Associated Fire Titans, made up of players from Papillion-La Vista South, counted on a six-run second inning and then pulled away to earn a 15-5 victory over Union Bank (Lincoln Pius X) in seven innings.
RYLY JANE HAMBLETON / Lincoln Journal Star | Posted: Monday, August 4, 2008 7:00 pm
Union Bank couldn’t overcome some early problems Monday in the American Legion Class A state baseball tournament in Norfolk.
Associated Fire Titans, made up of players from Papillion-La Vista South, counted on a six-run second inning and then pulled away to earn a 15-5 victory over Union Bank (Lincoln Pius X) in seven innings.
Because Union Bank was the last undefeated team in the tournament, Associated Fire Titans will meet Prime Time Patriots (Millard South), which on Monday defeated Fremont 17-7 in seven innings, at 5 p.m. today. The winner of that game will meet Union Bank at 8 p.m. for the American Division championship and a berth in regional play.
The winners of the American and National Divisions will play Saturday at 6 p.m. at Roddy Field in Bellevue. Both teams will advance to regional play that leads to the American Legion World Series. One team will go to the Region 6 Central Plains regional in Minot, N.D., and play the South Dakota champion at 9:30 a.m. on Aug. 14. The other team will open play the same day in the Region 4 Mid-South regional in Enid, Okla., against the host team at approximately 8 p.m.
“They came out swinging the bats and they hit us. We have to tip our hats to them,” Union Bank coach Troy Charf said in a phone interview. “They scored six runs in the bottom of the second. They had a couple hit batters, a walk and a couple of hits and we had an error.
“So it was some man-made problems. And that meant we had to go to the bullpen early. We brought in Don Buresh, who pitched so well in the area tournament, and he did well, but they scratched some runs here and there.”
Tim Tlamka led Union Bank, going 2-for-3 to drive in a pair of runs. Ben Raun and Aaron Molinaro each had two hits and drove in a run.
“They made most of the plays, too. We left 10 runners on base in seven innings, which is a lot. A timely hit here or there and, shoot, it’s a different ball game,” Charf said.
Still, Charf said his team is pleased with its postseason run.
“If you had asked any of our guys at beginning of year if they knew they had to win one game to go to a regional and win a state title, they’d be thrilled,” he said. “We would love to have won this game, but we’re where we want to be and where a lot of other teams wished they could be.”
Charf said Raun will start the title game for Union Bank. Alex Heideman and Alex Jones, neither of whom have pitched in the state tournament, are available, as well as Pat Essay and Molinaro, who each started games in the past four days.
Reach Ryly Jane Hambleton at 473-7314 or rhambleton@journalstar.com