Blair Little League starts state tournament competition today after qualifying in Minor League play last weekend.
The All-Stars went 2-0 during the Nebraska Northern Area Tournament at Wederquist Field, sweeping past South Sioux City and Keystone Little League. They now face Gretna today for a 6 p.m. game in Kearney. State continues Saturday and Sunday before its second weekend of competition, July 22-24.
At home, Blair beat South Sioux City 9-2 last Sunday to clinch the district title. The All-Stars were in a 3-2 battle through three innings, but seized control on the scoreboard with three runs during the top of the fourth frame. They then added three runs across the fifth and sixth innings to win comfortably by seven.
Andrew Greenwood, Owen Swaney and Calan Herber led Blair at the plate against South Sioux City. Greenwood notched a team-high two hits, while Swaney drew three walks and Herber tallied two RBIs.
Finn Johnson and Blayton Anderson, meanwhile, combined to pitch all six innings Sunday. Johnson struck out six batters over four innings, while Anderson held the opposition without a run across his two frames on the mound.
Two days earlier, Blair's Minors team beat Keystone 11-6 on July 8. Herber, Jonson and Anderson combined to pitch a two-hitter, striking out 12 batters.
If the All-Stars can win a state title, they'll be the first Blair Little League team to do so in more than a decade.
Majors go 0-2
Blair's Major All-Stars fell short of a state qualification Sunday, falling to 0-2 in Northern Area Tourney play. It lost to South Sioux City 8-3 after a 10-4 loss to Keystone Little League on July 8
Isaak Schultz and Draeson Allen provided strong play across both games for the hometown team at Wederquist Field. They combined for eight strikeouts on the mound against South Sioux after each tallying two hits against Keystone.
