In semi final action on Tuesday, the Peltz Co Spartans downed Ogallala 9 to 7 to reach the finals of the area 7 district tournament.
Alliance used a monster second inning to advance to the championship game later in the day. Seven runs in the second broke up a 2 to 2 tie as the Spartans then held on for the win. Tony Escamilla led the offense for Alliance with 3 of the 8 hits which included a home run. Four Spartans pitched in the game that was held in Gering. Starting for the Peltz Co was Kaden Ferguson while Alliance got solid relief pitching from: Espen Lanik, Escamilla and Cody Gallas.
Both teams put 2 tallies in the score column in the first. Ogallala, the visitors, used 3 hits to grab an early 2 to 0 lead. A double play turned by Escamilla at short would stop the Adams Bank and Trust rally. Escamilla then tied the game for Alliance in the bottom of the inning. EJ Garcia reached after being hit by an OG pitch to start the scoring. It was followed by a homer by Escamilla that tied the game at 2. Three Ks by Ferguson foiled any Ogallala chances in the top of inning 2 while Alliance bats came alive in the bottom of the frame.
The scoring spree began when Spartan Jaxson Martinez walked to start the scoring. It was followed by a hit by Gallas and a sac bunt by Braeden Clarke. Lanik ensued with a single which gave the Peltz Co the lead at 3 to 2. An OG error allowed Garcia to reach as the rally continued. Escamilla’s big day proceeded with a 2 RBI double, putting Alliance up 6 to 2. The Peltz Co then grew to 7 to 2 thanks to an RBI hit by Kobe Strom. Another miscue by Ogallala was next as Spartan Nason Thompson got on the base paths. The inning closed with a 2 run single by Ferguson, making the score 9 to 2 after 2 innings of action.
In the third, neither team would muster any runs. Adams Bank and Trust sliced their deficit in the top of the fourth. Ogallala plated 3 runs thanks to 3 singles and a double that made the score 9 to 5. A single by Thompson in the bottom of inning #4 was all the Spartans could make happen and affair went to the fifth with the Peltz Co leading by 4.
No runs were scored in the 5th. OG would get a leadoff triple but the hitter was stranded after 3 straight outs by the Alliance defense. Meanwhile, the Spartan offense failed to increase their advantage in the bottom of the inning. In the sixth, Adams Bank and Trust made things interesting with 2 more tallies. Ogallala used a walk plus 3 singles to pull within 2 at 9 to 7. Another Escamilla hit in the home half of the inning gave the Spartans hope but an Ogallala double play put down the rally. The seventh inning saw a scoreless frame from Ogallala with Alliance’s Gallas striking out the final Adams Bank and Trust batter. Alliance 9. Ogallala 7
OG. 2. 0. 0. 3. 0. 2. 0. 7
ALL. 2. 7. 0. 0. 0. 0. x. 9
8 hits for Alliance: 3 Escamilla, 1 apiece: Lanik, Strom, Thompson, Ferguson, Gallas.