New system creates strong tournament field

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BY RYLY JANE HAMBLETON / Lincoln Journal Star

Pitchers’ duel or slugfest?

Either scenario could play out  at Sherman Field when top-ranked Creighton Prep and upset-minded Grand Island meet in the first round of the Class A state baseball tournament at 10 a.m.

Prep has one of the top pitchers in the state in Joe Holtmeyer, who has a 6-0 record with one save and hasn’t allowed an earned run. The Junior Jays also boast the leading hitter in the tournament in Zane Hinkel, who is hitting at a .571 clip.

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Griffin Depriest (left) and Lincoln Southeast have won seven straight with three straight shutouts down the stretch. (LJS File)

Griffin Depriest (left) and Lincoln Southeast have won seven straight with three straight shutouts down the stretch. (LJS File)

But the Islanders can answer with Nebraska recruit Kash Kalkowski. His numbers on the mound — 4-2 with two saves and a 1.74 ERA — aren’t quite as impressive as Holtmeyer’s. But anyone who has watched Nebraska high school baseball for the last few years can tell you Kalkowski can be a dominant pitcher. He also is hitting .495 and can help his cause.

The state tournament, which this year includes Class B for the first time since 1981, will open at Sherman Field and Den Hartog Field. On Monday, after the Huskers finish their weekend series with Texas A&M, the tournament will also be played at Haymarket Park.

“I think the best teams are in the tournament,” said Lincoln Southeast coach Randy Brolhorst. “Any one of the eight (Class A) teams on any day can beat anybody.

“I’m sure Prep feels it has the best pitching staff in the state, but others have solid staffs. We’ve played Grand Island, and Prep will have to play one of its better games to beat them.“

In Class B, all four first-round games are rematches of district finals. Top-ranked Omaha Roncalli takes on Gretna at 10 a.m. at Den Hartog Field.

“It’s not like everybody can argue with the BCS system. This system worked,” said Lincoln Pius X coach Troy Charf.

Teams were seeded into districts in both classes near the end of the regular season based on wild-card averages. The No. 1 and No. 2 seeds in each Class B district advanced to state. In Class A, Millard North was the only top-seeded team to lose in district play, but the Mustangs earned a wild-card berth.

Weather could become a factor, with rain a very strong possibility on Saturday. Jim Angele of the Nebraska School Activities Association said if the eight games slated for Saturday aren’t completed, they will be played on Monday.

The tournament is scheduled to conclude Thursday with the title games at Haymarket Park. The Lincoln Saltdogs open their home season Friday and Angele said the NSAA is working with the Saltdogs to determine if the field can be used before the Saltdogs’ evening game.

The NSAA’s Representative Assembly recently passed legislation that would allow state tournament games to be played on Sunday in case of weather delays. Although the rule change doesn’t become effective until next school year, Angele said executive director Jim Tenopir may check with the Board of Control to see if baseball games could be played Sunday in case of rain today.

Ryly Jane Hambleton at 473-7314 or rhambleton@journalstar.com.