Stephanie Croston

    With a week to go before district play, the Seward American Legion senior baseball team is working out its final kinks.
     Coach Roy Wright said the team is the second seed in the district, which will be played at Plum Creek Park in Seward beginning Thursday, July 19.
     Seward will play its first game Friday, July 20, against Lincoln Lutheran. Four consecutive wins will put Seward in the state tournament, Wright said.
     The team finished the week on a down note, however, losing to Tom Dinsdale of Lincoln 24-12 July 8. Although neither team played well defensively, Seward's errors allowed the Lincoln team to score.
     "If we make the plays, the attitude changes," Wright said.
     Kevin Pulec took the loss.
     July 5 in Wahoo, Seward picked up an 11-5 win over Wahoo. Alex Lowther got the start on the mound and allowed five runs in the second inning but then shut down the Wahoo bats.
     "We have confidence that he will shut them down and we'll score," Wright said.
     Lowther struck out the side in each of the final three innings, finishing with 12 strike-outs in the game.
     At the plate, Pulec singled, doubled, walked and was hit by a pitch. John Samuelson and Justin Grieser each had two hits, and Joel Ferguson added one.
     Seward topped York 6-1 July 3 with Grieser getting the win. He struck out 11 and had a shut-out going into the seventh inning.
     With the bases loaded and two outs, Seward's defense recorded the third out, but the batter was called back because of catcher interference. That led to York's only run.
     "He's been lights out for us," Wright said of Grieser.
     Pulec was one for one with a walk and was hit three times. Samuelson, Trevor Oliver and Bob Elwell each had hits for Seward.
     "We were not overpowering on offense, but we took advantage of baserunners," Wright said.
     The seniors lost a nine-inning game July 1 to Lincoln Sampson 9-6. Pulec pitched a complete game, while Sampson used three pitchers. Five of Sampson's nine runs came in the fifth and sixth innings, and then Pulec faced a total of 10 batters in the seventh, eighth and ninth.
     "We're able to compete with teams like this. We just can't get over the hump," Wright said.
     Ferguson and Grieser each had two hits. Samuelson had one hit but reached on an error three times. Tanner Smith and Grieser both doubled, and Caleb Krenk added a single.
     Seward faced Lincoln Northeast June 29 and lost 2-1 behind Lowther. Both of Northeast's runs were unearned, Wright said. Lowther allowed just three hits in the game and hit a home run for Seward. Elwell and Krenk finished with Seward's other two hits.
     "It was a lot of fun. This builds confidence," Wright said.
     Against Wahoo earlier that week, Seward won 7-2. Pulec was two for four with two doubles, Lowther was two for three with a double, and Oliver was two for three.
     Grieser pitched a complete game and struck out 10. Both Wahoo's runs were scored in the second inning.
     The regular season will end at home Thursday, July 12, when Elkhorn comes to town. Elkhorn won the state baseball championship this spring.
     First pitch is scheduled for 7 p.m.