BY JIM MISUNAS
NICKERSON – When Great Bend reliever Alex Schremmer struggled, closer Brice Kaiser was ready the save the day.
Kaiser preserved a 7-5 Legion baseball victory over Nickerson Friday thanks to a dazzling defensive play by Schremmer at shortstop. Nickerson scored two sixth-inning runs against Schremmer to slice the Chiefs’ lead to 6-5.
Schremmer’s seventh-inning single scored Riley Smith with a valuable insurance run for a 7-5 lead. Schremmer saved the potential tying run from reaching base in the seventh inning when he converted a hard-hit ball by Noah Salazar into a forceout. Kaiser struck out Chandler Eaton for the final out.
CHIEFS 7, NICKERSON 5 (G1) – Great Bend won its third straight tight game over Nickerson, a AAA state qualifier last year. Calan Haberman delivered three base hits.
The Chiefs converted four walks by starter Kaden Evert into a three-run first inning. Haberman scored on Joey Soupiset’s walk. Jesus Bujanda scored on a wild pitch. Brice Kaiser scored on an error.
Chiefs starter Colin Hall was tagged for four hits and two runs in the first inning. Evert’s single scored Tanner Schrag and Kaleb Jackson’s sacrifice fly scored Josh Salazar.
Jesus Bujanda singled home Schremmer to ignite a three-run fourth inning. Hall’s single scored Bujanda and Brice Kaiser for a 6-2 lead. Nickerson’s Chandler Eaton scored on a fourth-inning error. Tanner Schrag’s sixth-inning triple scored Tre Garcia and Schrag scored on a wild pitch off reliever Schremmer.
NICKERSON 15, CHIEFS 0 (G2) – Nickerson ace Carson Cornelius threw a one-hit three-inning shutout in 40 pitches. Rogelio Sanchez singled, but was thrown out at second base. Schremmer walked and was picked off by Cornelius.
Josh Salazar finished 5-for-6 in the twin bill with a single, double, two runs and two runs batted home. Tanner Schrag, Eaton and Noah Salazar each drove home two runs.
Nickerson scored eight first-inning runs off starter Riley Smith and reliever Jayce Christiansen. Eaton and Josh Salazar delivered two-run hits and Schrag and Brendan McBeth added RBIs.
Nickerson scored six third-inning runs off pitchers Christiansen and Cal Kaiser. Cornelius and Schrag forced home runs on a hit by pitch and walk. Noah Salazar doubled home two runs. Schrag scored on an error. Aidan Garcia ended the game on the 15-run rule with his second RBI groundout.
GB Chiefs 300 300 1 – 7 9 1
Nickerson 200 102 0 – 5 10 2
Hall, Schremmer (6), Brice Kaiser (7) and Eduardo Bujanda. Evert, Josh Salazar (2), Huggard (7), and Eaton. W—Hall. L—Bolen. Sv—B. Kaiser. 2B—N—2B—N—Tanner Schrag; GB—Schremmer. 3B—N—T. Schrag.
GB Chiefs 000 x – 0 1 2
Nickerson 816 – 15 11 0
Smith, Christiansen (1), Cal Kasier (3) and E. Bujanda. Cornelius and Eaton. W—Cornelius. L—Smith. 2B—N—Josh Salazar, McBeth. 3B—N—T. Schrag.
2018 CHIEFS SCHEDULE
6-2—at Ottawa Tournament WW (Ottawa 8-3, Kansas Senators 9-1)
6-3—at Ottawa Tournament LL (Salina 0-8, 2-12)
6-5—Nickerson, WW (3-2, 6-4)
6-7—Ellinwood, WW (120, 13-5)
6-8—at Nickerson, WL (7-5, 0-15)
6-9—Larned, 6 (radio 107.9)
6-13—at Wichita Aviators, 4:30
6-14—at Omaha Creighton Prep, 3
6-15—at Omaha Creighton Prep, 7
6-16—Elkhorn, Neb. South at Omaha, 7
6-17—Elkhorn, Neb. at Omaha, 2
6-20—Dodge City, 5 (radio 107.9)
6-22/23/24—Chiefs Classic (radio 107.9)
6-26—Wichita Aviators, 6 (radio 107.9)
6-28—at Marion, 6
6-30—at Dodge City, noon (radio 107.9)
7-1—at Larned, 4 (radio 107.9)
7-3—Russell, 6 (radio 107.9)
7-5—Marion (radio 107.9)
7-6/7/8—at Hays Tournament
7-13/21—AAA Zone, TBA (radio 107.9)
7-25/29—AAA State, Emporia (radio 107.9)
