The Omaha World-Herald's fourth-ranked Class C baseball team met No. 6 on Thursday in Fort Calhoun.
The sixth-ranked Pioneers pulled out the 3-0 win against Arlington behind the efforts of their right-handed starting pitcher, Levi Lasher, who threw a seven-inning no-hitter.
“I love pitching against Arlington,” the senior said. “It's always a battle. They always come to play.”
After three strikeouts and just two walks, he noted the motivation behind his gem against the Eagles.
“They had a home run off of me 2 years ago and I think about that every time I pitch against them,” Lasher said.
Arlington coach Justin Meyer felt both team's hurlers played well during the all-Washington County Nebraska Capitol Conference matchup.
“It was a pitcher's duel today,” he said. “They made a few extra plays than we did.”
The most notable may have been the last. Needing one more out to complete the no-hitter, Fort Calhoun centerfielder Presley Olberding made a diving catch in the grass to end the game.
“I thought that was going to be the left fielder's ball, but then he called my name,” the sophomore said. “So, I had to jump out there and put my body on the line.”
What does Lasher owe him for the effort?
“Whatever he would like, I'd take it,” Olberding said, grinning. “He did good pitching.”
The right-handed starter felt his no-no was safe as he saw the outfielder chase the fly ball down.
“I honestly thought he had it,” Lasher said. “Didn't even question it really.”
Even if the play wasn't made, though, Fort Calhoun still held a 3-0 lead against the Eagles, scoring two runs during the first inning and its third during the fourth. The Pioneers' Kenny Wellwood scored on a passed ball, Sam Genoways made it home on an error and Eli Tinkham scored when Wellwood was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded.
“They didn't make mistakes today and we made three costly mistakes that cost us three runs,” Meyer said.
Tinkham (three hits), Charlie Boumstein (two) and Genoways combined for six hits against Arlington, but the Eagles' coach was still pleased with his starting pitcher, Jackson Stosich. The junior stuck out four batters across seven innings.
At the same time, though, Fort Calhoun largely kept AHS off of the bases altogether. Peyton Marfisi walked twice, Tim Halley was hit by a pitch and Tanner Kyllo reached on an error, but that was it.
“We were playing great defense,” Lasher said. “It was automatic today.”
The key to his success on the mound, he said, was picking up early strikes.
“I tried to get ahead in the count,” he reiterated.
The Pioneer did successfully, throwing to catcher Chase Premer.
“We just weren't making adjustments,” said Meyer, noting the Eagles' struggles. “We were swinging at just bad pitches early in the count. Just getting ourself out.”
The end result was a 3-0 road loss in Fort Calhoun.
“I thought a few of our guys struck the ball nice and they just made good plays,” Meyer summarized.
Olberding's diving catch at the end among them.
Pioneers add Platte Valley win
The Pioneers' winning ways continued Friday when they bested Platte Valley on the road in Yutan, 8-0.
Genoways and Chase Bierman combined to pitch their team's third-straight shutout, allowing just a hit apiece. Genoways struck out eight batters across six innings, while Bierman got one.
Offensively, Olberding plated two runs, while Boumstein, Wellwood, Alex Christensen and Bierman notched an RBI apiece. Premer doubled, finishing the seven-inning game with a team-best two hits, too.
FCHS was scheduled to host Douglas County West on Monday and next competes Thursday during a Wahoo triangular at Sam Crawford Field. The Pioneers' first game starts at 2 p.m. against Central City.
HS BASEBALL LINE SCORES
Friday
No. 6 Fort Calhoun 8, Platte Valley 0
FCHS (6-1) 0 6 1 0 0 1 0 — 8 6 1
PV (2-6) 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 — 0 2 4
Thursday
No. 6 Fort Calhoun 3, No. 4 Arlington 0
AHS (4-3) 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 — 0 0 1
FCHS (5-1) 2 0 0 1 0 0 X — 3 6 1
