Hastings Nips GI Home Federal, 4-1

(Hastings, NE) - An early first-inning lead and some late insurance for Hastings was enough to hang on and defeat Grand Island Home Federal 4-1 on Tuesday night at Duncan Field. 

The two teams met up four times last summer, with GI winning all four matchups. This was the first meeting between the two baseball rivals. Round two will be on Tuesday, July 1st, at Ryder Park. 

Hastings would get an RBI double by Chance Vertin in the first to take a 1-0 advantage. Grand Island had the bases loaded in the third but couldn't bring a runner home. GI stranded 8 runners on base in the game. Hastings would get two insurance runs in the bottom of the 5th and another in the 6th. The lone run of the game would come for Grand Island in the top of the 6th on a ground out RBI by Trent Verplank. GI would only have four hits in the game from Arends, Dinkelman, Barrientos, and Ruether. 

Hastings starting pitcher Carlos Jiminez kept Home Federal off balance most of the night, going six strong innings, giving up just two hits, one run, four walks, and had six strikeouts on 86 pitches. 

Gabe Ruiz started for GI, going four and a third giving up six hits, three runs, 2 walks and had four strikeouts. Sam Dinkleman pitched in relief, going an inning and two-thirds. 

GI is now 13-11 on the season and will be back in action Thursday, June 26th at Creighton Prep. Then starting the 27th of June play in the Mike Peterson Tournament in Lincoln. 

Hastings is now 16-5 and will play at North Platte Wednesday, June 25th at 7:30 pm. 

Other Tuesday night GI American Legion baseball scores 
Juniors: DCB 9, GI Tom Dinsdale Automotive 5 
Juniors: GI Five Points Bank 5, Hastings 2 
Seniors: DCB 9, GI U Save Pharmacy 2