WESTCO from Scottsbluff came to town on Tuesday for a baseball contest against the Alliance Junior White squad. Six runs in the bottom of the fifth powered the Spartans past the Express 8 to 3. The Peltz Co found themselves down 3 to 2 heading into their final at bat before their big spree. With the victory, the White club improved to 23-3-1 on the season. Espen Lanik tossed the first four frames and had 6 strikeouts. Tony Escamilla pitched the fifth inning. At the plate, the Spartans finished the game with 10 hits and were led by Jaxon Poss and Braeden Clarke who collected 2 each.
Solid pitching by both teams dominated action in the first three innings. Lanik recorded 2 k’s in the first and kept WESTCO off the board. A single by Spartan Carver Nemnich in the bottom of the first gave the hosts a chance but he failed to score. Another strikeout by Lanik in the top of inning 2 help maintain his shutout. Alliance also went down scoreless in the bottom of the second. Inning #3 had one more strikeout by Lanik as the Express went without a tally. Escamilla had a double for the Peltz Co and was stranded on the paths. After three innings, the contest was tied at 0.
Scottsbluff again went down quietly in the fourth with Lanik notching 2 more k’s. Meanwhile, the White offense pushed 2 across to take the lead. The scoring started with a 2 bagger by Jaxson Esparza and an RBI single by Jaxon Poss. A hit by Clarke ensued and the bases became full after a walk by Lanik. Nemnich was next and his walk made it a 2 to 0 contest.
Three Westco tallies in the fifth gave the guests a 1 run advantage. The Express scored on three hits plus a miscue by the White club. Down 3 to 2, Alliance sent 10 players to the plate in the home half. The spree started with a ringing double down the left field line by Nason Thompson. A hit by Kegan Rodriguez followed that knotted the game at 3. Esparza was next and he walked to extend the rally. The Peltz Co next run came after an RBI single by Poss. A 2 run error by WESTCO then made the scoreboard read Alliance 5 Scottsbluff 3. Clarke increased the Spartan margin by 3 with a single. Up 6 to 3, a Lanik double continued the rally. Back to back sacrifice flies by Nemnich and Creighton Fritzler finished the game as the White club defeated the Express 8 to 3.
WESTCO 0 0 0 0 3 3
PELTZ CO 0 0 0 2 6 8
10 hits for the Spartans two Poss and Clarke, one apiece Lanik, Esparza, Escamilla, Thompson, Rodriguez, Nemnich.