Colton Master of Doniphan County

Atchison A's, Cody Calhoon & Mark McDermed

Frankfort's, Sam Steinlage

After Mother Nature pushed the start of the NEKL Legion baseball tournament back a day the action got underway on Sunday with the first round and Semifinals. Both Atchison and Doniphan County earned spots in the Championship game scheduled for Monday night (June 9th) at 7:00pm at Somerset Park in Sabetha. Game will be broadcasted on 103.9 KNZA.

2014 League standings and full schedule -- click here
2014 KNZA & KMZA Legion Baseball broadcast schedule -- click here
Northeast Kansas League Legion Baseball Tournament (updated) -- full bracket

Atchison Tops Hiawatha 9-1 in Five Innings in the First Round

Things started off slow for both Atchison and Hiawatha in the first game of the day but both team put a tally on the board in the second frame to make it a 1-1 game. Atchison then added another in the third and then broke the game open in the fifth with a seven-run frame to grab the 9-1 run-rule victory and move on to the Semifinals.

Mark McDermed paced Atchison on the mound going all five innings, giving up just one run on one hit, a walk, hit batsmen and three strikeouts, while aiding his cause offensively going 3-3 with two runs scored and two RBI, all earning the McDonald's "Player of the Game" honors on the radio. Cody Calhoon added a solid offensive game going 3-4 with a pair of RBI's for Atchison also as they picked up their first win of the season moving to 1-2 on the year.

Hiawatha managed only one hit, as Brendan Steele recorded the hit and Dakota Bayles scored the lone run in the loss. With the loss Hiawatha fell to 0-7, still in search of their first win of the season.

Atchison's Offensive Stays Hot in 11-2 Semifinal Win over Seneca

The Atchison A's offensive continued to produce in their second game of the day as they took the early 1-0 lead in the first inning against Seneca after a Cody Calhoon came around to score after his lead-off double in the inning. Atchison added four more runs in the third off just one hit, three walks and a Seneca error, to lead 5-0. Seneca got back into the game with two-runs in the fourth but Atchison quickly responded with a six-run bottom half of the fourth to lead 11-2 and then shut the door with a one-two-three top of the fifth to earn the win.

Calhoon picked up the McDonald's "Player of the Game" honors on the radio after another stellar offensive game going 2-2 with three runs scored, an RBI, double and walk. Cole Siebenmorgan posted a multi-hit game going 2-2 with run scored as Atchison had 10 hits as a team. Tanner Huntington pitched all five innings giving up two runs on four hits, two walks and a hit batsman, while striking out two, to earn to win, helping Atchison move to 2-2 on the year and move to the NEKL Legion tournament Championship game.

Seneca struggled with the bat only posting four hits, but Dustin Rottinghaus was 1-1 with a double, run scored and walk in the loss. With the loss Seneca fell to 3-2 on the season and that ended their chance at winning the League tournament for the fourth straight year.

Frankfort Holds On for 5-4 Win Over Sabetha in the First Round

Sabetha took early control of the game plating two runs on four hits in the first inning, but Frankfort captured the lead in the bottom of the third and held on for the 5-4 win. Frankfort plated three runs in the third behind three hits and a walk, and then added two more in the fourth sending eight guys to the plate, giving Frankfort the 5-2 lead after four innings. After both teams stranded runners in the fifth, Sabetha pulled to within two-runs after scoring one in the sixth off a Kyler Krebs RBI single. Down to their final three outs Sabetha drew within one-run as Blake Popkess had an RBI single in the seventh to score Keegan Schumann, but Popkess was then thrown out at home to end the game after a double steal attempt by Sabetha.

Frankfort was paced by Sam Steinlage at the plate as he was 2-4 with two doubles, a run scored and RBI earning him McDonald's "Player of the Game" honors on the radio. Lucas Adams and Cody Huerter added 2-3 performances for the Frankfort in the win, improving them to 3-1 on the season and moving them to the Semifinals. Derek Porting went the distance to pick up the pitching victory.

Popkess led Sabetha on the night going 3-4 with two RBI's and a double, while Taylor Bauman and Keegan Schumann each went 2-4 in the game. Schumann had a pair of doubles in the loss, as Sabetha fell to 4-7 on the season.

Doniphan County Uses Offense to Push Past Frankfort 11-1 in Four Innings in the Semifinals

Frankfort took the early lead 1-0 after Lucas Adams came around to score in the first inning after his lead-off infield single, Doniphan County wasted no time getting on the board themselves as Nathan Gaarder had an RBI single in the bottom of the first to tie the game at 1-1. At the point the offense was all mainly in the favor of Doniphan County as they took control with a three run second inning, aided by three Frankfort errors. After a scoreless third, Doniphan County ended the game in the fourth after scoring six runs in the inning highlighted by a two-run homer by Colton Masters, helping Doniphan County to the 11-1 win in four innings.

Masters finished the game 2-3 with two runs scored, two RBI's and a two-run homer earning him McDonald's "Player of the Game" honors on the radio. While his teammates, Caleb Winkel and Cooper Leach added 2-3 performances and Gaarder picked up the pitching win along with scoring a pair of runs. Doniphan County with the win remained unbeaten on the season moving to 3-0 and earned a spot in the NEKL Legion tournament Championship game against Atchison on Monday night.

Frankfort in the loss was held to three hits, but had five walks in the game as Lucas Adams, Derek Trimble and Cody Huerter each had a hit. With the loss Frankfort falls to 3-2 on the season.