Jurgensen coming on strong for JC Brager team
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BY BRENT C. WAGNER / Lincoln Journal Star
Jaydee Jurgensen noticed something when Jake Kuebler left the JC Brager American Legion baseball team early this summer to play professional baseball.
Jurgensen soon realized there wouldn’t always be somebody there to help him get out of trouble.
“It made me focus a little more on my pitching when Jake left, knowing that if I got myself in a jam, I had to get myself out,” Jurgensen said. “There was no one that I could really leave the game to close it.”
Pools
AL East-Beatrice, Elkhorn, Grand Island, JC Brager (Southeast), Norfolk, Union Bank (Pius X).
AL West-Columbus, Fremont, Kearney, Omaha Gross, Pinnacle Bank (Southwest).
NL East-Judds Brothers (Northeast), Millard West, North Platte, Ralston, U-Stop (Lincoln East), Wichita, Kan.
NL West-Anderson Ford (North Star), Hastings, Millard South, Omaha Central, Sampson Construction (Lincoln High), Sioux City, Iowa.
Today
At Den Hartog Field
Ralston vs. U-Stop, 9:30 a.m.
North Platte vs. Judds, noon
North Platte vs. Millard West, 2:30 p.m.
Wichita vs. Millard West, 5 p.m.
Wichita vs. U-Stop, 7:30 p.m.
At Densmore Field 1
Hastings vs. Anderson Ford, 9:30 a.m.
Hastings vs. Millard South, noon
Sioux City vs. Millard South, 2:30 p.m.
Omaha Central vs. Anderson Ford, 5 p.m.
Sioux City vs. Sampson, 7:30 p.m.
At Densmore Field 2
Grand Island vs. Elkhorn, 9:30 a.m.
Norfolk vs. Elkhorn, noon
Grand Island vs. JC Brager, 2:30 p.m.
Beatrice vs. Union Bank, 5 p.m.
Norfolk vs. Union Bank, 7:30 p.m.
At Sherman Field
Fremont vs. Pinnacle Bank, 9:30 a.m.
Fremont vs. Omaha Gross, noon
Columbus vs. Omaha Gross, 2:30 p.m.
Columbus vs. Kearney, 5 p.m.
Pinnacle Bank vs. Kearney, 7:30 p.m.
At Woods Park
Beatrice vs. JC Brager, 10:30 a.m.
Omaha Central vs. Sampson, 1 p.m.
Ralston vs. Judds, 3:30 p.m.
Saturday
At Den Hartog Field
Hastings vs. Sampson, 9:30 a.m.
Hastings vs. Omaha Central, noon
Sioux City vs. Omaha Central, 2:30 p.m.
Millard South vs. Sampson, 5 p.m.
Sioux City vs. Anderson Ford, 7:30 p.m.
At Densmore Field 1
Millard West vs. Judds, 9:30 a.m.
North Platte vs. U-Stop, noon
Wichita vs. Judds, 2:30 p.m.
North Platte vs. Ralston, 5 p.m.
Wichita vs. Ralston, 7:30 p.m.
At Densmore Field 2
Omaha Gross vs. Pinnacle Bank, 9:30 a.m.
Omaha Gross vs. Kearney, noon
Pinnacle Bank vs. Columbus, 2:30 p.m.
Fremont vs. Kearney, 5 p.m.
Fremont vs. Columbus, 7:30 p.m.
At Sherman Field
Grand Island vs. Beatrice, 9:30 a.m.
Norfolk vs. Beatrice, noon
Elkhorn vs. JC Brager, 2:30 p.m.
Grand Island vs. Union Bank, 5 p.m.
Norfolk vs. JC Brager, 7:30 p.m.
At Woods Park
Elkhorn vs. Union Bank, 10:30 a.m.
Millard South vs. Anderson Ford, 1 p.m.
Millard West vs. U-Stop, 3:30 p.m.
Sunday
At Den Hartog Field
NL fourth-place finishers, 9:30 a.m.
NL third-place finishers, noon
NL first-place finishers, 2:30 p.m.
NL second-place finishers, 5 p.m.
At Densmore Field 1
Sixth-place finishers, 9:30 a.m.
NL fifth-place finishers, noon
At Densmore Field 2
AL fifth-place finishers, noon
At Sherman Field
AL fourth-place finishers, 9:30 a.m.
AL third-place finishers, noon
AL first-place finishers, 2:30 p.m.
AL second-place finishers, 5 p.m.
Championship game, 7:30 p.m.
There have been plenty of adjustments to make without one of the top players in the state. After all, the team consisting of Lincoln Southeast players lost its top pitcher/shortstop and the No. 4 guy in the lineup.
“It took us awhile to get used to missing all that, and get over the fact that he was gone,” coach Jeff Stoehr said.
Stoehr learned that Kuebler was going pro while the coach drove to Omaha for a game — a game Kuebler was supposed to start. Stoehr was surprised, but appreciated that Kuebler called to thank his coach and later attended a game to say thanks to many of his teammates.
Brager went 0-4 the first weekend Kuebler was gone, and has a 7-13 record going into play this weekend in the Mike Peterson Tournament.
Kuebler is probably missed most when Brager could use another quality pitcher during tournament play.
Jurgensen has helped fill the void with a handful of quality outings. After a rough start, Jurgensen has stuck out 17 batters in his last eight innings.
“For a sophomore, that’s pretty good,” Stoehr said.
With Josh Scheffert and Jurgensen, Brager has a decent 1-2 punch, but still needs to get quality outings from others.
Kuebler’s absence allowed Travis Miller to see more action on the mound, and Miller has thrown well at times, Stoehr said.
Already a young team, the Brager players have taken time to adjust to new roles, but they’re hoping to get on track with three weeks remaining before districts.
“It’s taken guys time to learn we don’t have that one person to turn to, and we have to get hits, too,” Jurgensen said. “I think we’re getting used to it.”
Reach Brent C. Wagner at 473-7435 or bwagner@journalstar.com.
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