Broken Bow Ready to Host Class B State Legion Seniors Baseball Tournament

Broken Bow will host the 2022 Class B Nebraska American Legion State Baseball Playoff beginning Saturday at Paul Brown Field.  This will mark the first time since 1985 that Broken Bow has hosted an American Legion baseball state tournament.  The city’s legion field has undergone numerous improvements in preparation for the tournament.  A new restroom and concession facility along with new protective netting behind home plate and down the baselines highlight some of the renovations.  While tournament play won’t begin until Saturday, a special opening ceremony will take place this evening.  During tonight’s ceremony will be a special dedication for the new American Flag that will be raised in center field donated by the Smith family.  Jeff Denson, one of the organizers and directors of the tournament, visited with KCNI/KBBN about tonight’s event.

 

 

Eight teams from across the state will be competing for the state title in the double elimination tournament which runs through Wednesday, August 3rd.  The opening round of the tournament will begin with the Area 2 tournament champion Waverly playing the Area 5 champion Columbus Lakeview at 9 a.m.  At Noon, the Area 4 champion Valparaiso will face the Area 7 champ Ogallala.  Broken Bow will take the field Saturday afternoon at 3 p.m. for their opening game of the tournament.  Broken Bow’s opponent will be Minden.  Bow is 18-10 on the season and received an automatic bid as the host team but was also the Area 6 tournament champion.  As a result, Minden, the Area 6 tournament runner-up, will represent Area 6 in the state tournament.  The two teams met twice in the area tournament with Broken Bow winning both games by scores of 8-0 and 8-5.  The two will meet for the third time in a week on Saturday.  The final game of the opening round will feature the Area 3 tournament champion Blair against the Area 1 champion Hickman at 6 p.m.  All Broken Bow tournament games will be broadcast on KBBN 95.3 FM and on the web at kbbn.com

 

A special ceremonial first pitch is planned prior to all state tournament games.  Below is a list of those scheduled to throw out the first pitch

9:00 a.m. – Saturday, July 30
Representative of the Paul Brown Family for which our field is named after – Dr. Ron Simmons

Noon – Saturday, July 30
Tim Barrow, Veteran

3 00 pm – Saturday, July 30
Joseph Palmer Family, representing Palmer-Lomax Post 126
100-year anniversary of his burial in Custer County

6:00 pm – Saturday, July 30
Walt Hendricks, WWII Veteran

9 00 am – Sunday, July 31
Wayne Mills, WWII Veteran

Noon – Sunday, July 31
Colton & Rob Smith, Veterans

3 00 – Sunday, July 31
AJ Page, Veteran

6 00 – Sunday, July 31
Frank Lomax Family, representing Palmer-Lomax Post 126

Noon – Monday, August 1
Dan Knoell, Veteran

3 00 pm – Monday, August 1
Roger Wenquist, Post 126 Commander

6 00 pm – Monday, August 1
Dell Moninger, Veteran

3 00 pm – Tuesday, August 2
Rod Sonnichsen, Veteran

6 00 pm – Tuesday, August 2
Julie Schnitzler, Veteran

1 00 pm – Wednesday, August 3
Billy Beals – Broken Bow’s Honorary Bat Boy for over 50 years

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