Union Bank remains undefeated at state tourney

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BY RYLY JANE HAMBLETON / Lincoln Journal Star

NORFOLK — Ethan McWilliams and Michael Eickhoff took advantage of their opportunities Sunday to help propel Union Bank.

McWilliams scattered nine hits over seven innings, and Eickhoff led the charge at the plate, driving in five runs to propel Union Bank to a 20-3 victory in seven innings against First State Bank in the American Division of the American Legion Senior Class A State Baseball Tournament.

Union Bank, made up of players from Lincoln Pius X, is the only unbeaten team left in the double-elimination tournament. Union Bank will take on Associated Fire Titans (Papillion-La Vista South), which eliminated North Platte 13-1 in seven innings, at 8 p.m. In the 5 p.m. game, First State Bank will meet Prime Time Patriots (Millard South), which ousted Elkhorn 10-2.

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“I gave up five runs yesterday, and even though we won, I felt bad,” McWilliams said. “Coach gave me the opportunity today and I wanted to take advantage. The run support never hurts.”

Union Bank broke the game open with an eight-run third inning. Ben Raun singled and Aaron Molinaro doubled. Eric Schleppenbach singled in a run and Alex Jones plated another with a sacrifice fly. After Alex Heideman singled and Drew Welsh walked, Tim Tlamka drew a bases-loaded walk. Eickhoff singled in two more runs, then Pat Essay finished off the scoring explosion with a three-run home run.

Eickhoff, batting ninth in the order, drove in the first run of the game in the second inning and added a two-run double in the sixth.

“The guys in front of me were getting on. When you’re the nine-hole, you have to work the count,” Eickhoff said. “And one time, they had the infield drawn in and I got the ball in the air. On the double, I saw the ball up and just poked it. Credit to the guys in front of me.”

First State Bank answered with three runs in the bottom of the third, but McWilliams allowed just three hits the rest of the game.

Union Bank coach Troy Charf said there was no hesitation in starting McWilliams after he surrendered five runs in relief in the team’s 6-5 win against Prime Time Patriots.

“Ethan took it hard yesterday. When we were trying to decide what our best pitching option was, we knew it was Ethan, so we went right back to him,” Charf said. “He made adjustments after he gave up those three runs, which I would expect of an experienced senior who has pitched four years.”

Jones had a solo homer for Union Bank, which also got doubles from Heideman, Welsh, Tlamka and Essay.

“I don’t know who started it, but once we got going, there was no stopping us,” Essay said. “I know my head wasn’t in the game to start with and Ben Raun sat me down and got me going.

“This was terrific, but we need to file it away. We know we’re not going to be able to do that against Papio. We just have to stay diligent.”

Essay, Molinaro and Tlamka also had three hits and every Union Bank batter collected at least one hit.

Ryly Jane Hambleton at 473-7314 or rhambleton@journalstar.com.