Crusaders rally to repeat as Central Plains champion

Faith Lutheran’s American Legion baseball team captured the Central Plains Tournament championship Sunday by bouncing back from an 11-2 loss to Pratt (Kan.) with a 10-9 victory over Pratt in the winner-take-all finale at Le Sueur, Minn.

It’s the third straight season a local team has won the tournament. Faith Lutheran repeated as champion, and Legacy took the title two years ago.

The Legion Silver Division state champion Crusaders rallied from a 9-6 deficit entering the seventh and final inning, taking the lead on Josh Murtha’s two-out single that scored Nick Bata.

“They’re committed to the team and trying to make it happen,” Faith Lutheran coach Tony Girod said. “They showed a lot of heart.”

Murtha also was the winning pitcher, tossing three scoreless innings of relief in which he gave up two hits, walked none and struck out one.

Brett Yee went 3-for-4, and Zach Skipper and Tyler Trageton had two hits each for Faith Lutheran.

Crusaders catcher Michael Kinkenon was named Most Valuable Player of the tournament, in which he hit .589 with eight RBIs in six games. Murtha, Bata and teammate Dylan Hanson were named to the all-tournament team.

“We had 18 guys on the roster, and all 18 served a role,” Girod said. “They understood team concept.”