Nemesis Malcolm stops Imperial Seniors at state, survival game today

RUSHVILLE, Neb. — Malcolm’s becoming an all-too-familiar nemesis for Imperial Legion baseball teams at Class C state tourneys.

On Monday, Malcolm dealt the Horns their first defeat in three games with an 8-5 comeback win.

Imperial (17-7 record) now must play Dannebrog-Cairo-Boelus to remain in the ‘C’ state title chase.

Coach Bruce Peterson’s team had won its first two tourney games on Saturday and Sunday.

Imperial took a 4-0 lead over Malcolm before the first half-inning was finished.

A variety of miscues ignited the start which featured Gavin Wisnieski ripping an RBI-single for a 2-0 edge.

Carson Lempke and Jaret Peterson had both reached thanks to fielding errors.

Moments later with bases loaded, Carter Leibbrandt was plunked by an inside pitch which forced home Thomas Reeves.

Cooper Dillan then drilled an RBI-single which scored Braxton Moreno. Imperial’s lead could have gone beyond 4-0 but the bases were left loaded.

Malcolm responded like champions with a three-run first and three-run second.

Just like that, Imperial trailed 6-5 and did not score again through the final five frames.

Malcolm has beaten Imperial’s Juniors at the last two Class C state tourneys — including a 6-0 championship game.

Imperial hosted the C Juniors tourney earlier this month and fell 13-1 to Malcolm on its way for a second straight Class C championship.

Malcolm eventually outhit Imperial on Monday, 8-6, despite two singles apiece from Tyson Lempke and Dillan.

Mason Wallin added an RBI-single but the Horns fell short, extra painful since five inside pitches hit Imperial batters.

Wisnieski took the loss after Dillan pitched five innings. He struck out five, allowed six hits and four earned runs.

Imperial edged the Chick-Fi-La Seniors from Lincoln Lutheran, 6-5, to start state play on Friday.

The Horns trailed 5-4 until Wisnieski whipped a dramatic wallk-off single as both Taylor Jablonski and Carson Lempke dashed home.

Jaret Peterson’s four-for-four hitting highlighted the win. Peterson, Reeves and Wisnieski each totaled two RBIs.

Leibbrant scattered 12 hits over 6 1/3 innings to earn the win.

Imperial advanced into Sunday’s winners bracket game vs. the Security First Regulators.

The Horns again rallied through a 5-2 deficiit and plated seven runs in those final three innings for this 9-5 victory.

Wallin doubled, tripled and singled to nearly achieve a baseball “cycle.” He scored twice and batted in a teammate.

Leibbrandt, Tyson Lempke and Peterson all delivered two big hits.

Exactly half of the 10 Horn hits overall went for extra bases: four doubles along with Wallin’s triple.

Peterson, Dillan and Leibbrant doubled.

Peterson pitched 2 2/3 scoreless innings to top four Imperial hurlers on the mound.