Kirt Manion
kmanion@cherryroad.com
This month marks the 50th anniversary of Nebraska City’s American Legion State Championship victory over Ord at the Class B championship game at Sidney.
Nebraska City’s Post 8 American Legion Midget team, coached by Bob Engles, won three postseason tournaments, first at Falls City, and then at York and Sidney on its way to the championship.
In today’s designations, the Midget team, a squad comprised mostly of players ages 13-16, is referred to as the Juniors team. The Legion team, comprised mostly players ages 17-19, is referred to as the Seniors team.
Nebraska City got off to a slow start in its championship season, and, after a loss at Syracuse, had a record of 2-5. Jayme Gruber, a member of the Nebraska City squad, said the team had a meeting in left field following that Syracuse game and were able to address some players’ concerns.
Nebraska City posted a 19-1 record to finish out the championship run at 21-6 overall.
The postseason began on July 22 with the District Tournament at Falls City.
Nebraska City got a first-round bye and faced the tournament host. Scott Sims pitched in the 6-4 win and racked up 16 strikeouts. Offensively, Sims hit a two-run home run. Todd Dawson and Craig Davis had doubles. Ron Vogel had one hit.
In the next contest, the NC side earned an 8-7 win against Hickman (Norris). Stranded base runners were the story of that game as Hickman had 11 runners left on base compared to seven for NC. Todd Dawson and Craig Davis combined their talents on the mound in the win. Both sides had eight hits. Jayme Gruber and Todd Dawson each had two hits.
Those wins put Nebraska City into the Area Tournament at York for two more contests.
Nebraska City jumped to a 4-0 lead against York, but the host team surged back. Four more NC runs in the sixth inning to secure an 8-6 victory.
Singles by Ron Vogel, John Grundman and Scott Simms keyed the sixth inning for Nebraska City. Simms also had the win on the mound.
The York victory pushed Nebraska City to an Area Tournament championship game against Holdrege where NC won 8-3. Scott Simms sizzled on the mound in tossing a one-hit and nine strikeout performance over two game appearances and five total innings pitched. A pitching rule limited Simms to five innings of work as pitchers could work only 12 innings over a 72-hour period.
Offensively, Nebraska City got the fourth and game-deciding run in the second inning.
Nebraska City would then travel to play at the state tournament at Sidney with the first contest being a 6-2 win over Blair.
Nebraska City found itself down 2-1 after Blair’s third inning offense but came back with five runs in the fifth inning and iced the game away. Scott Simms started on the mound, pitched 12 strikeouts and got his 12th win in 13 starts. After loading the bases, Nebraska City had Curt Kreifels reach on an error followed by hits from Todd Dawson and Jayme Gruber to score four of the five runs. Tim Woodruff reached on an error to bring home the fifth run.
Ord defeated Lexington, 9-2, in the other state semifinal, setting up Nebraska City to take on Ord.
Nebraska City’s postseason run culminated on Monday, Aug. 11, 1875, in a thrilling 3-2 state championship securing victory.
The News-Press reported that the coaching decisions by Nebraska City Head Coach Bob Engles proved critical in the win.
Scott Simms, the starting pitcher, threw 10 strikeouts and was relieved by Tim Reuter, who came into the game in the fifth inning and worked the remainder of the contest. The paper called Reuter’s performance “brilliant.”
On offense, Reuter hit a single in the second inning and scored on a Jayme Gruber double. Gruber scored on a hit by Todd Dawson.
Reuter reached base on a walk in the top of the sixth inning and scored on a hit by Gruber. Reuter cemented the win with his pitching in the top of the seventh inning.
Nebraska City’s championship game line up was Ron Vogel, second base; John Grundman, first base; Randy Landwehr, centerfield; Scott Simms, pitcher-short stop; Tim Reuter, shortstop-pitcher; Curt Kreifels, third base; Jayme Gruber, right field; Todd Dawson, catcher; and Tim Woodruf, left field.
Upon arriving home, the Nebraska City team was honored at a meeting of the Nebraska City Rotary at the Elks Club.
Nebraska City was also honored with a full page salute in the Nebraska City News-Press.
Businesses who sponsored the salute page were Dawson Oil, the News-Press, Farmers Bank, Nebraska City Legion Club, Dammast Clothing, Otoe County National Bank, Mead Lumber, American Meter, Nebraska City Federal Savings and Loan, Gambles, Jessups, Woolworth, Morton House, Safeway, Norman’s IGA; City Wholesale Meat, Whitehead-Rhoden-Chevrolet-Cadillac, PLA-MOR Sporting Goods, Gude Mortuary, Mercer’s True Value, and Town and Country Mart.
Included in the salute was a quote from the coach of the Falls City Elks Midgets. It read, “Congratulations Nebraska City Midgets from the Falls City Elks Midgets. You have represented Southeast Nebraska well. – Tim Yinn, manager.
