There have been some wild games at the American Legion Baseball State B Tournament in Webster.
It seems as if Tabor has been in almost all of them. On Sunday in the third round, Tabor won a 12-10 nail-biter over a team that would not quit, Miner-McCook. Tabor (13-8) is one of four teams that will advance to today's doubleheader that starts at 5 p.m. Miner-McCook ended its season at 19-8.
Tabor coach Ken Ranek said strong hitting saved his team after it suffered through some tough pitching (14 walks) and fielding (five errors).
"Blase Vanecek was phenomenal for us at the plate and Codi Larson hit that big three-run homer for us," Ranek said. "Mike Kocer also did a nice job at the plate. And finally, Ross Kortan was able to come in on the mound and close the door for us."
Vanecek was five-for-five with a triple, two doubles and two singles. He had four RBIs and scored three runs.
"It has been a long time since I have hit the ball like that," Vanecek said. "And the hits felt solid. I had a lot of help from my teammates, but this will give me a lot of confidence going forward at the plate."
Ranek said his team looked a little tired on day three of the five-day tourney. "It is tough, but you just have to grind through it. We have to limit our walks and errors, because if we play like this again, we might not be fortunate to have the same outcome as we had today. There are only four teams left, so you know you are playing the best of the best."
Tabor lost a 4-0 lead and the game on the first day of the tourney. Then it withstood late rallies from opponents on Saturday and Sunday.
"It was pretty intense again at the end," Vanecek said with a smile as he shook his head. "I wasn't sure we were going to pull through. We held our composure. It seems as if we have this need to give fans a lot of exciting baseball to see. But it would be a lot better for us, and easier, if we could just build a big lead and keep it."
Miner-McCook, which left 16 runners on base, scored six runs in the final three innings. It was led by Zach Bies and Zach Schrank, with two hits each. Bies had three RBIs.
Tabor got eight runs, 11 of its 15 hits and nine of its 11 RBIs from its third (Kocer), fourth (Vanecek) and fifth (Larson) hitters.
Game notes: Miner-McCook starters Tim Gassman (shortstop) and Luke Loundenburg (right field) had on different uniforms as they also play for the Salem-Canova Teeners . . . In the seven inning, Tabor right-fielder Zach Sutera threw a runner out at the plate to end a Miner-McCook rally and limit MM to one run . . . Two Salem businesses got in on the $5 each deal for a business to sponsor foul balls (a quarter for each returned one). In return, Webster announcers mentioned Spaans Lawn Service and Mehlbrech McCook Insurance Agency several times during the game much to the delight of Miner-McCook fans (Salem is in McCook County) . . . Six pitchers were used in this game, a lot for Legion baseball.
Tabor|004033020-12155
Miner-McCook|012100132-1096
Vlase Vanecek, Codi Larson (3), Ross Kortan (9) and Scott Wieseler; Sam O'Hara, Zach Schrank (5), Greg Mehlbrech (8) and Zach Bies. 2B - Tabor, Sawyer Fridrich, Vanecek 2, Mike Kocer, Larson; Miner-McCook, Bies. 3B - Tabor, Vanecek. HR - Tabor, Larson. LOB - Tabor 9; Miner-McCook 16. Winning pitcher - Larson. Losing pitcher - Schrank. Save - Kortan.
Twitter: @jpapendick