Associated Fire edges Union Bank for title
NORFOLK — Kendall Wehrle was looking for redemption and he got it.
Wehrle, a two-time Super-State selection headed to Arkansas on a baseball scholarship, struck out 11 and scattered five hits to help Associated Fire Titans earn a 5-3 victory over Union Bank (Lincoln Pius X) Tuesday in the championship game of the American Division of the Class A American Legion tournament.
With the win, Associated Fire Titans (Papillion-LaVista South) advanced to Saturday’s Class A title game against the winner of the National Division. NP Dodge Wildcats (Millard West) played DiGigorgio’s (Omaha Gross) for that title. Both teams in Saturday’s game will advance to regional play beginning Aug. 14.
“I just wanted to go out and throw strikes. I had trouble with Millard South and I wanted to do better,” said Wehrle, who had an 8-0 lead over Prime Time Patriots in the tournament opener before falling 12-9.
“We blew big leads in both area title games and then the first one here. I just tried to forget about that and pitch my best,” said Wehrle.
After losing its opener, Associated Fire faced elimination in its next five games.
“They played flawlessly and got a great pitching performance on three days of rest,” said Union Bank coach Troy Charf. “We went out of the zone more tonight than we have all year.“
Aaron Molinaro got Union Bank on the scoreboard in the top of the first with a solo homer, but Associated Fire took the lead in the bottom of the second on Mark Harris’ two-run homer.
Union Bank tied the game when Pat Essay drew a walk, advanced to third on a wild pitch and came home on a sacrifice fly by Ben Raun.
A wild pitch was costly for Union Bank in the third when Wehrle scored after reaching on a walk and advancing on an error and a groundout.
Raun got himself into and out of a jam in the fourth inning. Stephen Bougher doubled to lead off and then went to third on a wild pitch. But catcher Alex Heideman made a snap throw to third and Bougher was forced to try to come home and was tagged out by Heideman. Raun surrendered a single to Beau Suponchick and then picked him off.
First basemen Molinaro and Harris put on a defensive clinic in the fifth inning. Harris dove for a pop foul and then threw to Wehrle covering first to turn a double play. In the bottom of the inning, Molinaro made a diving catch in fair territory.
Associated Fire increased its lead to 5-2 in the sixth inning. Eli Nelson reached on an error and scored on a double by Harris, who came home on Bougher’s single through a drawn-in infield. Tim Tlakma came on in relief of Raun and, after he walked the bases full, got a popout to end the inning.
Union Bank trimmed the lead to 5-3 in the seventh when Eric Schleppenbach doubled and scored on a single by Drew Welsh. But Wehrle got out of trouble with his 11th strikeout of the game.
Schleppenbach opened the ninth with a single, but Associated Fire turned its second double play of the game. Wehrle then got another groundout to seal the complete-game win.
“He has been our go-to guy and a big-time pitcher for two years,” said Associated Fire coach Bill Lynam. “He was ahead in the count and dominated because he could throw his fastball, slider and changeup for strikes. And we made some nice defensive plays.“
Reach Ryly Jane Hambleton at 473-7314 or rhambleton@journalstar.com
Wehrle, a two-time Super-State selection headed to Arkansas on a baseball scholarship, struck out 11 and scattered five hits to help Associated Fire Titans earn a 5-3 victory over Union Bank (Lincoln Pius X) Tuesday in the championship game of the American Division of the Class A American Legion tournament.
With the win, Associated Fire Titans (Papillion-LaVista South) advanced to Saturday’s Class A title game against the winner of the National Division. NP Dodge Wildcats (Millard West) played DiGigorgio’s (Omaha Gross) for that title. Both teams in Saturday’s game will advance to regional play beginning Aug. 14.
“I just wanted to go out and throw strikes. I had trouble with Millard South and I wanted to do better,” said Wehrle, who had an 8-0 lead over Prime Time Patriots in the tournament opener before falling 12-9.
“We blew big leads in both area title games and then the first one here. I just tried to forget about that and pitch my best,” said Wehrle.
After losing its opener, Associated Fire faced elimination in its next five games.
“They played flawlessly and got a great pitching performance on three days of rest,” said Union Bank coach Troy Charf. “We went out of the zone more tonight than we have all year.“
Aaron Molinaro got Union Bank on the scoreboard in the top of the first with a solo homer, but Associated Fire took the lead in the bottom of the second on Mark Harris’ two-run homer.
Union Bank tied the game when Pat Essay drew a walk, advanced to third on a wild pitch and came home on a sacrifice fly by Ben Raun.
A wild pitch was costly for Union Bank in the third when Wehrle scored after reaching on a walk and advancing on an error and a groundout.
Raun got himself into and out of a jam in the fourth inning. Stephen Bougher doubled to lead off and then went to third on a wild pitch. But catcher Alex Heideman made a snap throw to third and Bougher was forced to try to come home and was tagged out by Heideman. Raun surrendered a single to Beau Suponchick and then picked him off.
First basemen Molinaro and Harris put on a defensive clinic in the fifth inning. Harris dove for a pop foul and then threw to Wehrle covering first to turn a double play. In the bottom of the inning, Molinaro made a diving catch in fair territory.
Associated Fire increased its lead to 5-2 in the sixth inning. Eli Nelson reached on an error and scored on a double by Harris, who came home on Bougher’s single through a drawn-in infield. Tim Tlakma came on in relief of Raun and, after he walked the bases full, got a popout to end the inning.
Union Bank trimmed the lead to 5-3 in the seventh when Eric Schleppenbach doubled and scored on a single by Drew Welsh. But Wehrle got out of trouble with his 11th strikeout of the game.
Schleppenbach opened the ninth with a single, but Associated Fire turned its second double play of the game. Wehrle then got another groundout to seal the complete-game win.
“He has been our go-to guy and a big-time pitcher for two years,” said Associated Fire coach Bill Lynam. “He was ahead in the count and dominated because he could throw his fastball, slider and changeup for strikes. And we made some nice defensive plays.“
Reach Ryly Jane Hambleton at 473-7314 or rhambleton@journalstar.com
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