Five Points Bank goes 1-3 at home tournament

The Five Points Bank legion baseball team didn't have things go its way during its home tournament.

The Grand Island juniors were haunted by bad breaks during Saturday and Sunday games at Ryder Park.

On Saturday, Five Points committed 13 total errors which led to a 9-8 six-inning loss to Omaha Burke and a 7-1 loss to Bennington, then on Sunday, they hit into line drives that led to double plays when they had runners on third during a 2-1 loss to Omaha Creighton Prep.

Grand Island had seven errors against Burke in the first game, and six more in the loss to Bennington.

"A lot of them were mental errors," Grand Island coach Adam Brown said. "It bit us but we needed to find a way to move past it. We needed to play all aspects of the game better after we made a mistake. We needed to be on the same page when the baseball was hit and we weren't today for some reason."

In the first game, Five Points Bank led 3-1 going into the fifth inning. But Burke scored five runs, thanks to four Grand Island errors in taking a 6-3 lead. Five Points Bank committed two more errors in the sixth.

But Grand Island didn't back down. Brody Davidson connected on a two-RBI triple to score Trey Norgaard and Blake Caspar. One batter later, Carson Rust brought Davidson home on a RBI single to cut the deficit to one, but Aiden Glade flew out to end the game, which was stopped in the sixth because of the time limit.

Gavin Ruether led the offense by going 2 for 4 with a RBI.

In the second game, six Grand Island errors in the first four innings allowed Bennington to lead 7-0, including four in the second inning.

Five Points Bank scored its lone run in the fourth inning when Norgaard came home from third on a wild pitch.

Grand Island was held to four hits in the loss. Ethan Mader was 1 for 3 with a double.

On Sunday, Five Points Bank's play was a lot cleaner as they committed only one error.

After Prep took a 1-0 lead in the fourth inning, Five Points Bank responded. Ethan Mader reached base on an error. He would later score on another error to tie the game.

Grand Island had a chance to add to that lead when they had runners on second and third with one out. But Aden Stephens hit a line drive straight to third-baseman Max McHugh, who stepped on third for the double play to end the inning.

Later in the sixth, Five Points Bank had runners on first and third with one out, but just like in the fourth, Glenn Griffith hit a line drive to first baseman Will Penne, who stepped on first on base to complete a double play.

"We played a lot cleaner and our approach to the game was a lot better today. We hit into a few unfortunate double plays that might have turned the game the other way into our favor," Brown said. "We had great approaches to the plate on those plays so you really can't ask for anything more than that."

Carson Washburn led the offense by going 2 for 4, while Caspar was 2 for 3.

Brown said going 1-3 in the home tournament wasn't what Five Points Bank wanted to do.

"It wasn't a great weekend for us but looking at the big picture, I think we found some stuff out. I think we played a lot better than we have been," Brown said. "We're battling and competing but we gave up too many free bases. We have a lot of stuff to work on. Hopefully we can get it figured out and be playing competitive baseball."

Sunday's Games

Omaha Creighton Prep 2, Five Points Bank 1

Omaha Creighton Prep;000;100;1-2;4;4

Five Points Bank;1;7;1

WP-Kane. LP-Glade. 2B-FPB: Washburn.

Saturday's Games

Omaha Burke 9, Five Points Bank 8

Omaha Burke;000;153-9;5;0

Five Points Bank;030;023-8;6;7

WP-LaFarr. LP-Washburn. 3B-FPB: Davidson.

Bennington 7, Five Points Bank 1

Bennington;141;100;0-7;10;2