Seniors win 1st game 6-4 against scottsbluff
— North Platte Legion (@npfirstnational) May 21, 2016
Seniors win 17-0 against Cheyenne
— North Platte Legion (@npfirstnational) May 21, 2016
Seniors win 9-4 against Douglas wy heading home 4-0
— North Platte Legion (@npfirstnational) May 22, 2016
Juniors also opened their season this weekend with a 10-2 win over Scottsbluff at home.
Juniors win 10-2 after 6
— North Platte Legion (@npfirstnational) May 21, 2016
The senior legion First Nationals finished their 2015 season at 30-19 with a trip to the Class A Senior Legion State Tournament. Head Coach Jason Pflughaupt stopped by the ESPN 1410 studio to recap the season. Coach Pflughaupt tells us why he’s optimistic about next season already, reflects on the careers of final year players Alec Wesslund and Dalton Pflughaupt and more… Continue reading “AUDIO: North Platte First Nationals; Jr & Sr Season Recaps”
The North Platte First Nationals Junior Legion put together one of the best state tournament runs in recent memory over the past five days in Fremont. After falling 3-1 vs. Millard North in their opening round game, North Platte fought off elimination with four straight wins to reach the state title game against the defending state champion Grand Island. It took extra innings to defeat Millard South in the semi-finals, their second straight extra inning win, before setting up the state championship match-up with Grand Island.
Grand Island struck first with a run in the top of the first inning, but the First Nationals answered right back in the bottom of the inning to take a 2-1 lead after one. It remained 2-1 in favor of North Platte into the fourth inning when Grand Island put up six runs to take the lead for good. Grand Island added another pair of insurance runs in the top of the seventh inning. In the bottom of the seventh, North Platte’s rally came up short with just one run scored as Grand Island held on to win their second consecutive Class A Junior Legion State Championship with a 9-3 victory.
North Platte finishes the year with a 36-13 record and a state runner-up finish, their best finish since the 1994 state championship team. It’s their sixth overall state runner-up or better finish at the state tournament.
North Platte Juniors Best State Finishes
1994 – State Champions
1989 – State Champions
1973 – State Champions
2015 – State Runner-Up
1993 – State Runner-Up
1970 – State Runner-Up
Game 6 – Final Box Score – State Championship (Wednesday)
Grand Island 1 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 2 – 9 R, 11 H, 2 E
North Platte 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 – 3 R, 5 H, 3 E
WP: Mount
LP: Wroot
Notes: For Grand Island Billy Mount pitched a complete game giving up 5 hits and 3 runs while striking out 13. At the plate for Grand Island Casey Burnham was 2 for 4 with an RBI and 2 runs scored, Tucker Krzycki was 3 for 4 with 2 RBI, Trey Randall was 2 for 3 with 2 RBI and a run scored. For North Platte Braiden Ruffin was 1 for 3 with an RBI and a run scored, Kade Wroot was 2 for 4.
Game 5 – Final Box Score – State Semi-Finals (Wednesday)
North Platte 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 – 11 R, 12 H, 5 E
Millard South 1 | 3| 0 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 1 – 10 R, 10 H, 5 E
WP: Vieyra
LP: Wagner
Notes: For North Platte Braiden Ruffin was 3 for 5 with 3 RBI and 2 runs scored, Kade Wroot was 3 for 6 with 2 RBI and a run scored, Caden Comer was 2 for 3 with an RBI and a run scored. Peyton Vieyra pitched the final 3 2/3 innings giving up 2 hits and 1 run to earn the win. For Millard South Joe Folkers was 2 for 6 with an RBI and 2 runs scored, Kyle Perry, Dylan Wagner and Marcus Vera all had 2 RBI.
Game 4 – Final Box Score – Elimination Game (Tuesday)
North Platte 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 4 – 11 R, 10 H, 6 E
Grand Island 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 – 7 R, 5 H, 6 E
WP: Comer
LP: Sextro
Notes: Caden Comer pitched 3 shutout innings in relief allowing 0 runs and giving up 1 hit and striking out 1 to earn the win. He also had a hit with an RBI and scored twice. Braiden Ruffin was 3 for 5 and scored 3 runs, Austin Orr was 2 for 5 with 2 RBI and scored 2 runs, Trev Chase was 2 for 4 with a run scored. For Grand Island Casey Burnham was 2 for 5 with an RBI and scored 2 runs, Cole Evans added a hit with 2 RBI.
Game 3 – Final Box Score – Elimination Game (Monday)
North Platte 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 – 3 R, 5 H, 1 E
Lincoln Southeast 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 – 1 R, 5 H, 0 E
WP: Comer
LP: Jurgens
Notes: North Platte’s Caden Comer pitched 6 1/3 innings allowing 1 run on 5 hits and 3 strike outs. Cade Wroot threw the final 2/3 of an inning to get the save. For North Platte Trev Chase was 2 for 2 with 1 RBI and Austin Orr was 1 for 2 and scored twice. For Lincoln Southeast Aiden Bennett was 1 for 3 with an RBI and Crew Charlton was 1 for 3 and scored the only run.
Game 2 – Final Box Score – Elimination Game (Sunday)
Omaha Central 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 – 0 R, 4 H, 1 E
North Platte 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 – 3 R, 5 H, 2 E
WP: Sawyer
LP: Eubanks
Alec Sawyer pitched a complete game allowing 4 hits, 0 runs and striking out 5. Austin Orr was 1 for 1 with an RBI, scored a run and walked once. Jacob Harvey had 2 RBI. For Omaha Central, Yogi Eubanks pitched a complete game allowing 3 runs of which only 2 were earned and struck out 1.
Game 1 – Box Score – First Round (Saturday)
Millard North 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 – 3 R, 5 H, 2 E
North Platte 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 – 1 R, 2 H, 2 E
WP: Ritzdorf
LP: Wroot
Notes: For Millard North Jordan Ritzdorf threw a complete game 2 hitter to get the win. He gave up 1 unearned run, with 10 strikeouts. At the plate for Millard North Josh Heller was 2 for 2 with a solo home run. For North Platte, Kade Wroot threw 4 and 2/3 innings gave up 2 earned runs struck out 5 and suffered the loss. At the plate Trev Chase was 1 for 3 with a run scored.
**Live State Tournament Updates**
The North Platte First Nationals Junior Legion completed a comeback for the ages on Tuesday night at the Junior Legion State Tournament in Fremont. Trailing Grand Island 7-1 heading into their final at-bat of the night, North Platte rallied for 6 runs in the bottom of the 7th inning to tie the game at 7-7. After scrambling out of a bases loaded no-out jam in the bottom of the 7th, North Platte forced the game into extra innings. Following a scoreless 8th inning for both teams, North Platte scored four runs in the top of the 9th inning to complete the improbable comeback and advance with an 11-7 win. Since the loss was Grand Island’s first of the tournament, both teams are still alive for the state title. North Platte will face Millard South on Wednesday night at 5:30 pm, with the winner of that game advancing to play Grand Island in the state championship game, which will be played following Wednesday’s 5:30 pm game.
Game 4 – Final Box Score – Elimination Game (Tuesday)
North Platte 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 4 – 11 R, 10 H, 6 E
Grand Island 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 – 7 R, 5 H, 6 E
WP: Comer
LP: Sextro
Notes: Caden Comer pitched 3 shutout innings in relief allowing 0 runs and giving up 1 hit and striking out 1 to earn the win. He also had a hit with an RBI and scored twice. Braiden Ruffin was 3 for 5 and scored 3 runs, Austin Orr was 2 for 5 with 2 RBI and scored 2 runs, Trev Chase was 2 for 4 with a run scored. For Grand Island Casey Burnham was 2 for 5 with an RBI and scored 2 runs, Cole Evans added a hit with 2 RBI.
Game 3 – Final Box Score – Elimination Game (Monday)
North Platte 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 – 3 R, 5 H, 1 E
Lincoln Southeast 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 – 1 R, 5 H, 0 E
WP: Comer
LP: Jurgens
Notes: North Platte’s Caden Comer pitched 6 1/3 innings allowing 1 run on 5 hits and 3 strike outs. Cade Wroot threw the final 2/3 of an inning to get the save. For North Platte Trev Chase was 2 for 2 with 1 RBI and Austin Orr was 1 for 2 and scored twice. For Lincoln Southeast Aiden Bennett was 1 for 3 with an RBI and Crew Charlton was 1 for 3 and scored the only run.
Game 2 – Final Box Score – Elimination Game (Sunday)
Omaha Central 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 – 0 R, 4 H, 1 E
North Platte 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 – 3 R, 5 H, 2 E
WP: Sawyer
LP: Eubanks
Alec Sawyer pitched a complete game allowing 4 hits, 0 runs and striking out 5. Austin Orr was 1 for 1 with an RBI, scored a run and walked once. Jacob Harvey had 2 RBI. For Omaha Central, Yogi Eubanks pitched a complete game allowing 3 runs of which only 2 were earned and struck out 1.
Game 1 – Box Score – First Round (Saturday)
Millard North 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 – 3 R, 5 H, 2 E
North Platte 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 – 1 R, 2 H, 2 E
WP: Ritzdorf
LP: Wroot
Notes: For Millard North Jordan Ritzdorf threw a complete game 2 hitter to get the win. He gave up 1 unearned run, with 10 strikeouts. At the plate for Millard North Josh Heller was 2 for 2 with a solo home run. For North Platte, Kade Wroot threw 4 and 2/3 innings gave up 2 earned runs struck out 5 and suffered the loss. At the plate Trev Chase was 1 for 3 with a run scored.
**Live Updates from State Tournaments**
The North Platte First Nationals Junior Legion survived another elimination game on Monday afternoon with a 3-1 win over Lincoln Southeast. North Platte advances on to face another elimination game on Tuesday at 7 pm against Grand Island in Fremont.
Game 3 – Final Box Score – Elimination Game (Monday)
North Platte 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 – 3 R, 5 H, 1 E
Lincoln Southeast 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 – 1 R, 5 H, 0 E
WP: Comer
LP: Jurgens
Notes: North Platte’s Caden Comer pitched 6 1/3 innings allowing 1 run on 5 hits and 3 strike outs. Cade Wroot threw the final 2/3 of an inning to get the save. For North Platte Trev Chase was 2 for 2 with 1 RBI and Austin Orr was 1 for 2 and scored twice. For Lincoln Southeast Aiden Bennett was 1 for 3 with an RBI and Crew Charlton was 1 for 3 and scored the only run.
Game 2 – Final Box Score – Elimination Game (Sunday)
Omaha Central 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 – 0 R, 4 H, 1 E
North Platte 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 – 3 R, 5 H, 2 E
WP: Sawyer
LP: Eubanks
Alec Sawyer pitched a complete game allowing 4 hits, 0 runs and striking out 5. Austin Orr was 1 for 1 with an RBI, scored a run and walked once. Jacob Harvey had 2 RBI. For Omaha Central, Yogi Eubanks pitched a complete game allowing 3 runs of which only 2 were earned and struck out 1.
Game 1 – Box Score – First Round (Saturday)
Millard North 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 – 3 R, 5 H, 2 E
North Platte 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 – 1 R, 2 H, 2 E
WP: Ritzdorf
LP: Wroot
Notes: For Millard North Jordan Ritzdorf threw a complete game 2 hitter to get the win. He gave up 1 unearned run, with 10 strikeouts. At the plate for Millard North Josh Heller was 2 for 2 with a solo home run. For North Platte, Kade Wroot threw 4 and 2/3 innings gave up 2 earned runs struck out 5 and suffered the loss. At the plate Trev Chase was 1 for 3 with a run scored.
**Live Updates from State Tournaments**
North Platte First Nationals Senior Legion fell to Omaha Gross Catholic 13-7 on Sunday in an elimination game, ending the Seniors season. North Platte lost their opening game of the state tournament, 10-7 vs. Grand Island on Saturday night.
Final Box Score – First Round (Saturday)
North Platte 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 – 7 R, 9 H, 4 E
Grand Island 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 – 10 R, 9 H, 2 E
WP: Uhrig
LP: Kruse
Final Box Score – Elimination Game (Sunday)
Omaha Gross Catholic 2 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 – 13 R, 18 H, 2 E
North Platte 2 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 – 7 R, 13 H, 2 E
WP: Weis
LP: Hancock
North Platte First Nationals Junior Legion survived their elimination game on Sunday, defeating Omaha Central 3-0 to advance in the tournament. North Platte will face Lincoln Southeast on Monday afternoon at 1 pm in another elimination game. Lincoln Southeast lost their first game of the tournament on Sunday to Grand Island 8-3. The First Nationals lost their opening game of the state tournament, 3-1 vs. Millard North.
Final Box Score – First Round (Saturday)
Millard North 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 – 3 R, 5 H, 2 E
North Platte 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 – 1 R, 2 H, 2 E
WP: Ritzdorf
LP: Wroot
Notes: For Millard North Jordan Ritzdorf threw a complete game 2 hitter to get the win. He gave up 1 unearned run, with 10 strikeouts. At the plate for Millard North Josh Heller was 2 for 2 with a solo home run. For North Platte, Kade Wroot threw 4 and 2/3 innings gave up 2 earned runs struck out 5 and suffered the loss. At the plate Trev Chase was 1 for 3 with a run scored.
Final Box Score – Elimination Game (Sunday)
Omaha Central 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 – 0 R, 4 H, 1 E
North Platte 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 – 3 R, 5 H, 2 E
WP: Sawyer
LP: Eubanks
Alec Sawyer pitched a complete game allowing 4 hits, 0 runs and striking out 5. Austin Orr was 1 for 1 with an RBI, scored a run and walked once. Jacob Harvey had 2 RBI. For Omaha Central, Yogi Eubanks pitched a complete game allowing 3 runs of which only 2 were earned and struck out 1.
**Live Updates from State Tournaments**
North Platte First Nationals Senior Legion lost their opening game of the state tournament, 10-7 vs. Grand Island. They will play Omaha Gross Catholic at 1 pm on Sunday, July 26 in an elimination game.
Final Box Score – First Round
North Platte 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 – 7 R, 9 H, 4 E
Grand Island 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 – 10 R, 9 H, 2 E
WP: Uhrig
LP: Kruse
North Platte First Nationals Junior Legion also lost their opening game of the state tournament, 3-1 vs. Millard North. They will play Omaha Central at 1 pm on Sunday, July 26 in an elimination game.
Final Box Score – First Round
Millard North 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 – 3 R, 5 H, 2 E
North Platte 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 – 1 R, 2 H, 2 E
WP: Ritzdorf
LP: Wroot
The North Platte First Nationals Junior Legion defeated Hastings 4-1 in game one and 6-0 in game two on Tuesday night to claim the Area 7 District Championship. North Platte’s trip to state will be their second consecutive state tournament appearance. North Platte went 0-2 in last year’s state tournament. North Platte opens the state tournament in Fremont on Saturday against Millard North at 4:00 pm.
Official Bracket – Junior Legion State Tournament
The North Platte First Nationals Senior Legion will also be headed to state this weekend. The Seniors will be playing in Hastings, they open play on Saturday night at 7:00 pm against Grand Island. It’s the seniors first trip to the state tournament since 2011.
The North Platte First Nationals were eliminated from the Area 7 District tournament on Monday night with a 12-0 loss vs. Hastings. North Platte, despite the loss, still earned a bid to the state tournament in Hastings since Hastings is an automatic qualifier to the State Tournament as a host team.
Area 7 District Tournament Scores
Updated Area 7 District Tournament Bracket
Friday, July 17
#4 Hastings (1-0) 24, #5 Lexington (0-1) 1
#2 North Platte (1-0) 10, #3 Scottsbluff (0-1) 8
Saturday, July 18
Elimination Game: #3 Scottsbluff (1-1) 11, #5 Lexington (0-2; eliminated) 4
#1 Kearney (1-0) 2, #4 Hastings (1-1) 1
Sunday, July 19
Elimination Game: #4 Hastings (2-1) 16, #3 Scottsbluff (1-2; eliminated) 5
Semi-Final: #1 Kearney (2-0) 12, #2 North Platte (1-1) 5
Monday, July 20
Elimination Game: #4 Hastings (3-1) 12, #2 North Platte (1-2; eliminated) 0
Tuesday, July 21
Championship: #1 Kearney (3-0) 13 vs. #4 Hastings (3-2) 0
Kearney wins the 2015 Area 7 District Championship
North Platte First Nationals Juniors will play Hastings in Scottsbluff for the Area 7 District championship on Tuesday night. Game time is set for 3 pm (CT). North Platte will have to defeat Hastings twice in order to advance to the state tournament based on the double elimination format of the district tournament.
Updated Area 7 District Tournament Bracket
Friday, July 17
#4 Scottsbluff (1-0) 4, #5 Lexington (0-1) 3
#2 Hastings (1-0) 7, #3 Kearney (0-1) 2
Sunday, July 19
Elimination Game: #3 Kearney (1-1) 10, #5 Lexington (0-2; eliminated) 0
#1 North Platte (1-0) 3, #4 Scottsbluff (1-1) 2
Elimination Game: #3 Kearney (2-1) 7, #4 Scottsbluff (1-2; eliminated) 3
Semi-Final: #2 Hastings (2-0) 9, #1 North Platte (1-1) 6
Monday, July 20
Elimination Game: #1 North Platte (2-1) 4 vs. #3 Kearney (2-2; eliminated) 3
Tuesday, July 21
Championship: #2 Hastings (2-0) vs. #1 North Platte (2-1) – 3 pm
Championship Game Two (if necessary): follows game one
