Nishnabotna outlasts Sidney at districts

A combined 33 players struck out. Nine total hits were recorded and 11 innings were played.

To say Thursday’s district semifinal clash between Sidney and Nishnabotna was a pitcher’s dual might be a gross understatement.

Nishnabotna ended up scratching out two runs, however, and that was all the Blue Devils needed to claim a 2-1 victory and advance to the district finals.

It was Sidney that grabbed the first lead and looked headed for victory.

A hit batsman with the bases loaded in the fourth inning gave Sidney a 1-0 lead, but the Cowboys’ misses with runners on base loomed large.

Sidney left the bases loaded in the fourth, then left two runners on base in both the sixth and seventh frames.

Nishnabotna converted on its chance to score in the seventh inning.

With Kaleb Kahue on third base and Doug Raymond at the plate, Coach Luke Stockstell called the play he wished he had in a prior extra-innings loss to Sidney.

Coach Stockstell said he had been haunted by his decision not to order a squeeze bunt in the prior loss.

“I kept telling myself, if it happens again, we are squeezing,” Stockstell said.

So the coach ordered it.

And it worked, sort of.

Raymond put the ball in play on a squeeze bunt and Sidney appeared to be in position to get Kahue out at home, but an error allowed the Nishnabotna base runner to score and tie the game.

A good throw would have gotten Kahue out, but it would not have mattered had Raymond failed to get the bunt down. That’s the critical part of the play.

And Raymond went to the plate believing he could get the job done.

“I had confidence once he called the bunt that I could make contact,” Raymond said.

The eighth, ninth, and 10th innings rolled by uneventfully before Nishnabotna sewed up the game with a run in the bottom of the 11th.

Joseph Heitshusen drew a one-out walk and Russell Hemeter came through with an RBI double that sent the Nishnabotna bench into hysteria and pushed the Nishnabotna baseball team into the district finals.

Blaine Lang, who was courtesy running for Heitshusen, said he had just one thought on his mind as he rounded third base.

“All I thought was turn on the wheels and run as hard as I could,” Lang said.

As Lang approached home plate, he felt he was going to get in safely. After that, well it’s pretty much a blur. Lang said he couldn’t even remember who greeted him first.

“I am not for sure. All I know is that I got mobbed,” Lang said.

A glance at the scorebook indicates Hemeter could be the biggest of the Blue Devil heroes. He was 3-for-5 at the plate with a single, two doubles and the game winning hit. He also pitched six and two-thirds, striking out 10 batters.

To limit the accolades to just one Blue Devil, however, would be an injustice.

Carroll Heitshusen started on the mound and pitched seven strikeouts in just three and one-third innings.

Catcher Kahue scored the game-tying run, made key plays behind the plate and came in to pitch the 11th inning and keep the score frozen at 1-1.

Raymond’s contact on the squeeze bunt helped Nishnabotna score the game-evening run in the seventh.

More than all those plays, it took steady nerves and remarkable determination to keep the game in control. The slightest mistake could have proven devastating.

Raymond said the team maintained its composure because of its desire.

“We just wanted to come through with a win,” Raymond said. “We always play Sidney tough.”

Now the Nishnabotna team can focus on the district finals. And more redemption.

The Blue Devils are scheduled to take on East Mills at 7 p.m. Saturday night at Essex.

That’s the same East Mills team that beat Nishnabotna in the final game of the regular season and forced the Blue Devils to settle for second place in the final Corner Conference standings.

Just two wins separate the Nishnabotna baseball team from the state tournament now. And Kahue thinks his team can accomplish that goal.

How far can the team go?

“As far as we want to go, as long as we put our minds to it,” Kahue said.