Hickman sets up defense of American Legion title

Hickman set itself up for a third defense of the state Class B legion baseball title with an 8-5 win over McCook.

But even facing Hickman, the southwestern Nebraska representatives weren't intimidated, bouncing out to a 4-0 lead, displaying their own prowess at the plate.

McCook scored one run in the bottom of the first inning, then exploded with three more in the second.

Hickman answered with three runs in the top of the third, while shutting down the home team in the bottom half of the inning.

Hickman took the lead with three runs on four hits in the top of the fifth, with Gavin Dowding leading off with a singe, followed by a Caden Kohout double and a Drew Reetz triple providing the initial spark.

McCook came back with one run in the bottom of the fifth to make it 6-5, but that was as close as they would come.

Hickman added two insurance runs in the top of the sixth, then defense prevailed through the rest of the game.

The game was a contrast from those previously seen from Hickman throughout state tournament play. The Titans reached the semifinal using a hard-hitting offense that, while still present against McCook, didn't match that of earlier games.

Two things accounted for that, said Coach Sam Brown.

"We didn't come ready to play," Brown said. He felt the team was stagnant entering the contest and didn't start with its normal intensity.

"But they figured out that nobody was going to lay down for us," Brown said.

Brown said the other factor was McCook itself. "They're a good ball club and they gave us a good game," he said.

Waverly is the only team left between Hickman and the state championship.

Waverly reached the challenge game by virtue of a 10-6 win over Seward in the first game Tuesday.

The two were scheduled to meet at 4 p.m. Wednesday to begin the championship challenge. To become this year's champion, Waverly had to beat Hickman twice because of the double elimination format. Hickman has not lost in the tournament.