The Crete Nestle Purina juniors won their first game of the 2021 season June 26, beating Seward 12-0 in the second game of the Gretchen Walker Memorial Tournament.
Crete opened the tournament with a 7-6 loss to Ralston June 25. Ralston scored its runs in the first two innings, and Crete cut into the lead with a six-run fourth.
Jeffrey Kuncl led off the inning with a single and advanced on a ground ball to second. After Mason Stone flied out, Caden Nelson walked to load the bases. Kaden Lowery drew a walk to score the first run.
After Garrett Dittmer struck out, Cale Burkhardt walked for another run, followed by walks to Carter Tews and Carson Kotil and a wild pitch.
Crete hosted Seward June 26 in the next round. Brett Ladely pitched all five innings and struck out 10 in the win.
Crete was the visiting team on the scoreboard and opened with a run in the first inning. Crete scored two in the third, three in the fourth and six in the fifth.
Stone was 3-3 with three RBIs in the game, and Conner Lomax and Reece Vertin had two hits each. Vertin also drove in three runs, and Nelson had two RBIs.
Against Malcolm in the third-place game June 27, Crete came up short 14-4.
Kuncl was 2-2 with an RBI. Conner Krumme and Carter Tews each hit a double.
Crete (1-17) was scheduled to play Seward June 29 in the first round of the Eastern Nebraska Baseball League tournament. The winner is to play Hickman June 29.Semifinals are Wednesday, June 30, with the championship Thursday, July 1, at 8 p.m. All games will be played in Hickman.
Note: Athletes from Milford play on this team.
