Elkhorn and Alliance met for the second time this season on Saturday in the opener of the Class B American Division tournament played in Springfield. Earlier in the season, the Knights downed the Peltz Co in a low scoring affair 5 to 1. Runs were easier in their second battle with ETC again getting the W 13 to 8. Mount Michael plated 7 in the second in advancing to semi final action. At the dish, the Spartans hammered out 11 hits. Senior Braeden Clarke was the leader with 3 including a home run. Hurling for the Seniors were Clarke who started and relievers Lexton Salcido, Tony Escamilla, Carver Nemnich, and Kyler Hamel. Alliance led 4 to 0 heading to the bottom of the second before the Knight’s big inning. Elkhorn scored 3 times in both the third and fifth frames to increase their margin.
Inning one was silent with both clubs failing to score. Frame 2 was completely different as bats were hot for each team. In the top of the second, the Peltz Co surged ahead with 4 tallies. Jaxson Esparza began things with a single and later scored on an RBI swing by Escamilla. Next up was Espen Lanik whose double made it 3 to 0. A knock by Clarke and a steal of home ended the scoring with Alliance up by 4. Back came the Knights. Mount Michael put three on the board to get within one at 4 to 3. A grand slam then ended the second frame with ETC ahead 7 to 4.
Esparza again began a rally in the third with his second knock. A sac fly by Escamilla ensued as the Peltz Co drew closer at 7 to 5. Three runs in the home half by the Knights then put the Spartan deficit at 10 to 5 after three frames of action. Inning #4 was won by the Seniors. Alliance scored once while holding Elkhorn scoreless. Hits by Clarke, Nason Thompson, and Carver Nemnich loaded the bases. Kobe Strom was then hit by a pitch to make it 10 to 6. ETC failed to score in the last of the inning and action went to the fifth with the Peltz Co down 4.
Momentum stayed with the Spartans in the top of the fifth with a homer by Clarke. In the home half, the Knights added to their 3 run advantage with 3 more runs. Frame #6 was a quiet one for both clubs. Alliance scored once in their last try in the top of the seventh. Doubles by Jaxon Poss and Lanik pulled the Peltz Co to within 5. The Knights would then end the rally and the game, winning 13 to 8.
Alliance. 0. 4. 1. 1. 1. 0. 1. 8
Elkhorn. 0. 7. 3. 0. 3. 0. X. 13
Hits for the Peltz Co down Clarke 3
Two each. Esparza and Lanik
One apiece. Poss. Escamilla. Nemnich and Thompson.