The Spartans played in the District Championship on July 26, where they faced off against Ogallala to see who would be headed to the state tournament. The Spartans had been undefeated up to that point, so Ogallala would need to beat them twice to win the District championship.
The game was set for 5:30 p.m. but was rescheduled for 7:30 p.m. due to weather conditions. This would be the second game where Ogallala faced off against Alliance in the tournament. Alliance had put Ogallala in the losers bracket earlier with a 5-0 victory over Ogallala, where Ashton Ross put on a show, pitching all seven innings allowing five hits and striking out six, keeping Ogallala off balance. Ross would not be allowed to pitch in the final game due to rules and regulations on pitchers.
“Sunday, I threw 90 pitches so I would be unable to throw,” said Ross.
Ogallala opened up huge in the first inning, scoring five runs. Nick Wright came in at pitcher and faced off against Ian Shaw. Shaw singled on a line drive to left fielder Tyzen Brown, where Aydan Halligan scored after Brown committed an error. Kaden Vogl then singled on a line drive to Brown, who commited another error, allowing Corbin Murphy to score.
Caden Rezac was at bat and knocked one out of the park toward right field, allowing Shaw and Vogl to score, bringing the game to 5-0. The Spartans subbed in Landen Crowe for Wright at the mound. The Spartans were up to bat, needing an answer for the scoring frenzy put on by Ogallala.
Corbin Murphy was pitching for Ogallala against Caeson Clarke, who hit a fly out to the left field and was put out by Max Mueller. Ashton Ross hit a ground out to shortstop Halligan, who threw to first basemen, Vogl. Brown hit a fly-out to center fielder Rezac for a putout and out number three for the Spartans.
Rezac hit a ground ball and reached on an error by the second baseman Brantz Halouska, which allowed Murphy to score. Cole Stokey hit a double to left fielder Brown, where Rezac and Shaw scored. Mueller singled on a ground ball to shortstop Clarke who committed an error, allowing Stokey to score, bringing the game to 9-0 going into the bottom of the second.
Kaden Ferguson got on first with a single-to-line drive to center fielder Rezac. Espen Lanik got out on a foul tip. Halouska lined out to center fielder Rezac, who made a pickoff attempt to first, where Ferguson remained.
Clarke singled on a line drive to center field, allowing Ferguson to advance to second. Ross grounded into a fielder’s choice to third baseman Landon Holechek, where Ferguson got out, advancing to third. Spartans subbed in Ferguson for pitcher, going into the top of the third, then subbed in Seth Morrison after Shaw walked to first. Vogl walked, and Shaw advanced to second.
Rezac singled on a line drive to Lanik, loading the bases for Ogallala. Morrison struck out Jayden Curtis and Stokey for out number two. Holechek doubled on a line drive to left fielder Brown to shortstop Clarke to catcher Ross. Shaw and Vogl scored, and Rezac went out advancing to home for out number three, bringing the score to 11-0. At the bottom of the third, Murphy struck out Garza.
“Their pitcher was doing a great job with keeping us off balance. It was not one of my best games at the plate,” said Garza.
Crowe and Callan hit a ground out, making it a quick inning. Going into the top of the fourth, Shaw hit a double on a line drive to left fielder Brown allowing Mueller and Murphy to score. Rezac doubled on a line drive to center fielder Lanik allowing Shaw to score, bringing the score to 14-0.
Ogallala had a commanding lead at this point, and the Spartans still had no answer on both sides of the field. The Spartans looked to get something going into the bottom of the fourth as Brown hit a line out to right fielder Curtis. Lanik hit a ground out to third baseman Holechek to first baseman Vogl, followed by another ground out by Halouska to pitcher Murphy to first baseman Vogl for out number three.
Ogallala added to the lead at the top of the fifth. Halligan doubles on a line drive to left fielder Brown allowing Stokey to score. Murphy then singled on a line drive to Lanik, allowing Halligan to score. Shaw knocked one out of the park on a fly ball to left field, allowing Colton Knispel to score, bringing the score to 18-0.
The Spartans finally scored in the bottom of the fifth. Callan hit a ground out to third baseman Holechek to first baseman Vogl, allowing Clarke to finally put them on the board 18-1. The game ended with Crowe hitting a ground out to second baseman Stokey to first baseman Vogl.
The first game was over, and Ogallala needed to beat Alliance one more time to win the District Championship, and Alliance needed to rally and come up with a game plan to win the next game to keep their hopes of making the state tournament.
“The game went as bad as we could have drawn up. I do not believe I performed great and wish I could have done more. They hit great and did everything they were supposed to, but we did not play nearly as well as we played earlier,” said Ross.
The game’s winning pitcher was Murphy, who allowed four hits and one run, walking three and striking out three. The game’s losing pitcher was Wright, who allowed four hits, five runs and one walk to struck out zero. Alliance had four hits compared to Ogallala’s 15. Murphy, Mueller, Shaw and Rezac each managed multiple hits, with two home runs of the game credited to Shaw and Rezac. Clarke led Alliance in hits and went two for three at-bats.
“My teammates had some hard hit balls, but unfortunately were right at Ogallala’s fielders,” said Clarke.
The final game was played late after the first because of the late start due to weather conditions. The Spartans were hoping for redemption, and Ogallala came out excited after winning against the Spartans. It was time for game three, and the District championship was up for the taking.
Rezac started at the mound for Ogallala in the top of the first inning. He hit Clarke with a pitch, and Clarke took first. Rezac then struck out Ross, Garza and Brown. Going into the bottom of the first, Callan started at the mound against Halligan, who singled on a line drive to left fielder Brown and got on first. Murphy got out due to batter interference. Callan threw a wild pitch, and Halligan stole second base. Callan struck out Shaw.
Vogl hit a ground out to shortstop Clarke to first baseman Garza for out number three. The score was 0-0.
Crowe earned a walk after ball four against Rezac. Ferguson grounded into a fielder’s choice, where second baseman Stokey put out Crowe, then threw to shortstop Murphy to first baseman Vogl. Lanik sacrificed, Rezac snatched the ball and sent it to first baseman Vogl, who put out Lanik, and Ferguson made it to second base. Clarke hit a ground out to first baseman Vogl for out number three.
Ogallala pulled away, enormous at the bottom of the second. Mueller singled on a pop fly to left fielder Brown allowing Rezac and Curtis to score. Murphy then doubled on a line drive to center fielder Lanik allowing Stokey and Mueller to score. Shaw doubled on a line drive to left fielder Brown allowing Murphy to score. Curtis singled on a line drive to center fielder Lanik allowing Shaw and Vogl to score, bringing the game to 7-0.
Going into the top of the third inning Ross reached on a dropped third strike from a wild pitch. Blanco came in as a courtesy runner for Ross. Garza grounded into a double play for Ogallala. Second baseman Stokey put out Blanco while he tried to advance to second base, then threw to shortstop Murphy who threw to first base, where Vogl put out Garza. Rezac struck out Brown for out number three. In the bottom of the third, Ogallala pulled farther away with another scoring frenzy, and the Spartans tried switching up pitchers.
“I think we were just searching for someone to get into a groove that could slow them down and give us a chance,” said Halouska.
Clarke came in to pitch, where he would face off against Holechek first. Holechek walked to first after ball four. Clarke then walked Mueller after ball four. Halouska then came in to replace Clarke on the mound, and Clarke moved to shortstop. Halligan hit a line out to shortstop Clarke. Halouska then walked Murphy on ball four, loading the bases for Ogallala. Shaw singled on a line drive to center fielder Lanik allowing Holechek and Mueller to score and putting Murphy on third base. Halouska allowed a walk to Vogl after ball four, and the bases were again loaded. The Spartans switched it up, and subbed in Escamilla at pitcher and Halouska headed to right field.
“I feel I did not perform as well as I could have. It hurts because I feel I am a good enough player to come through in situations like that,” said Halouska.
Rezac singled on a hard ground ball to right fielder Halouska allowing Murphy and Shaw to score. Stokey singled on a line drive to left fielder Brown allowing Vogl and Knispel to score. Ogallala then called for a lineup change, sending in Holm for Holechek. Holm singled on a pop fly to left fielder Brown allowing Curtis to score. Mueller then doubled on a fly ball to left fielder Brown allowing Stokey to score. Galles subbed in for Escamilla at pitcher.
Halligan doubled on a pop fly to right fielder Halouska allowing Holm to score. Ogallala loads the bases, and Vogl got hit by a pitch from Galles, allowing Mueller to score and making the game 17-0. Lanik finally ended the scoring frenzy by catching a fly-out by Rezac for out number three. The Spartans desperately needed to get on the board going into the top of the fourth—Muhr singled on a line drive to center fielder Mueller. Galles hit a pop-out to first baseman Vogl, and Muhr remained at first. Muhr then stakes second on a wild pitch, and Lanik struck out swinging. Halouska walked after ball four, and Muhr remained on second base. Clarke hit a ground out to first baseman Vogl for out number three.
“I feel as though I did not perform up to my potential. Definitely could have done more for my team,” said Clarke.
Going into the bottom of the fourth, Ogallala continued to put runs up on the board, and Lanik came in to pitch.
Curtis walked after ball four against Lanik. Curtis advanced to second on a passed ball after ball one. Stokey singled on a ground ball to third baseman Callan and Curtis advanced to third base. Holm singled on a hard ground ball to left fielder Brown, allowing Curtis to score and Stokey to advance to second. Lanik struck out Mueller and Halligan, then walked Murphy. The bases were loaded—Shaw singled on a line drive to left fielder Brown allowing Stokey and Holm to score. Vogl hit a ground ball and reaches on an error by third baseman Callan, allowing Murphy to score. Rezac singled on a line drive to right fielder Halouska, which allowed Walker to score. Lanik struck out Curtis for out number three, and the score was 22-0 going into the top of the fifth.
Ross hit a fly-out to right fielder Halligan, followed by a ground out by Garza and Rezac struck out Callan for a quick top of the fifth, and that was the ball game, Spartans 0, Ogallala 22.
While catching up with the Spartan seniors and talking to them about lessons they learned playing in these two final games. There is one word that stands out to describe their experience: humbling.
“Do not take anything for granted, and baseball is the most humbling sport in the world,” said Clarke.
“Keeps me very humble because baseball is a sport that will humble you the most,” said Halouska.
“I was blessed to be a Spartan, and I would not want to be anything else,” said Garza.
“Baseball is a sport that can humble you because, unlike other sports, you can not run out the clock or anything. You have to face the problems and get the outs,” said Ross.