Jr. Hornets Season Comes To An End

By Brent Huelsmann

After a great regular season, and a Regional Championship, the Nashville Middle School Jr. hornets were defeated 6-5 in their first game of the State Tournament against Smithton.

Nashville went ahead 1-0 in the top of the first, when Ian Blazier was hit by a pitch. After stealing second and third, Blazier was able to score on an errant throw.

The lead would be short-lived for the Jr. hornets as Smithton came back with two runs in the bottom of the first to take the lead. Smithton would add another in the second to take a 3-1 lead.

Nashville got a run back in the third when Blazier again was hit by a pitch, and would come around to score on a single by Kolten Gajewski.

The Jr. Hornets would take the lead back in the fourth, as they got three runs. Aaron Brink opened up the inning with a single, followed by a walk from Radyn Schwartzkopf. Trey Reinburg sacrificed the runners to get them to second and third, and Nolan Heggemeier followed it up with a RBI groundout to tie the game. Blazier would then drive in a run to give Nashville a 4-3 lead. Later in the inning, after Michael Combs reached via an error, Kolten Gajewski would be intentionally walked to load the bases. Kaden Gajewski would then draw a walk to force in a run and put the Jr. Hornets up 5-3.

The lead was not enough as Smithton would score a single run in each the fourth, the fifth, and the sixth innings to go on for the 6-5 win.

Brink finished with three hits for Nashville. The Jr. Hornets ended the season at 20-4.