Seniors Keep Perfect Season Alive In Split Against Creighton

The perfect season remains intact for the Neligh Seniors despite struggling at home against Creighton. The Legion teams split with the Juniors falling 16-6 and the Seniors winning 5-4.

"We did not show up from the start ready to play," coach Dan Murray said. "I think we seen the best Creighton had to offer, and we did not play out best. I am proud of the boys for keeping the fight and stepping up when they needed to. This will be a good lesson for us that no matter who we play. We have to show up and be ready.

In the nightcap, Creighton held a 3-0 lead until Neligh exploded in a decisive fifth inning. Hunter Charf started things off with a single. Beau Murray and Tyson Belitz then walked and all three later scored to knot the score at 3-all.

With two outs and Creighton trying to get out of the inning, Neligh continued to battle to the bases. Jayden Arehart, Andrew Herley, Austin Miller, Austin Rice and Charf all kept thing rolling for Neligh at the plate.

Creighton looked like it was going to get out of the inning tied when Rice hit a blooper into the open outfield. Although the throw to first beat Rice, the first baseman was off the bag, and Rice was called safe.  Arehart and Herley both scored to give Neligh a 5-3 advantage after five. 

Coincidentally, it was Rice who ended the game for Neligh with a double play. In the seventh inning, Creighton had runners on the corners with just one out. The ball lined to first base, where Rice caught the ball, stepped on the corner and ended the game. Tyson Belitz earned the win from the mound.

The Juniors played fairly even until Creighton lit up the scoreboard with a 10-run inning late in the game.

---