Twenty-four hours after a come-from-behind, walk-off win in Plattsmouth, the Fort Calhoun Junior Legion baseball team's season ended there.
The Zig Drywall Pioneers lost a 3-1 Class B Area 3 Tournament elimination game to Springfield on Sunday, closing out their season 5-12 overall and 1-2 in tourney play.
“Tough one to end the year on,” Post 348 coach Jamie Warner said. “Didn't really have our 'A' game at the plate and it came back to bite us. “
Springfield scored just one run apiece during the second, third and sixth innings, but it was enough to advance to the Area semifinals on Monday.
“We pitched well and played good enough defense to win,” Warner continued. “I think it really came down to us not being able to make an adjustment at the plate and stringing a few hits together.”
Fort Calhoun produced its lone run during the bottom of the fourth frame. With two outs, Alex and Carter Christensen scraped together back-to-back doubles to pull the Pioneers within 2-1.
The score held there through fifth inning, but moved to 3-1 when Springfield manufactured a two-run lead with just six outs separating them from tournament advancement.
Post 348's Alex Christensen and Sam Genoways kept their team in the game, however, with their work on the mound. Christensen suffered the loss, officially, though Springfield scored just two runs against him.
The loss capped a 17-game season for a Fort Calhoun Juniors lineup filled with new faces.
“Overall, I'm really proud of how all the guys fought this weekend and all year long,” Warner said. “The young guys definitely set a good foundation for them to build off of next year.”
