Reece Gray, Bluejays Rally to Clinch Winning Season in Districts

Reece Gray delivered a walkoff hit for Northeast Nodaway after they had trailed East Atchison 10-5 at one point and Northeast Nodaway clinched a winning season Wednesday with an 11-10 win over the Wolves. The Bluejays picked up right where they left off against perennial powerhouse Maysville, building up a 4-1 lead by the fourth inning. But then as the walks started to mount, the season slipped away and by the time the dust had settled, the Bluejays  had walked ten Wolverine batters and were on the wrong end of a 14-4 game to end their season.

The East Atchison game started off well for the Bluejays as Jordan Dannar was plunked to start the Bluejay first. He stole second and the ball got away, allowing him to take third. Reece Gray grounded out to score him to make it 1-0.

But then the floodgates opened for the Wolves in the fourth after Tate Johnson reached on an error. Axyl Slemp walked and Carter Oswald reached on a bunt single to load the bases. Finn Hurst walked to force in a run. Northeast nearly got out of it with the game tied as Brody Wennihan grounded to Brock Healy on the mound and the Bluejays turned a perfect home and third double play. But another error kept the inning going, and that proved to be too much for the Bluejays, as Knox Oswald doubled in Finn Hurst and Brody Wennihan to make it 3-1.

Brady O’Connell singled and Gaige Bodle walked. Jordan Dannar singled to score Xander Bodle (running for O’Connell) and put Bodle on third. Jordan Dannar took second on a passed ball. Lance Runde flied out to score Gaige Bodle to tie it at 3-3. Reece Gray doubled to score Dannar to put the Bluejays back in front 4-3.

Josh Schlueter singled to start the Wolves fifth. Tate Johnson forced Schlueter at second. Axyl Slemp doubled to right to put Johnson on third. Johnson scored on an error to tie it at 4-4, and then Carter Oswald doubled to left to break the tie and make it 5-4. The Bluejays used their second double play to get out of the inning as Finn Hurst flied out to Bentin Roberts in left. Carter Oswald tried to advance to third, but the umpires ruled he had not tagged up, resulting in a double play.

Brock Healy walked after a long at-bat, recovering from a 1-2 count. Wyatt Scadden forced him at second. Scadden stole second. Liam Cordell singled to center to tie the game up at 5-5.

Another error by the Bluejays opened the floodgates in the sixth as Brody Wennihan reached safely. Mason McMahon doubled to left and Knox Oswald walked to load the bases. Kaden Nelson struck out, but a second error plated three runs and put runners on second and third with one out.  A single scored two more and just like that, the Wolves were seemingly in control at 10-5.

But Lance Runde walked, Reece Gray was hit, and Jace Burns walked to load the bases. Brock Healy popped out, but Wyatt Scadden singled to center to score two to cut it to 10-7. Brady O’Connell grounded to third for a forceout. But the throw to first got away and Scadden took third as O’Connell reached first safely. Another Wolves error scored Scadden to make it 10-8 as Liam Cordell reached second and Xander Bodle (running for O’Connell) reached third.

With the Bluejays down 10-8 going into the seventh, Jordan Dannar struck out, but Lance Runde walked and Reece Gray reached on an error as Runde took third. Gray stole second. Jace Burns flied out for the second out and the Bluejays got down to their final strike, but Brock Healy was plunked to keep the inning going and load the bases. Once again, Northeast got down to their final strike, only for Wyatt Scadden to beat out an infield hit to score Lance Runde. The ball got away and Reece Gray scored as well to tie it at 10-10.

The Wolves hit the ball hard in the eighth inning, but right at people as Bentin Roberts snagged Finn Hurst’s line drive to left and Brock Healy snagged Mason McMahon’s line drive to short.

Bentin Roberts grounded out, but Gaige Bodle singled to turn over the lineup. Jordan Dannar singled to put runners on first and second. Lance Runde singled to right and Gaige Bodle was safe on the throw home as Northeast Nodaway was able to walk it off and claim a winning season.

 

Jace Burns Pitches Complete Game Win, Magic Number for Bluejay Winning Season is One

After a rocky start, Northeast Nodaway is closing in on their first winning season since 2022. They came to the threshold Monday with a 14-2 win over Stanberry. Jace Burns pitched a complete game, Brock Healy bashed three hits, Jordan Dannar and Brady O'Connell added two more, and the Bluejays swiped nine bases without getting caught.

Northeast started off strong as Jordan Dannar beat out an infield hit and stole second. Lance Runde singled to right and Dannar scored on the play as Runde took second on the unsuccessful throw home to make it 1-0. Lance Runde stole third. Jace Burns walked. Brock Healy beat out Northeast's second infield hit as Runde scored to make it 2-0 and Burns took third. Wyatt Scadden walked to load the bases. An errant pickoff throw got away, and Jace Burns scored to make it 3-0. Brock Healy took third and Wyatt Scadden took second on a passed ball. Liam Cordell hit a pop fly that dropped in no-man's land before the second baseman could get to it for the Bluejays' third infield hit as Wyatt Scadden and Brock Healy both scored to make it 5-0. Liam Cordell stole second and Brady O'Connell hit a line drive dropped by the shortstop. Cordell, off with the crack of the bat with two outs, scored on the play to make it 6-0.

Stanberry threatened in the bottom of the first. Sam Simbro walked and Vincent Smithson reached on an error to put runners on first and second. They took second and third on a passed ball. But Burns struck out Kenyon Affuso looking on a 3-2 pitch and got Quinn Jenson to ground out to end the inning.

Jace Burns and Brock Healy singled. Wyatt Scadden and Bentin Roberts walked to force in Dale Deardorff (running for Burns) to make it 7-0. The recent improvement of the Bluejays can be linked to the improvement of Brady O'Connell, who has been raking the ball recently and has become a reliable bat in the lower part of the order. Brady singled to center to score Brock Healy. Wyatt Scadden came around to score from second and was safe as O'Connell took second and Bentin Roberts took third to make it 9-0. Jordan Dannar was plunked to load the bases. Bentin Roberts came home on a balk to make it 10-0. 

Reece Gray was plunked to start the third, the second Bluejay to be plunked after they were plunked seven times in the Platte Valley game. Reece Gray stole second and Jace Burns grounded out to advance him to third. Brock Healy grounded out to score Gray to make it 11-0. 

Sam Simbro walked with one out in the Stanberry third. Vincent Smithson forced him at second. Trying to make something happen and get his team back into the game, he stole second and then tried to steal third, only for catcher Brady O'Connell to gun him down to end the threat.

With one out in the Bluejay fourth, Liam Cordell walked and Brady O'Connell got his second hit, crushing a double to right as Liam Cordell scored to make it 12-0. Jordan Dannar grounded out to advance O'Connell to third. Lance Runde reached on an error as Xander Bodle (running for O'Connell) scored to make it 13-0. Lance Runde stole second. Reece Gray doubled to left to score Runde to make it 14-0.

Stanberry threatened to keep the game going in the fifth as Konnor Keough reached on an error. He took second on a passed ball. But backup catcher Gaige Bodle picked him off second for the first out. Lucian Simmerman grounded out for the second out. Brant Jenson singled and Sam Simbro walked. Vincent Smithson doubled to left to score Jenson and Simbro to make it 14-2. But Jace Burns had enough gas in the tank to freeze Kenyon Affuso looking for the final out, and Northeast got to go home early. 

Bluejay Baseball Takes Two of Three, Beats Platte Valley for First Time Since 2019

Northeast Nodaway’s baseball team won two out of three last weekend to get their seventh win of the season. 

They first beat winless North Nodaway 17-1 Tuesday, April 28th. It looked like they might not get that game in, but the rain held off enough to keep the North Nodaway field playable.

With one out in the Bluejay first, Lance Runde walked and stole second. Brock Healy grounded out to advance him to third. Jace Burns walked. Burns stole second. Wyatt Scadden singled to score both runs to make it 2-0.

North Nodaway got a run back in its half of the first when Blaine Clements walked and Brady O’Connell walked the next three batters to force in a run to make it 2-1. But O’Connell settled down to strike out nine in his first varsity pitching debut. Gaige Bodle handled the catching duties with O’Connell on the mound.

Liam Cordell walked on a close 3-2 pitch, stole second, and took third on a wild pitch. Brady O’Connell was plunked. Xander Bodle (running for O’Connell) stole second. Reece Gray was plunked to load the bases. Lance Runde grounded out to Ridge Clements at second for the second out as Liam Cordell scored and everybody else advanced. 

But then all hell broke loose for the Mustangs as the Bluejays would get nine runs with two outs. It started with a bad-hop single from Brock Healy as Xander Bodle scored and Reece Gray came around third. North Nodaway tried to throw out Gray at the plate, but the ball got away as Healy took second. 

Brock Healy stole second and then Jace Burns singled to right to score Healy to make it 6-1. Wyatt Scadden reached on what was ruled a drop despite some chirping from the Mustang side as Burns took second. Bentin Roberts got the benefit of a close 3-2 call and walked to load the bases. Liam Cordell singled to score Wyatt Scadden and Jace Burns to make it 8-1 as Bentin Roberts took third.

Liam Cordell stole second and Brady O’Connell singled to right to score Liam Cordell and Bentin Roberts to make it 10-1. Gaige Bodle singled to center as Dale Deardorff (running for O’Connell) took third. Reece Gray walked to load the bases. Lance Runde singled to center as Gaige Bodle and Dale Deardorff scored to make it 12-1. Lance Runde stole second and Brock Healy singled to center to score Lance Runde and Reece Gray to make it 14-1.

With one out in the Bluejay third, Bentin Roberts doubled to left. Liam Cordell grounded out to third baseman Marek Stevens as Bentin Roberts took third. Brady O’Connell beat out an infield hit as Bentin Roberts scored to make it 15-1.

North Nodaway started getting better swings off O’Connell in the third, but Stetsyn Brown hit one in the right-center field gap, only to slip coming around first and Liam Cordell cut him down to kill the rally.

Reece Gray led off with a double to start the Bluejay fourth. Lance Runde singled to left to score him to make it 16-1. Brock Healy was plunked to put runners on first and second. Jace Burns grounded out to first baseman Blaine Clements as Runde took third and Brock Healy took second. Wyatt Scadden flied out to center fielder Laythen Ebrecht as Lance Runde scored to make it 17-1.

Brady O’Connell got stronger as the game progressed and struck out the side to end the game.

Against Platte Valley, Northeast Nodaway got a win over them for the first time since the 2019 season, when they beat them 16-1 in bitterly cold and wet conditions at the old Bluejay field. Slumps have a way of dying hard, but the Bluejays broke open a tight game in the fifth and the sixth innings Thursday to get the 10-2 win.

Reece Gray got three hits for the Bluejays in the win. The Bluejays got Jordan Dannar back from a hip pointer. Brock Healy went deep into the game, pitching six innings, before Liam Cordell finished the game.

Gray led off the game with a single and stole second and third. Jace Burns singled to center to score him to put the Bluejays in front 1-0.

The score remained at 1-0 until Leo Marriott led off the Platte Valley third with a base hit. He advanced to second on a balk. Ryan Langford grounded out to Lance Runde at third as Leo Marriott took third. Koleby Staples singled to center to score Marriott to tie it at 1-1. Lance Runde made a catch at third and Liam Cordell made one at second to limit further damage.

With two outs in the Bluejay fourth, Reece Gray beat out an infield hit to short to keep the inning going. Lance Runde walked. Brock Healy singled him home to make it 2-1.

Wyatt Scadden walked to lead the Bluejay fifth. Three straight hit batters forced in a run and opened the floodgates, making it 3-1. Lance Runde doubled in Liam Cordell and Brady O’Connell to make it 5-1.

Platte Valley threatened to get some runs back in its half of the fifth, but Brock Healy picked Grady Gockel off third to end the threat.

With one out in the sixth, Jace Burns singled to right. Wyatt Scadden walked, and Jordan Dannar was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Liam Cordell singled to score Burns to make it 6-1. Gaige Bodle was plunked, the fifth Bluejay to be hit, and Wyatt Scadden scored to make it 7-1. Reece Gray doubled to score Jordan Dannar and Liam Cordell to make it 9-1. Lance Runde was hit, the seventh Bluejay to be hit, and Gaige Bodle came home on a balk to make it 10-1. 

Platte Valley got one back in the sixth when Emalee Langford grounded into a force at second, scoring Ezra Morriss to make it 10-2.

The game was Northeast’s fourth straight win, their first four game winning streak since the 2022 season when they won their first 12 games. They tried to keep the momentum going against perennial powerhouse Plattsburg and jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the second when Brady O’Connell singled home Brock Healy. An error let in a Plattsburg run in the fourth, but a home and third double play by the Bluejays kept it tied at 1-1. Gaige Bodle singled home Wyatt Scadden in the Bluejay fourth to put the Bluejays up 2-1, but then the bottom dropped out for the rest of the game as 12 walks proved to be too much for the Bluejays to handle, and Plattsburg pulled away to an 11-2 win. 

Brock Healy, Reece Gray Combine for Two-Hitter; Gaige Bodle Gets Two Hits

Brock Healy and Reece Gray combined for a two-hitter and Gaige Bodle had two hits at the plate as Northeast Nodaway won its second straight game and third out of its last four to even its record at 5-5 Thursday with their 8-1 win over East Atchison. Brock Healy also had two hits. They have now improved on their record from last year with seven games to spare in the season. Their magic number for a winning season stands at four games. The win was against a team that had beaten them twice last year. East Atchison got off to a promising 4-2 start this year but were mired in the throes of a four-game losing streak, extended to five following Thursday's game.

East Atchison started the scoring in the second when Kaden Nelson walked to force in Riley Koop to put the Wolves up 1-0. Meanwhile, Axyl Slemp, who had given the Bluejays fits last year, made a bid for a no-hitter or a perfect game, retiring the first ten Bluejays. With one out in the fourth, Lance Runde finally broke the spell with a walk and Brock Healy followed with a single to right after Runde stole second, setting up runners on first and third. Brock Healy stole second. Jace Burns singled to left to tie it at 1-1 as Healy took third. Wyatt Scadden walked to load the bases. Bentin Roberts hit a hard ground ball and reached on an error by first baseman Tate Johnson as Jace Burns and Brock Healy scored and Wyatt Scadden took third. Bentin Roberts stole second. Liam Cordell struck out, but Brady O'Connell doubled to score Wyatt Scadden and Bentin Roberts to make it 5-1. Gaige Bodle singled to center to score Xander Bodle (running for O'Connell) to make it 6-1. 

Liam Cordell walked in the fifth to force in Lance Runde to make it 7-1.

East Atchison tried to make noise in the sixth when Josh Schlueter reached on an error by shortstop Reece Gray. Tate Johnson forced him at second. But Axyl Slemp lined into a double play as second baseman Lance Runde doubled Johnson off first to get the Bluejays out of the inning.

Gaige Bodle doubled to left to start the Bluejay sixth. Reece Gray singled on a hard ground ball to shortstop Carter Oswald, and Bodle held up. Reece Gray was caught stealing third. Lance Runde forced Bodle at third, but Brock Healy reached second on an error by Oswald as Runde took third. Lance Runde scored on a ball that got away to make it 8-1. 

Northeast Nodaway stole seven bases for the night, with Lance Runde stealing three and Brock Healy two. Brock Healy struck out six batters. 

Reece Gray, Brock Healy Have Three Hits; Bluejays Feast on Knights

Reece Gray and Brock Healy each had three hits and Northeast Nodaway’s baseball team matched its win total from last year with a 13-8 win over South Holt Monday. The Bluejays have been up and down all year, and it has been either feast or famine. In three games, they have had 11 or more runs and have won all three. In the other six games, they have scored three or fewer runs and have won only one of them.

South Holt has been searching for consistency as well. They were run ruled in their first two games. Then, after an extra inning win over Plattsburg, they proceeded to win their next five, scoring 10 or more in each of them. Then, they dropped three out of their next four coming into Monday’s game.

Northeast Nodaway took advantage of a pair of Knight errors and scored on a successful double steal situation to make it 1-0. Then, Wyatt Scadden grounded out to score Reece Gray to make it 2-0 in the first.

South Holt got the runs back in the second when Coltyn Fansher singled to center. Will Jackson hit an apparent base hit to right, only for Wyatt Scadden to nail Fansher at second on a force. River Cotton singled to right to advance Will Jackson to third. Mike Quinlin reached on an error to score Jackson, but was nailed at second as River Cotton took third to make it 2-1. Cameron Biondo singled to right to score River Cotton to tie it at 2-2.

Brady O’Connell singled to left to start the Bluejay second. Northeast nearly ran its way out of the inning as Jordan Dannar popped out and Dale Deardorff (running for O’Connell) got picked off. But Lance Runde singled and stole second and Reece Gray singled to center. South Holt tried to go home to nail Runde, but he was safe to put the Bluejays back up 3-2 and Gray took second. Northeast would steal 11 bases for the afternoon against South Holt.

But then Northeast started fighting the strike zone and walked the bases full. Coltyn Fansher flied out to Jordan Dannar to score Tayte Prussman to tie it up at 3. Will Jackson hit a line drive and reached on a dropped fly ball by Wyatt Scadden to put the Knights up 4-3. Joey Waggoner (running for Tycen Skeen) took third.

The baserunning woes that have hurt the Bluejays this year came back to bite them again in the third. Brock Healy walked and stole second, only to be thrown out at third trying to advance on Wyatt Scadden’s grounder to shortstop Tayte Prussman, and the Bluejays came up empty.

But South Holt would return the compliment in the fourth. With runners on first and second, an errant pickoff throw to second got away, only for center fielder Jordan Dannar to nail Gabe Wallace-Corcoran at third. Kameron Noland struck out for the final out.

With one out in the Bluejay fourth, Jordan Dannar walked. An errant pickoff throw got away and Dannar made it to third. Lance Runde reached on an error as Jordan Dannar scored to make it 4-4. Lance Runde stole second. Jace Burns reached on an error as Runde took third. Brock Healy singled to score Runde to put the Bluejays up 5-4.

Tycen Skeen reached on an error to start the Knight fifth. Coltyn Fansher doubled to left, but leftfielder Bentin Roberts nailed Joey Waggoner (running for Skeen) at third for the first out. Fansher stole third. Will Jackson walked and stole second. River Cotton struck out looking. Mike Quinlin singled to right to score Fansher, but Scadden cut down Will Jackson trying to score from second to preserve the 5-5 tie.

Bentin Roberts was plunked to start the Bluejay fifth. Roberts stole second and third. Liam Cordell struck out. Brady O’Connell singled to right as Roberts scored to put the Bluejays in front 6-5. Jordan Dannar walked as Xander Bodle (running for O’Connell) took second. Lance Runde struck out. Reece Gray doubled to left as Xander Bodle scored and Jordan Dannar took third. Jace Burns singled to center to make it 8-5.

But with one out in the Knight sixth, Gabe Wallace-Corcoran and Tayte Prussman walked and Kameron Noland singled to load the bases. Tycen Skeen lined out to Jordan Dannar as Wallace-Corcoran tagged and scored and everybody else advanced to make it 8-6. Coltyn Fansher beat out an infield hit as Tayte Prussman scored to make it 8-7. Will Jackson walked. A ball got away and Kameron Noland scored on the error to tie it at 8-8.

Wyatt Scadden and Bentin Roberts walked. Liam Cordell beat out a bunt single to load the bases. Brady O’Connell walked to force in a run to put the Bluejays in front 9-8. Jordan Dannar struck out. Lance Runde flied out to Kameron Noland in center as Bentin Roberts scored to make it 10-8. Liam Cordell took third on the play. Xander Bodle (running for O’Connell) stole second. Reece Gray singled home Cordell to make it 11-8 as Bodle took third. Jace Burns walked. Brock Healy singled to score Reece Gray and Xander Bodle to make it 13-8.

After walking Mike Quinlin to start the seventh, Liam Cordell settled down to get the next three Knights in order to get the save.

 

Lance Runde Pitches Bluejays to Win Over Wildcards

Reece Gray pitched a gem Thursday as the Northeast Nodaway Bluejays got their third win of the year, a 3-1 gem over Stewartsville/Osborn. He only allowed one hit and he walked three and struck out six in the win and worked around three errors. Northeast only got four hits, but it was just enough to win the game for them. They are now within one win of last year’s total of four. He only needed 89 pitches to get the win.

The Bluejays jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the first inning, but ran its way out of many more. Jordan Dannar walked and stole second. Lance Runde singled to left and Dannar scored to make it 1-0. Reece Gray was hit by a pitch. Jace Burns walked to load the bases. Brock Healy flied out to center; Lance Runde tagged up and scored, but Reece Gray tagged up and tried to advance to third, but was thrown out. Wyatt Scadden reached on a dropped third strike and Bentin Roberts walked, but Jace Burns tried to advance on a passed ball and was tagged out for the third out. Those two plays gave the Wildcards hope, and they were able to stay in the game against Northeast despite having only one win so far.

The Wildcards got one run back to make it 2-1 in the third, taking advantage of a pair of Bluejay errors. But Reece Gray got the run back for the Bluejays in their half of the third when he doubled to center. Jace Burns singled him home to make it 3-1.

In the Wildcard fourth, Ryan Orta led off the inning with a walk, only for catcher Brady O’Connell to throw him out stealing.

Nobody mounted a serious threat to score the rest of the game. Shortstop Reece Gray gave up an error to start the seventh, but he had a short memory as he turned a 6-3 double play to end the game.

 

Jordan Dannar Gets Three Hits in Second Bluejay Win

Northeast Nodaway got its second win of the year, a 13-5 win over DeKalb Monday. It was not an easy path as they got off to a slow start again, falling behind 4-2 in the second. But they scored three in the third and two in the fourth before DeKalb cut it to 7-5. The score remained there until the seventh inning, when Northeast scored six runs to break open the game.

Jordan Dannar had the kind of game that Yo Tingpalpong would have been proud to have. Yo, who played on Worth County’s senior league team in 1988, had a six-game streak in which he was not retired. He didn’t make an error in center field all year, sneaked in from center to pick off two runners at second, and stole second and third at will.

In Monday’s game, Dannar, who also plays center field, had three hits, two walks, and five stolen bases to lead the Bluejays. He had a catch in center field.

Brock Healy came on in relief of Liam Cordell in the fourth inning. Cordell got the win and Healy got his second save of the year, pitching the last three innings to get it. He picked a runner off first while pitching and cut down a runner at the plate while he was playing shortstop.

Brock Healy Pitches Bluejays to First Victory; NEN Gains Split

Brock Healy pitched Northeast Nodaway's baseball team to its first win of the season Thursday as they overcame the Warriors and the wind to get an 11-7 win. The Bluejays jumped on Maryville 3-0 in its second game, only to struggle the rest of the way as the Spoofhounds gained a 10-3 win Friday.

At first, it looked like it would be all Albany in the first game as Barrett Worrell reached on an error and stole second to start the first. Landon Hawkins singled to left and Bentin Roberts tried to nail Worrell at third, but he was safe as Hawkins took second. Daulton Worrell singled home Barrett Worrell to make it 1-0 and Hawkins took third. Jay Anthony grounded to Reece Gray at short. He went to second for the force and Hawkins scored on the play to put Albany in front 2-0. Bentin Roberts made a catch in left and Reece Gray retired Will Fish on a groundout to get the Bluejays out of the inning.

But all hell threatened to break loose as John Rigney beat out an infield hit to start the second. He took second on a balk and Barrett Worrell doubled him home to put Albany up 3-0. Bentin Roberts dropped a line drive in left to put Landon Hawkins on first and Worrell on third. Daulton Worrell got his second in two innings as he singled home Barrett Worrell to make it 4-0 and Hawkins took third. Jay Anthony grounded into a fielder's choice to Brock Healy at third and everybody was safe and Albany led 5-0. Daulton Worrell scored on a passed ball to make it 6-0. Carter Dannar singled in Jay Anthony to make it 7-0. It would have been worse had not Northeast Nodaway picked Carter Dannar off first, ending the inning.

Northeast began its comeback bid in the third inning when Jordan Dannar walked. A pickoff got away, and Dannar took second. Lance Runde worked a 3-2 count before singling him home to make it 7-1. Reece Gray struck out, but Jace Burns grounded out to advance Runde to second. Wyatt Scadden reached on an error as Runde took third. Wyatt Scadden stole second. Brock Healy singled home Scadden and Runde to make it 7-3.

It looked like Northeast would be denied in the fourth as they grounded into a 4-6-3 double play to start the inning after Liam Cordell had walked. But Northeast then bunched singled from Jordan Dannar, Lance Runde, and Reece Gray to score another run and cut it to 7-5. 

Lance Runde got off to a rocky start in the first two innings, but got better as the game progressed, retiring eight out of the last 10 Warriors he faced after giving up seven hits in the first two innings. But to his credit, he didn't walk a single batter. Brock Healy came on in relief after there were two outs in the fifth and worked around three walks, leaving the Warriors hitless and striking out four to get the win.

With one out, Brock Healy singled and Bentin Roberts singled to put runners on first and second. Liam Cordell walked. Brady O'Connell grounded into a force play at second, but Brock Healy scored on the play to cut it to 7-5. Jordan Dannar singled to left to score Roberts and make it 7-6. 

The frustrating thing about the game for the Warriors was that all five Bluejay runs in the sixth inning were with two outs. Nine of Northeast's 11 runs were with two outs. Reece Gray walked to start the inning, but then Jace Burns grounded out and Wyatt Scadden struck out. But then Brock Healy walked, Bentin Roberts was plunked, and Reece Gray scored on an error to tie it at 7-7. Liam Cordell reached on another Warrior error to load the bases. 

Brady O'Connell then emptied the bases as he tripled to center and three runs scored to put the Bluejays in front 10-7. Jordan Dannar singled to right, scoring Mason Hiatt (running for O'Connell) to make it 11-7. 

But the final three outs are sometimes the hardest to get and Shae Miller was plunked and Carter Dannar walked on a 3-2 pitch. But Will Fish struck out looking on another 3-2 count. John Rigney lasted seven pitches, but grounded out for the second out, and Kaiden Smith grounded out to end the game.

The Bluejays put together 12 hits in the win. Jordan Dannar and Brock Healy had 3, Lance Runde and Bentin Roberts 2, and Reece Gray and Brady O'Connell 1. Brady O'Connell had 4 RBI's. Brock Healy and Jordan Dannar had 2, and Lance Runde and Reece Gray 1. 

Northeast picked up right where they left off in the Albany game against Maryville as Jordan Dannar walked to start the first and Lance Runde was plunked. They took second and third on a passed ball. Reece Gray singled on a line drive off the pitcher's glove, but Jordan Dannar was cut down trying to score as Runde held at second. Jace Burns, Brock Healy, and Wyatt Scadden walked to force in two runs and put the Bluejays up 2-0. Bentin Roberts grounded out to score Jace Burns to make it 3-0. 

Ben Houtchens grounded out to score Jackson Wilmes in the second to chip away and make it 3-1. Maryville took advantage of a pair of Bluejay errors in the top of the third to take a 4-3 lead. But Northeast got an unusual double play to get out of the inning. With runners on first and second, Ben Houtchens grounded to Bentin Roberts in left for an apparent base hit, only for Roberts to cut down Lucas Riley at third, and then they cut down Tyler Parsons at second for the double play.

Three walks, an error, and a hit batter helped put Maryville in front 7-3 in the fourth. It would have been worse, but catcher Brady O'Connell picked off a runner at third to end the inning. It was O'Connell's second pickoff of a runner at third in two games. O'Connell went on to pick another runner off first in the sixth to kill a Spoofhound rally. But three walks and an error doomed Northeast's chances in the seventh as three more Spoofhound runs crossed the plate. 

Bluejay Baseball Falls on Hard Times, Drops Two

A jamboree that had been full of promise for Northeast Nodaway’s baseball team turned into bitter reality as they dropped two lopsided games to start the season.

Their first loss was Friday against St. Joseph Christian. The Bluejays had ended the jamboree on a high note and had walked off Albany to cap it off. They built on it as Jordan Dannar was hit by a pitch, as was Reece Gray. Jace Burns and Wyatt Scadden singled to bring them home, and Northeast Nodaway was up 2-0 after one.

But St. Joseph Christian had won 20 games last year for a reason, and all hell broke loose in the second inning as they teed off on Bluejay pitching, getting seven runs. Northeast didn’t get another hit as Christian score one in the third, one in the fourth, and three in the fifth to secure the 12-2 win.

The Lions ran wild on the basepaths, stealing six bases. They took advantage of seven walks, 10 hits, two errors, and three hit batters in the win.

There was no rest for the weary as the Bluejays had to travel to King City. The Wildkats had posted their best season ever last year as well as their first-ever winning season, and it didn’t look to be any different this year after they dropped a close game to Nodaway Valley, who is expected to contend for the 275 title this year.

King City got an upgrade this year as Vance Proffitt, who coached the Bluejays to many wins over the last decade and the early part of this one, became the head baseball coach at King City.

The game was over early as the Wildkats scored three in the first and four in the second to lead 7-0 after two. Brady O’Connell picked a runner off third to prevent even further damage.

Northeast Nodaway got one run back when Jordan Dannar walked, stole second, and came home when Reece Gray beat out a grounder to short and Dannar came home when the ball got away to make it 7-1.

But King City continued to tee off, adding two in the third and one in the fifth to go home early.

Northeast had baserunners galore throughout the game, getting four hits and six walks, but they could not get the big hit to score them. Jace Burns had a double for the Bluejays, while Reece Gray, Wyatt Scadden, and Liam Cordell had singles.

Meanwhile, King City took advantage of six Bluejay errors to fuel their rallies. They had seven hits, four walks, and were plunked three times. Coy Cordonnier and Ryder Sample had home runs for the Wildkats.

 

Reece Gray, Bluejays Walk Off Albany at Jamboree

Northeast Nodaway’s baseball team got off to a rocky start at the Albany Jamboree with their first game with North Harrison, falling 13-12 in a game with the Shamrocks in which neither team could buy a strike or an out. They were down for the count against Albany and could have folded in their second game. But they rallied to tie it in the third and Reece Gray walked it off for them in the fourth to allow them to salvage a split for the afternoon.

Gray started off pitching for the Bluejays against Albany, but while he threw strikes, he struggled to put batters away. He plunked Landon Hawkins after getting two strikes on him. He stole second and Jay Anthony singled him home to put Albany 1-0. Gray got two strikes on Shae Miller, only to plunk him again, threatening to set up a big inning. But freshman catcher Brady O’Connell picked off Miller for the third out, and the Bluejays were still in the game.

Reece Gray and Lance Runde singled for the Bluejays in their half of the first, but struggled to catch up to Warrior pitcher Landon Hawkins and struck out three times in the inning. Gray continued to struggle to put batters away after getting a second strike; he apparently had Will Fish struck out, only for the ball to get away as Fish took first. He hit two of the next three batters, one of them with two strikes on him. But suddenly, he settled down to get Barrett Worrell down on strikes. Landon Hawkins caught hold of one for a sinking line drive that looked headed for extra bases, but Bluejay center fielder Jordan Dannar made a running catch for the third out, and the Bluejays were somehow still in the game.

Northeast Nodaway couldn’t score in the second as Kaiden Smith kept them off-balance by constantly changing speeds and using a high-head fastball as his out pitch.

Lance Runde came on to pitch the third inning. Daulton Worrell walked, but was cut down stealing to start the frame. The caught stealing turned out to be costly for the Warriors as both Jay Anthony and Shae Miller singled. Runde settled down to strike out Fish and Kaiden Smith hit a hard grounder that was snagged by third baseman Brock Healy for the third out.

With one out, Jordan Dannar singled to left and took second as the ball got away. Lance Runde singled him home as the Bluejays knotted it up at 1-1 in the third.

Jordan Dannar came on to pitch in the Warrior fourth and started off strongly, getting the first two batters out. But the lineup turned over to Barrett Worrell, and his shot off Dannar’s glove rolled into no-man’s land for a base hit. Worrell stole second and Hawkins hit what looked like the go-ahead hit down the left field line. But Brock Healy snagged it and tagged Worrell for the third out.

Bentin Roberts was plunked to start the Bluejay fourth and Jace Burns walked. Wyatt Scadden ran for Burns. Gaige Bodle laid down a perfect bunt down the first base line, and nobody was home to cover it and everybody was safe. Reece Gray shot a single to left field to win it.

  

Panthers Crash Bluejays Senior Night, Drop Them 11-0

Tuesday night was supposed to be a get-right game for Northeast Nodaway, but Pattonsburg came and crashed their senior night 11-0 in the last game for both teams before districts. The Bluejays were victimized by seven errors and six walks, which led to many more extra outs by the Panthers. Lightning did not strike twice for the Bluejays, who were in a similar spot last year and used a 9-6 win in Gilman City to catapult themselves into the district finals. Brayden Stevens was a bright spot from his shortstop position, retiring seven Panther batters without an error. Both teams played to save their pitchers for districts with both having district games upcoming.

The Panthers jumped on the Bluejays early, taking advantage of two walks and two hit batters along with a single by Reagan Coin to go up 3-0 before Bluejay catcher Landon Wilmes threw Collin Mason out stealing on a first and third situation. 

The Bluejays could not solve Camden Mossburg and his left-handed breaking ball, which bore in on batters and tied them up. When Camdain Frisch did get on through a walk, he was promptly picked off by Mossburg, a left-hander, replicating what Bluejay lefties Dylan McIntyre and Auston Pride did all the time to enemy runners at first base.

Meanwhile, Camden Griffith hit a sinking line drive to left field that Carter Chapman made a diving try for but missed as it rolled to the wall. Camdain Frisch hustled and backed him up and a good throw would have gotten Griffith, but the throw was high and off-line as Griffith made it safely for a triple to start the Panther third.

Camden Mossburg singled him home and then a pair of errors scored Dakota Meringa and put Jace Estrada on third to make it 5-0. Brayden Stevens bailed the Bluejays out, fielding three grounders cleanly as Estrada scored on one of them to make it 6-0, but the Bluejays were in a hole again.

An errant pickoff throw allowed Drayson McCrary to score in the fourth to make it 7-0.

Northeast had its best chance to score in the fourth when Camden Griffith relieved Mossburg. They started to get some good swings off Griffith as Reece Gray singled and stole second. Griffith started fighting the strike zone and walked Carter Chapman, and then Camdain Frisch scorched one. But it was hit right at Mossburg, now playing first, and he doubled off Chapman. Landon Wilmes grounded out to end the inning.

Griffith continued to fight the strike zone in the Bluejay fifth and walked the bases loaded with two outs, but Brayden Stevens grounded out to end the threat.

Landon Wilmes came in to pitch and struck out Ethen Elder for the first out, but then the bottom of the order came through and Drayson McCrary greeted Wilmes with a single and took second on a wild pitch. Landon Preston singled and then Wilmes walked Alex Young and Camden Griffith to force in a run to make it 8-0. An errant pickoff let in another run to make it 9-0 before Gaige Bodle got the Bluejays out of the inning.

Wilmes singled with two outs in the sixth, only to be gunned down stealing by Drayson McCrary.

Collin Mason stretched a single into a double to start the Panther seventh and Ethen Elder advanced him to third. Landon Preston reached on an error and was later doubled home by Camden Griffith to make it 11-0.

The game was the last home game for the Bluejays and the last regular season game for Carter Chapman, Camdain Frisch, Landon Wilmes, Chase Clabaugh, and Jake Redden. The Panthers wore their blue Gilman City uniforms so that the Gilman City players could compete in blue one last time.

Gaige Bodle Shuts the Door on Stanberry

Northeast Nodaway's baseball team had been struggling the last four games. They last won nearly a month ago against North Nodaway. Pitted against Class 2 powerhouse Maysville, they played them tough and hit the ball well but fell 13-8. Sometimes, so-called moral victories can turn into a tailspin and sure enough, the Bluejays were run-ruled by South Holt and Nodaway Valley. Against a red-hot Platte Valley squad, they played better defensively and got good pitching but ran their way out of two potentially big innings and were shut out 5-0. 

Against Stanberry, they were short-handed, with three players gone on senior trip, bringing them down to nine players. Slumps have a way of dying hard, and the Bluejays fell behind. They grabbed a big lead, only to unravel in the fifth inning and lose it, falling behind again. But then Gaige Bodle got the Bluejays out of the inning, the Bluejays regained the lead, and Bodle slammed the door, giving the Bluejays an 11-7 win and denying Stanberry their first-ever franchise win.

Cameron Affuso greeted Bluejay pitcher Lance Runde with a sharp single with one out in the Stanberry first. Cooper Adcock forced him at second, but then stole second and third. Brayden Dias doubled him home and Stanberry was up 1-0.

The Bulldogs made the lead stand up until the third, but after Runde escaped a second and third jam with nobody out, Brayden Stevens singled with one out in the Bluejay third after the ball was lost in the sun and dropped untouched behind second. Brayden Stevens stole second and Reece Gray singled to left and took second after the cutoff throw got away to tie it at 1-1. Reece Gray stole third and Carter Chapman got the benefit of a close 3-2 pitch to walk. Camdain Frisch flied out to score Gray to make it 2-1 and Jace Cameron reached on an error to put Chapman on third. Cameron stole second and Lance Runde singled to left center to score two and make it 4-1.

It looked like the Bluejays would get a run-rule victory after an errant pickoff at third scored Brayden Stevens and a wild pitch scored Reece Gray to make it 6-1. But after getting the first two outs of the fifth, all of a sudden, Lance Runde started fighting the strike zone, walking one, throwing a wild pitch on strike three that got away, walking another, and plunking another to make it 6-2 and load the bases.

Gaige Bodle came in to pitch and at first, it looked like the game would unravel as the Bluejays' last four had as Bodle plunked Brody Carroll to force in a run. Luke Phipps singled two runs home, Zander Heyde reached on an error as nobody covered second on a simple force, and then Konner Keough doubled to put Stanberry up 7-6. Baserunning blunders hurt the Bluejays in the Platte Valley game, but it was a baserunning blunder on Stanberry's part that swung the momentum back to the Bluejays' favor. Bodle uncorked a wild pitch, catcher Reece Gray went back to get it, and then Zander Heyde made a late break for the plate, only to get tagged out to get Northeast out of the inning.

Lance Runde singled and Gaige Bodle and Dale Deardorff walked to load the bases. Brayden Stevens popped out for the second out, but a dropped pop fly kept the inning going for the Bluejays as Stevens crossed the plate to tie it at 7-7. Carter Chapman walked to force in a run to put the Bluejays back in front and they never looked back.

As Gaige Bodle was shutting down Stanberry, retiring six of their last seven batters, the Bluejays loaded the bases up again in the sixth. Stanberry nearly got out of the inning as Dale Deardorff struck out for the second out, but then a balk opened up the floodgates as Jace Cameron crossed to make it 9-7. Brayden Stevens was plunked and Reece Gray hit a pop fly that dropped behind second base as two runs scored. Bodle walked Brody Carroll with two outs in the seventh, but then got Luke Phipps to ground out to third to close the door.

Lance Runde Pitches Bluejays Out of Trouble Against Mustangs

Northeast Nodaway’s baseball team had every right to expect to go home early against North Nodaway. The Mustangs had not won a game, had been run ruled in most of their losses, and had yet to score more than two runs in a game. But in a game that featured bizarre playing conditions, with high winds whipping up dust in the players’ eyes and temperatures that felt like 30-40 degrees out instead of 60, it turned into a comedy of errors, with 30 walks, 10 errors, 10 wild pitches, and three passed balls. The umpire had a tight strike zone all day, with everything being a ball until shown otherwise.

Neither side could find anyone who could solve the strike zone or the playing conditions until finally, Lance Runde came in and restored order for the Bluejays, allowing them to pull away for an 19-8 win over North Nodaway for their third win of the year and their second straight. The game lasted almost two and a half hours; without Runde coming in to restore order, the game could have very easily gone on to four or five hours and ended at 9 or 10 at night.

It looked like the Bluejays were on their way after the first inning. Landon Wilmes started off on the mound; he got off to a rocky start by walking the first two, but he looked to be settling in after striking out the next two and picking off Weston Alexander at third after a rundown.

And it looked like the Bluejays were on their way to closing it out early after taking advantage of four walks and two errors and running wild on the basepaths, swiping three bags in the inning. They jumped on top 4-0, and it would have been worse had it not been for catcher Blaine Clements running a long ways to catch one in front of the Mustang dugout and second baseman Kaeden Nave catching a pop fly on the third base side of second.

Gannon Volner came up sporting an unorthodox swing with a vicious uppercut; it looked harmless, but he showed he could pack some serious pop as he caught hold of one for a base hit to start the Mustang second. It looked like Wilmes would pitch his way out of the inning, striking out the next two. But then, his control deserted him as he hit three batters and walked one. Camdain Frisch came on in relief, but he walked the next three batters before striking one out to get out of the inning. By the time the dust had settled, the Mustangs were up 5-4, taking their first lead all year, and scoring the most runs they had scored on anyone.

Jace Cameron grounded out to score Brayden Stevens to knot it at 5, and then Carter Chapman got the Bluejays’ first hit, a pop fly just out of the shortstop’s reach to plate Reece Gray to make it 6-5. Two Mustang errors put the Bluejays up 8-5.

But then Camdain Frisch continued to fight the strike zone, giving way to Lance Runde after walking three batters. It would have been worse for the Bluejays had not Landon Wilmes, now at catcher, made the first of three outstanding defensive plays in the inning, throwing Draven Rader out stealing. At first, it looked like it was more of the same after Runde came in as he walked Weston Alexander and a dropped force play let in a run. Blaine Clements then singled in two more runs and the game was tied again at 8-8.

But then Landon Wilmes bailed his pitcher out, grabbing a pop fly for the second out and then picking off Kaeden Nave at third. Those plays gave Runde all the confidence he needed to settle in and throw strikes the rest of the way.

Reece Gray legged out an infield hit, beating out third baseman Gannon Volner’s throw, to set up a four run Bluejay third as they regained control and took a 12-8 lead, taking advantage of five walks and two wild pitches.

Lance Runde settled in and set down the Mustangs in order in the fourth.

The bottom dropped out for the Mustangs as Northeast plated seven more in the fourth. The big blows were a solid hit by Camdain Frisch and a triple over the left fielder’s head by Brayden Stevens, who took advantage of the vast confines of the Bluejays’ home field. Chase Clabaugh came off the bench for Northeast to hit a solid shot that forced a Mustang error.

Runde struck out the side in the fifth to close out the win.