Two Thunderbirds Pitchers Combine To Shutout Archbishop Bergan

LINCOLN- The Class A #2 seed Bellevue West Thunderbirds defeated Archbishop Bergan 1-0 on Saturday as two pitchers combined to throw a shutout. 

Jack Bland induced a groundout from Sam Gifford to record the final out for Archbishop Bergan. The pitching was strong on both sides. Thunderbirds pitchers struck out 17, while Carter Sintek sat down six.

A single by Dawson Glause in the very first at bat of the game appeared to give Archbishop Bergan the edge, but it was quickly nullified by Bellevue West.  Jaxon Jelkin who started the game for Thunderbirds was on fire for the remainder of the game as he went seven innings, allowing zero runs on one hit and striking out 15, receiving a standing ovation from both fan bases at the end of his day.

Then Bland who entered in relief, pitched the Thunderbirds to victory. The righthander went two innings, allowing zero runs on one hit, striking out two and walking zero. Sintek took the loss for Archbishop Bergan. The Knight allowed five hits and one run over eight and a third innings, striking out six and walking one.

Tyler VanDerwerken, Cam Madsen, Gage Allen, Jelkin, and Conner Schneider all had one hit to lead Thunderbirds. It was Schneider who had the game winning hit, as he ripped one to left field off the fence, scoring Madsen from first. Archbishop Bergan didn't commit a single error in the field. Jack Cooper had the most chances in the field with 12.