Action at the Area 7 district tournament came to an end with a matchup between the Spartan seniors and Auburn. Alliance was 2 and 1 entering the affair while First National was 3 and 0. Using strong pitching, it was Auburn getting the win 4 to 0. First National advances to the National division state tourney while Alliance will play in the American division in Springfield.
Play began Tuesday in Sidney. Weather then stopped the contest in the third and the battle was continued Wednesday in Scottsbluff. The Spartans were held to just 4 hits for the ball game. Starter Espen Lanik went 2 plus frames. Lexton Salcido tossed the final 3.1 innings. Up 1, Auburn scored twice in the third in picking up the victory.
Alliance hit first and were denied. In the bottom of the opener, First National Bank got one and led 1 to 0. Inning 2 had both squads going scoreless with Lanik striking 2. The Peltz Co would get a third single by Braeden Clarke but no runs. Before the game was postponed, Auburn added to their margin with a 2 spot.
Two fourth frame knocks by the Seniors gave Alliance a chance in the top of the fourth. A single by Nason Thompson and a double by Jaxson Esparza put runners on the path. Unfortunately, Auburn stopped the rally and the contest went to the home half of the fourth with the Seniors still down by 3. In the home half, a double play by the Peltz Co kept their deficit at 3 to 0 heading to the fifth.
First National maintained their advantage in the fifth as the Seniors failed to score. In the last of frame five, Auburn extended their lead with another tally. Alliance trailed 4 to 0 with 5 in the books. Bats were silent in inning #6 with both clubs going scoreless. In the Peltz Co
last at bat in the top of the seventh, Alliance got a double by Mike Johnson but no scores. Final First National Bank 4. Peltz Co. 0
Alliance. 0. 0. 0. 0. 0. 0. 0. 0
Auburn. 1. 0. 2. 0. 1. 0. X. 4
Hits for the Spartans. One each. Johnson. Thompson. Esparza and Clarke.