Observations all along the line - Kimball & the Southern Panhandle First

Kimball Legion team coming together nicely

Kimball's Junior Legion team played a double header with Sidney at home last Thursday, June 29. Pitching for Kimball is really coming along nicely, according to parent, Bernie Walker.

"The kids are really figuring out their roles and what high points are," said Walker.

Kimball lost the first game 12-4, with just one poor inning the Sidney ball players took advantage of the errors Kimball made. Brendan Walker pitched four innings and struck out five hitters, with Ethan Bemis adding his arm for one inning and one strike out. Batting for the Kimball crew is most certainly improving late this season, Brady Kilgore had one single, and also used his quick feet to add a stolen base to the books, Brendan batted well with one single, a double, and two stolen bases, Austin Lulf had one single, as well as one stolen base, and Nate Mars, Colton Mielke and Javon Coyle all recorded one single.

The second of the two games Sidney came away with another win 13-8, for Kimball pitching was again looking stronger, Brady threw for five innings and recorded 6 strike outs, and Ethan Bemis also pitched for one inning and had two strikeouts. Batting in this game hit a whole new level, the boys came out and continued to hit good all game, Kilgore had one single, one double, as well as two steals, Bemis marked down one single and two steals, Walker had two singles, and one steal, Grant Hickman batted great adding two doubles, and one steal, Lulf checked the books with two singles, and three stolen bases, Coyle added two steals, and Justus Golding (shown at left in red) had two singles and three steals, and Mars and Mielke each added one single to the books.

Mother nature was a little moody Thursday night when she decided it was going to rain during both games, according to Bernie.

"The weather impacted the game yet the ball players all battled through it and toughed it out," Walker said.

Even with moisture, fans came out to cheer on their hometown boys.

"Their was such a great turn out, they had such great support," he said.

This team is really improving from last year, and the coaches are doing a great job keeping everyone positive.

Kimball did not play in the tournament this past weekend in Hershey, so next up for the boys is the Class C Area Tournament which is held in Alma Neb., July 7-11. Kimball is the only team from the Panhandle to compete in the Class C division, according to Walker.

"All the other teams in this area are Class B, so all the teams we have faced are of course Class B," he said.

Throughout the season Kimball has been played a division up, this will hopefully help their chances at the Area Tournament, where the winner will go on to compete in the State Tournament.

Good luck guys!