After a season-saving win against Omaha Roncalli on Saturday, the Fort Calhoun Junior Legion baseball team lost to Plattsmouth on Sunday, 10-7.
The three-run, Class B Area 2 Tournament loss was a season-ender.
“We got the job done against Roncalli and gave ourselves the chance to play another day,” Zig Drywall Post 348 coach Zach Ryan stated in a text message. “Sunday, I saw the same fire in their eyes. We kept the game close all the way through and, in the end, Plattsmouth got the job done.”
Even so, he was appreciative of the Calhoun players' efforts.
“The boys played their hearts out and I’m proud of every single one of them,” Ryan explained.
Zig Drywall, which went 1-2 during the Area 2 Tourney, led twice during the elimination game with Plattsmouth. It first took a 2-0 advantage through one inning before three runs in the fourth put it ahead 6-4.
Calhoun's Blake Work led off the bottom of the fourth frame with a walk before scoring on a passed ball. He found his way to third base on Aiden Johnson's bunt.
Tied at 4-all, Presley Olberding scored the go-ahead Post 348 run on Quetin Billesbach's RBI double. The batter later scored on his own for the two-run advantage — it just didn't stick.
Plattsmouth evened the elimination game's score at 6-6 during the fifth-inning and outscored Fort Calhoun 4-1 during the seventh for a three-run victory.
The loss ended Zig Drywall's Junior Legion season, but not its coach's optimism for what's next.
“The future for these boys is bigger than they think,” Ryan said. “It’s going to take a lot of hard work and dedication, but I think this year laid the ground work for that. They’ve got a sour taste in their mouth losing a well-fought game like tonight and they want more.”
He believes the Calhoun baseball players can build toward more success on the diamond.
“The future is in their hands,” Ryan said. “And, if they take advantage of the opportunities they’re given, there’s no telling what these boys can do.”
ZIG DRYWALL JUNIOR LINE SCORE
Sunday
Plattsmouth 10, Fort Calhoun 7
PLATT 0 2 2 0 2 0 4 — 10
FC 2 0 1 3 0 0 1 — 7
