Stephanie Croston

    The Seward American Legion senior team improved its record to 11-7 with a 29-0 win over Schuyler June 12 and a four-game sweep of the Crete Tournament June 15 through 17.
     Pitcher Trevor Oliver took a no-hitter into the fifth inning against Schuyler, and every Seward batter had at least one hit in the game.
     Coach Roy Wright said the hardest thing about a blow-out win like this one was that the team could not play its game, which meant that although the Seward batters were getting hits, they weren't stealing bases and bunting to move runners over.
     "We were not trying to run up the score," he said.
     Joel Ferguson, Kevin Pulec and Tanner Smith each had three hits in the game. Pulec and Alex Lowther each tripled, while Pulec and Smith notched doubles.
     Wright was pleased with his team's play throughout the tournament at Crete, praising its executing in all four games.
     He singled out Pulec who, as a pitcher and catcher in the four games, was responsible for picking off five base runners.
     In the opener against Valparaiso, Seward won 8-0. Oliver allowed three runs in his five innings of work, and Lowther came in to finish the game.
     At the plate, John Samuelson led the team with two hits, including a double, and drove in four runs. Justin Grieser also doubled for Seward.
     In the second game against York, Seward took control early, scoring three runs in the first inning.
     Although York answered with three in the second, Seward's pitching was able to shut down the York offense and Seward won the game 11-4.
     Grieser took the ball for Seward and threw a complete game, striking out four and allowing just three hits. One of those hits was a three-run home run that came after Grieser hit one batter and walked another.
     At the plate, Lowther and Russ Evavold each had two hits. Lowther drove in four runs, while Samuelson drove in three.
     June 16, Seward faced Waverly and won 4-3 in its final at-bat.
     "The guys had no doubt we would win," Wright said.
     Trailing 3-2 in the bottom of the seventh, Evavold walked and stole both second and third. Ferguson walked and stole second, before Pulec lined hard to the right fielder. Lowther stepped in a doubled, driving in both runs for the victory.
     "Waverly had opportunities with guys on," Wright said. "They'd get guys on and Lowther would shut them down."
     Lowther finished his five innings on the mound with four strikeouts.
     In the championship game June 17, Seward defeated Valley 9-6. The team finished with 10 hits, including home runs by Samuelson and Grieser, both of which were no-doubters, Wright said.
     Pulec pitched a complete game, striking out four.
     Valley had its chances in the seventh inning after a lead-off walk. A double was followed by a strikeout and then the runner was caught in a run-down. Another single was followed by a strikeout to end the game.
     "It was good to see Kevin make good decisions," Wright said. "When you have the opportunity to make an out, do it."
    Upcoming action
     Seward was to host Schuyler at 8 p.m. June 19 and then play in a tournament at York Thursday through Sunday, June 21 through 24. Wright said Thursday's game would be at 8 p.m., with the remaining game times to be determined by the outcome of the first game.
     The team is on a five-game winning streak and has won six of its last seven.
     "We're not winning sloppy," Wright said. "The kids are having fun and getting dirty.
     "I told them there are people who play baseball and there are baseball players. They are baseball players."