The South Sioux City Little League Majors are two wins away from a state championship after a win Friday in Nebraska Little League State Tournament in Kearney.
The SSC boys jumped on Grand Island early and cruised to an 11-7 win, setting up a 12:30 p.m. game against Omaha Memorial on Saturday. The winner faces Kearney in the finals on Sunday.
The local boys got all they would need in the first inning, using two hits, six walks and a hit batter to plate nine runs.
Jayce Kramer and Jackson Selk opened the inning with base hits, and after Gabe Begay walked to load the bases, Grand Island got the first out before the wheels came off on their pitching. Maddox Hansel, Colby Rager and Waylon Ochsner all drew bases-loaded walks before Luis Banos was hit by a pitch, scoring another run. Two more walks plated two more runs and Luca Ramirez and Banos both scored on a fielder’s choice to close out the scoring.
SSC got two more in the third on a throwing error, then left it up to their pitching. Selk struck out nine and walked four in five innings while Maddox Hansel and Ochsner combined for the final inning of relief.
SSC had just four hits in the game, with singles by Kramer and Ochstner and two hits by Selk. Hansel and Rager both scored two runs.
