshall Ruetti and Brendan Melvin pitched a majority of the contest. Once again in the loss Sabetha out-hit Frankfort 7-4 and Popkess had a pair of hits.

With the sweep Frankfort is now 3-5 on the season and 2-4 in League play, while Sabetha fell to 4-15 on the year and 2-6 in League action.

Atchison Sweeps Hiawatha on the Road

After a tough six-game losing streak Atchison has now won three straight with a sweep of Hiawatha on the road on Wednesday night, winning 10-2 in five innings and 4-0.

In game one Atchison got the offense rolling with a four-run first using a hit, hit batter, walk and two Hiawatha errors to plate four runs. An RBI double by Dillon Kramer made it 5-0 Atchison in the top of the third when Hiawatha cut into the lead in with two runs in the bottom of the third on three hits and a walk, including a Shawn Green RBI double in the frame. Atchison finished the game out with three runs in the fourth and two in the fifth for the 10-2 five inning winnings. Lane Fry blasted a three-run homer for Atchison who only had five hits in the game and James Boatwright earned the win on the mound. Taylor Jacobsen and Brendan Steele each had a multi-hit game for Hiawatha in the loss.

The nightcap saw Atchison score a single run in four of the five innings played for the 4-0 win and sweep. Cole Siebenmorgan limited Hiawatha to two hits and two walks, while striking out eight for the win and went 2-3 at the plate for Atchison. Chase Behler added a solo homer in the Atchison win, while Shawn Green took the loss on the mound despite pitching a solid game going five innings giving up four runs (two earned) on four hits, five walks and striking out two.

Atchison moved to .500 on the season at 6-6 with the sweep and is 4-4 in League action, while Hiawatha fell to 3-10 overall and 2-6 in League play.

Oskaloosa Cruises Past Geiger for Non-League Sweep

Oskaloosa stepped outside of League play and hosted Geiger out of Leavenworth and picked up a pair of wins, laying claim to a 10-0 four inning and 12-4 victories.

Dalton VanHoutan led the charge in game one for Oskaloosa as he pitched all four innings for the complete game shutout giving up just one hit and one walk, while striking out five. Offensively, Kyle Hopkins led the team with a single, double and walk in the contest, while the rest of the team drew a combined eight walks in game one.

In game two it was a full team effort from pitching to offense for Oskaloosa in the 12-4 victory. Bryce Stottlemire pitched three innings of action, while Zach Whaley pitched the fourth getting out of a bases loaded jam in the inning and Hopkins pitched also. VanHoutan and Whaley led the offense with two-hit games, while Hopkins and Kody Gibson each went 1-2 with a walk in the win.

The two wins push Oskaloosa to 10-5 on the season overall and they are riding a five game winning streak.