A return trip to the state tournament is at stake Monday for Omaha Concordia, but punching that ticket won’t be easy.
The Mustangs play Class B No. 1 Norris at Plattsmouth at 2 p.m. in the District B-3 final. Concordia, which co-ops with Omaha Brownell Talbot and Omaha Christian Academy, made its first state tourney appearance last year.
Coach Dan Kraft’s squad got off to a 5-4 start but came on strong during the second half of the season. The fifth-ranked Mustangs have won eight of their past nine games, including a 4-3 victory over Blair in a district semifinal.
That late-season run also included wins over ranked opponents Hastings and defending Class B state champion Omaha Roncalli.
But Norris will have its own motivation in Monday’s 6 p.m. game at Hickman City Park. The Titans lost to Roncalli 5-4 — on a walk-off hit — in the state final last year.
That game will be one of six Class B district finals Monday. The district champions and two wild cards qualify for state, which begins Saturday at Werner Park.
Possible inclement weather already impacted the schedule at one district. The B-4 final at Seward between the host Bluejays and Lincoln Pius X was moved up from 6 p.m. to 1 p.m.
One of the most competitive district finals might occur in B-5, where third-ranked Omaha Skutt hosts eighth-ranked Hastings.
Like Concordia, the SkyHawks have come on strong late in the season. Skutt was 3-7 but has won 11 in a row, including a 6-5 district semifinal win over Arlington.
The SkyHawks also are state tournament regulars, having reached that destination the past 11 years.
The 17-6 Tigers have bounced back from a late-season stretch when they lost three of four. Hastings has won five in a row and also can draw confidence from an 8-6 victory over Skutt early in the year.
Waverly, one of the top teams in the Class B ratings this season, also will be hosting a district. The second-ranked Vikings play Elkhorn Mount Michael in the B-1 final at Lawson Park.
Coach Kyle Parker’s squad has won 14 of 15, losing only to Norris. Waverly has reached state three times but is seeking its first title.
Mount Michael won its first seven games but has gone 4-8 since. The Knights qualified for the district final after rolling past Platteview 10-0 in a semifinal.
Monday’s Class B district final schedule
B-1: Elkhorn Mount Michael (11-8) at Waverly (19-4), 1 p.m.
B-2: Nebraska City (10-7) at Bennington (14-5), 1 p.m. on B103 (103.1 FM, b103.fm)
B-3: Omaha Concordia (13-5) vs. Norris (17-8) at Plattsmouth, 2:00 p.m.
B-4: Lincoln Pius X (8-14) at Seward (13-6), 1 p.m.
B-5: Hastings (17-6) at Omaha Skutt (14-7), 4:30 p.m.
B-6: Platte Valley (9-7) at Elkhorn (11-10), 6 p.m.
