The North Platte First Nationals went 5-0 this weekend in Canon City, Colo. and brought home the championship trophy of the Bubba’s Bash 2014 tournament.

The tournament featured eight teams from four different states, Colorado, New Mexico, Kansas and of course Nebraska. The First Nationals went 3-0 in pool play Thursday and Friday to earn the No. 1 seed in the National League division. North Platte (15-10) had Saturday off before playing the No. 2 seed from the American League Division, Air Academy (Colorado) Sunday.

Air Academy struck first with a run in the top of the second inning, but the First Nationals quickly responded by scoring four runs in the bottom half to take a 4-1 lead. All four of North Platte’s runs in the second inning were with two outs and the inning was highlighted by an RBI triple from Jack Kenny. The First Nationals scored one run in the third inning to add to their lead before scoring three runs in the fifth inning. Luke Volz led the fifth inning off with a double to get the bats rolling. North Platte gave up three runs in the top of the sixth inning then shut the door in the seventh to get the 8-6 win.

Riley Vierya pitched the first five and one-third innings for the First Nationals giving up six runs on eight hits while striking out five batters and earning the win. Kenny came in for the final one and two-thirds innings to earn the save. Kenny didn’t allow a base runner and struck out two batters. The win propelled North Platte to the Bubba’s Bash Championship game.

In the Championship North Platte played the No. 1 seed from the American League Division, Hays, Kan.  The championship was more of a pitcher’s duel as the First Nationals won 4-3. Hays took an early 2-0 lead by scoring two runs in the top of the second inning. North Platte took its first lead in the fourth inning by scoring three runs in the bottom of the fourth. Volz highlighted the inning with an RBI double and Drew Callaghan drove in two runs as the first four batters of the inning got a hit for North Platte. Hays tied the game in the top of the fifth inning with a run scored before the First Nationals scored the winning run in the bottom of the fifth inning on a passed ball that Alec Wesslund came home on.

Darian Allberry pitched a complete game and earned the win for North Platte. Allberry gave up three runs, one earned, on seven hits and struck out nine batters.

The First Nationals return to Bill Wood Field on Tuesday, June 17 to play a doubleheader against Scottsbluff. North Platte traveled to Scottsbluff for the first two games of the season and lost 7-0 and 11-10. Tuesday’s games begin at 5:30 and 8:00 pm.