Postseason play continued last night with two Northeast Kansas league teams squaring off on the diamond in a winner's bracket game in the Zone 4 tournament, as Seneca managed the comeback win over Royal Valley 8-7.

Zone tournaments continue with a full slate of games featuring Northeast Kansas league teams this evening. Holton, Royal Valley and Frankfort will all play in the loser's bracket in the Zone 4 tournament in Silver Lake. Holton and Royal Valley will square off at 6:00pm and Frankfort will play Rock Creek at 8:15pm (after Rock Creek lost to Silver Lake 7-5 last night).

Doniphan County and Hiawatha start postseason play tonight in the Zone 1 tournament. Hiawatha the five seed will play four seed Baldwin, while Doniphan County the three seed will play the two seed KC Cyclones both games at 6:00pm (you can hear the Doniphan County game on 103.9 KNZA this evening). Hiawatha will play again at 8:00pm win or lose. while Doniphan County will play again only if they lose.

Zone 4 Tournament Bracket (click here)

Zone 1 Tournament Bracket (click here)

Northeast Kansas League Standings (click here)

Seneca Wins in Comeback Fashion to Stay on Winner's Bracket Side in Zone

It was a great ball game in Silver Lake last night between, Royal Valley and Seneca in the Zone 4 Tournament postseason play in the winner’s bracket.

Royal Valley lead throughout the game until the decisive blow was delivered by Seneca’s Eric Huerter, who blasted a two-run home run in the bottom of the sixth to give Seneca their first lead of the game at 8-7. Seneca behind Dylan Kramer, who came in at pitcher in relief earlier in the game, shut down Royal Valley in the top of the seventh to preserve the win for Seneca, as they advance in the Winner’s bracket in the Zone 4 tournament.

Royal Valley struck first on the night with back-to-back doubles, from Craig Thurber and Erich Weidmann in the second to plate one-run then Seneca answered with one of their own in the bottom of the inning. The third inning would prove to be a solid one for Royal Valley as they plated five-runs on a slew of hits, walks and hit batsmen. Seneca, tallied one-run in the third, before Royal Valley would get it back in the fourth.

After four innings in Silver Lake, Royal Valley lead it 7-2, but the fifth and sixth the bats would wake up for Seneca enough for them to mount the comeback as they plated three-runs each inning. The final three runs Seneca scored in the bottom of the sixth all came with two outs, a triple by Zach Rottinghaus, then Dylan Kramer reached on an error, allowing Rottinghaus to score. After that Heurter blasted his two-run home run. 

Kramer finished the game on the mound for Seneca after taking over in relief for starter Alex Hermesch in the third inning.

In the loss offensively Royal Valley saw Craig Thurber, who pitched effectively on the night for the Panthers go 1-2 with two run scored and an RBI; Erich Weidmann went 2-3 with two RBI and a run scored.

For Seneca it was the top of the order scoring seven of their eight runs; Zach Rottinghaus went 2-3 with a triple, double and three runs scored; Dylan Kramer 2-4 with two runs scored and double and McDonald’s "Player of the Game" honors went to Eric Huerter 3-4 with four RBI, two runs scored, two-run home run and a double.