MNB Seniors 1-2 at Chadron Tournament

CHADRON -- The McCook National Bank Seniors American Legion baseball team played three games decided by one run at the Chadron Tournament Saturday and Sunday.

The Seniors went 1-2 and dropped to 5-6 on the summer.

On Saturday, the Seniors lost to Ainsworth 5-4 and defeated Valentine 9-8. Sunday, MNB lost to Gordon 4-3 in nine innings.

Ainsworth scored three runs in the sixth inning to rally against MNB. Mike Sinclair started for the Seniors and pitched 5 2/3 innings. Alex Sughroue worked the final 1 1/3 innings. The duo combined to allow three hits, but McCook committed four errors.

McCook scored one run in the second inning, two in the third and one in the fifth on eight hits.

Jon Bryant had two hits and scored two runs for McCook. Brandon Kotschwar tripled.

McCook overcame a seven-run first inning by Valentine to post a 9-8 victory. Sughroue started for the Seniors and lasted one-third of an inning. He was replaced by Evan Koetter, who allowed a run in the seventh and struck out eight.

McCook scored five runs in the second inning, one in the fourth and three in the seventh on seven hits and four Valentine errors.

Colton Cochran had two hits for McCook. Koetter had two doubles. Andrew Reitz scored two runs.

Gordon scored one run in the bottom of the ninth inning to hand the McCook Seniors a 4-3 loss.

MNB scored single tallies in the fourth, fifth and sixth innings on just two hits.

Andrew Reitz walked twice and scored two runs. Mike Sinclair scored the other run. Cochran and Bryant each singled.

Brad Potthoff started for the Seniors and pitched 4 1/3 innings. Ryan Eder pitched 4 2/3 innings and picked up the loss. Potthoff and Eder combined for 11 strikeouts and allowed seven hits.

MNB hosts a 5:30 p.m. doubleheader Wednesday against Colby and competes in the Crete Tournament Saturday and Sunday.

MNB plays Ashland at 4:30 p.m. and Crete at 7 p.m. Saturday. The other pool features Beatrice, Seward and Waverly.

FCB Juniors 2-1

at Lexington

LEXINGTON -- The McCook First Central Bank American Legion Juniors were 2-1 at the Lexington Tournament over the weekend.

Friday night the Juniors played their first game of the weekend beating Lexington Black 10-5.

Matt Thayer hit a double and a single. Nick Kenny hit a double. Adam Kruger hit two singles. Mike Grabowski, Scott Friehe, Paul Douglas, Chad Stull, Lance Korte, Jeff Lorentz and Justin Spector each hit a single.

The Juniors scored one run in the first, five in the second and four in the fifth innings. Lexington scored one run in the fourth and four in the sixth innings. Austin Larson, Dillon Goltl and Adam Kruger all shared in the pitching duties.

In the second game of the tournament and the first on Saturday, the Juniors lost to Lexington Orange 12-6.

Nick Kenny hit three singles and Justin Spector hit a single. Lexington scored one run in the first inning and 11 in the third. McCook scored three runs in the fourth, two in the fifth and one in the seventh innings.

"We had one of those nightmare innings in the third when we struggled defensively, allowing Lexington 11 runs on only three hits with only two of the runs earned," said McCook coach Mark Friehe.

"We had several walks and a number of errors in the inning. We regained our composure and played well the rest of the game."

Jeff Lorentz, Justin Spector and Mike Grabowski pitched for FCB.

FCB defeated North Platte 12-5 Saturday evening.

Korte hit a triple, a double and a single. Stull hit a double and a single. Goltl hit a double. Grabowski and Lorentz each hit two singles. Justin Spector, Scott Friehe, Kruger and Thayer each hit a single.

Kruger and Thayer shared pitching duties.

"We hit the ball well pretty much throughout the lineup with aggressive base running and recorded a number of steals," Friehe said.

Next games will be in North Platte Tuesday at 5:30 and 8 p.m.