Both Crofton Legion Juniors and Seniors were eliminated from Area tournament play over the past two weeks in separate tournaments, but both teams also made a run and finished strong.
The C-1 Seniors started the Area 1 tourney at Orchard Legion Field in Orchard on Friday, July 25, losing 6-1 to the number 2 seeded Orchard-Tri County Post 136.
The following night, the Seniors beat Plainview, 8-6 to advance in the tournament. In the win, Crofton took the 8-2 lead going into the bottom of the sixth inning. Plainview mounted a comeback, adding four runs, but it was too little too late.
Zack Foxhoven had three hits, with three other Crofton batters adding two hits each as the team tallied 12 hits in the winning effort. Four pitchers helped with the victory on the mound, with Foxhoven going five innings and striking out 3.
But the rematch with Orchard didn’t go Crofton’s way, as the locals made their run but lost 10-8 and were eliminated from contention. Orchard was eliminated by Ponca on Monday night, with the championship match on Tuesday night between Ponca and Hartington.
In the Area 1 C-1 Juniors tournament, Crofton won their first round game at Felber Park in Hartington on July 11, 4-1 against Creighton-Bloomfield-Wausa.
In the second round, the Juniors lost a barn burner, 13-10 to Wakefield. Then on July 13, Crofton lost to Plainview, 6-3. Hartington went on to win the Area 1 tourney, playing in the State Tournament.
The Class C Juniors state tourney was won by Malcolm.
Tournament photos at paperandink.smugmug.com