Upset; Neligh Juniors knock of top-seed Pierce

An offensive outburst propelled the Neligh Junior Legion baseball team past the Pierce Junior Legion team in the opening round of the district tournament Friday.

“I was really impressed with our pitching,” said Neligh coach Dan Murray. “When you get to districts, it’s a pitch-count game. You really have to watch what you are doing. We knew we were going to pull Beau (Murray) early. He started to get his stride, but we had to pull him. Conor (Ramold) went in and threw an amazing middle part of that game. That’s the best I’ve seen him throw. We had some nice defensive plays and we really did well. Our bats started to come alive and when that happens and these kids get up like that, they’re going to be a handful to mess with.”

After allowing two run in the second to Pierce, which entered the tournament as the No. 1 seed in the district, Neligh plated 12 unanswered runs to take a commanding 10-run lead.

Neligh, the No. 6 seed, cut the deficit to one in the third after Beau Murray scored on a wild pitch.
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After exchanging scoreless frames in the fourth inning, Neligh exploded for eight runs in the fifth. The first three batters were walked to start inning and Hunter Reestman laced a RBI single to left, tying the game at two. Two straight walks, a RBI single by Kaleb Pofahl, a hit batter, a fielder’s choice and an error gave Neligh a 9-2 advantage.

“It was big to get on base and do work from there,” Ramold said. “We got a few hits to knock them in.”

Pierce responded in the bottom of the fifth by loading the bases with one out, but the Neligh Juniors got out of the jam when Ramold made a lunging catch for an out and doubled up the runner at third to end the threat.

A two-run single by Garett Belitz and a wild pitch in the top of the seventh pushed Neligh’s lead to 10.

Pierce attempted to rally after plating two runs in the bottom of the seventh, but Belitz struck out the the final batter to complete the upset.

“We knew they were No. 1 and we wanted to come out and be aggressive with the bats, throw strikes and let the defense do the work,” Ramold said.

Ramold picked up the win on the mound. In four innings of relief, Ramold held Pierce hitless and recorded three strikeouts. Beau Murray started the game and allowed two runs on two hits, while Belitz pitched in the final inning and surrendered two runs and struck out three.

“We knew they were sitting on the first pitch, so the first-pitch strike was key,” Ramold said. “We made plays when they were available.”

Belitz led the offense with three runs batted in. Reestman and Pofahl each added a RBI single and Dawson Kaup had a double. Only four of Neligh’s 12 runs came by way of a hit.

“They really did well,” coach Murray said. “They (Pierce) brought their ace in the third inning and we knew he threw harder. We told them to be patient, step out (of the batter’s box), take a deep breathe, look down at me and Garrett (Jacobson - assistant coach), see what’s going on and then get back in there. Once we started doing that it calmed them down and we were seeing good pitches.”

Pierce drops to the consolation bracket where they face Battle Creek today at 1 p.m.

Neligh (6-4) advances to face Crofton today at 4 p.m.

“I like where we are sitting right now,” coach Murray said. “We didn’t burn up anyone but Conor on our pitching staff. We’re sitting really good and I like where we are at now. As long as we bring the same enthusiasm to start tomorrow, we’re going to be in good shape.”

Neligh 001 080 3 - 12
Pierce 020 000 2 - 4
WP: Conor Ramold