Kearney High Athletics
*Story provided by Dave Brandt
Omaha, NE – Despite a valiant effort in their opening contest at Millard West against Lincoln Pius Wednesday, the Kearney Bearcat Softball team fell short of continuing their season with a 6-5 loss coupled with a 13-1 defeat to Omaha Burke to end their season yesterday.
Game 1 vs Lincoln Pius X – The Kearney Bearcats traveled to Millard West for the A-6 district softball tournament Wednesday, October 4. Game 1 was a rematch from the first night of the season against Lincoln Pius. Kearney took leads in the tops of the 2nd and 3rd innings but Pius took the lead back in the bottom of the 5th and extended it in the 6th.
The Bearcats added 2 in the top of the 7th, but came up a run short, losing 6-5.
Lauren Schmeits pitched for the Bearcats, allowing 11 hits and 3 walks while striking out 3. Kelsey Hatcher led the team with 3 hits. Ava Magnani and Kami Kaskie kept their hot bats from the previous weekend, each hitting home runs. The loss sent them to the losers bracket in the district tournament.
Game 2 – Omaha Burke – The 2nd game of the afternoon was a losers-go-home game with Burke losing to Millard West earlier in the day. The Kearney bats went cold while the Bulldogs hit the ball well and took advantage of Bearcat errors.
Avery Longshore, Schmeits and Magnani each pitched for Kearney on the way to a 17-1 loss for the Bearcats. With the loss, Kearney ended their season at 13-20. Class A district brackets will continue play Thursday, October 5, at sites in Lincoln and Omaha, finalizing the field for the state tournament that starts October 11 in Hastings.
