Neligh Seniors Rebound With Road Win, Move To 10-1

It was a defensive battle Monday night as the Neligh Seniors bounced back after their first loss of the season for a road victory in Atkinson.

Tyson Belitz earned the win from the mound, striking out nine batters. The true senior didn’t allow a run until the seventh inning pitched a no-hitter entering the fifth inning.

“Tyson pitched a really good game. It was really windy up there, and even with that, he had great control,” coach Dan Murray said. “He did a nice job of mixing things up and really keeping them off balance. The ball that were in play, the defense backed him up on it. Tyson is one of those guys who not only finds his rhythm and stride as the game goes on but, also as the season goes on.”

Having been off so long due to the weather, Murray said his team didn’t hit the ball well.  When Neligh did get on base, the Seniors struggled to bring them home. After the top of the order went 0-for-3 in the first, Jayden Arehart was the first on base in the second inning. But he was picked off at second early. Austin Miller singled as did Austin Rice, but both were stranded as Neligh closed the inning without a run.

The third inning was more of the same. Hunter Charf crossed the plate early to break onto the scoreboard via an RBI single from Arehart. With bases loaded and just one out, the momentum looked to be tipping toward Neligh. But two strikeouts ended the inning, leaving the three stranded.

Neligh scored right away in the fourth inning as Austin Rice doubled to right field. Rice went 2-for-3 on the night and scored off of a Charf RBI. Neligh closed out the game with its final run in the seventh as Kaleb Pofahl it a double to right and later scored. Atkinson managed a run in the bottom of the seventh after a collision, but it wasn’t able to string together a run against Neligh.

The Seniors (10-1) will be back in action Thursday as they host Stanton at 7:30 p.m.

Neligh 001 100 1 - 3
Atkinson 000 000 1 - 1
WP: Tyson Belitz