Bennington Captures EMC Crown, Honors Seniors, Shows Resilience in Busy Week

By Marisa Dawson

The Bennington Badgers baseball team experienced a roller-coaster week, highlighted by a strong showing in the Eastern Midlands Conference (EMC) tournament that culminated in their first-ever conference tournament championship. They defeated Waverly and Norris in the tourney before dropping non-conference games to Elkhorn and Elkhorn North.

After a stretch of inconsistent play leading into the week, head coach Collin McClain said the team’s turnaround came from trusting their approach and staying composed.

“We just stayed the course, and the guys didn’t panic,” McClain said. “We knew that we were better than we played, just needed some things to click offensively and on the mound.”

Thursday, April 16: Bennington 12, Waverly 5 (EMC Tournament Semifinals)
Bennington exploded offensively in the EMC semifinals against a strong Waverly squad. The Badgers racked up 17 hits and scored in multiple innings, pulling away for a 12-5 victory on the road. Key contributors included Baylor Uhing (3-for-3, 4 RBI, including extra-base hits), Connor Smith (3-for-4, 3 runs), and Gabe Nickel (3-for-5, 3 RBI). The offense produced runs throughout the lineup, showcasing the contagious hitting Coach Collin McClain often emphasizes.

That offensive surge was a defining theme of the tournament run. “When we have production throughout all 9 in the lineup, it’s fun to watch,” McClain said. “Offense is contagious, it usually just takes a couple of guys to get going, and the rest start to gain confidence.”

Friday, April 17: Bennington 10, Norris 7 (EMC Tournament Championship)
The Badgers claimed the EMC title with a hard-fought 10-7 home win over Norris at Lynn R. Pruess Field, avenging a runner-up finish from the previous season. Bennington built an early lead but had to weather a Norris rally, finishing with 10 runs on 9 hits while committing no errors. Baylor Uhing again starred with 2 hits and 4 RBI in the championship game, contributing significantly to his tournament totals of 5 hits and 8 RBI across the semis and finals.

McClain credited Uhing’s performance as a major factor in the title run, noting that multiple players stepped up throughout the week. “Several guys contributed, but Baylor Uhing had a fantastic tournament,” he said. “He had 5 hits and 8 RBI’s in the semis and finals. All of our pitchers competed well against good hitting teams. We felt confident in who we had out there to keep us in it.”

Bennington’s ability to respond to adversity also proved critical, as the team battled back from early deficits in multiple games. “We just tried to stay focused on the process of what we are doing,” McClain said. “We fell behind early in 2 of those games, and the guys didn’t flinch. They just stayed the course and trusted that we would also find ways to score runs.”

Pitching and defense anchored that resilience throughout the tournament. McClain added, “If you are making the routine plays and throwing strikes, you will have a chance in every game.”

Ultimately, the championship reflected the team’s growth and mindset. “It says a lot about the toughness and resilience of this group,” McClain noted. “The easy thing to do when things aren’t going your way is to fold and give in. These guys had several good practices leading up to the week knowing we had to get better. I was proud of the way we battled all week.”

Saturday, April 18: Elkhorn 3, Bennington 2
In a tightly contested non-conference road game, Bennington fell just short, 3-2. The Badgers managed only 6 hits and left several runners on base, with Noah Langford driving in both runs. Strong pitching kept them in the game, but they couldn’t overcome an early deficit against the Elks.

Monday, April 20: Elkhorn North 2, Bennington 1 (9 innings, Senior Night)
On senior night at home, Bennington battled Elkhorn North to a 1-2 extra-inning loss in a pitchers’ duel. The Badgers scored their lone run in the fourth inning but managed just 2 hits total while striking out frequently. Pitchers Dominic Mendicino and Wyatt Nordmeyer combined for a strong effort, allowing only 2 runs (1 earned) over 9 innings with limited walks. The game went to the ninth before Elkhorn North pushed across the winning run.

Despite the loss, McClain emphasized the grit his team, particularly the senior class, showed in the extra-inning battle. “We showed a lot of grit in that game against Elkhorn North,” he said. “The two pitchers they threw were talented. Our pitching from seniors Dominic Mendicino and Wyatt Nordmeyer, along with our defense, kept us in that game. That game reflected who our seniors have been. When things aren’t going our way, we are just going to keep fighting.”

McClain described the senior group as one defined by perseverance and patience. “This senior class is the definition of ‘everything is earned and not given,’” he said. “A lot of them had to work hard while they waited for varsity opportunities. It says a lot about their character and how they will be successful people someday.”

He also pointed to Charlie Swoboda’s leadership as a steadying presence. “Charlie Swoboda is our one returning starter from this senior class, so he knows what it takes to win and be successful,” McClain said. “He has been a great leader and knows what it means to be even keel, whether things are going well or not.”

More broadly, McClain said the group’s consistency and commitment have stood out over time. “They have been a group that always showed up consistently and put in the work to get better, even when opportunities weren’t there for a lot of them early in their career,” he said. “That is rare in today’s world. Seeing their growth as players and people over the course of four years is fun to watch. They feel like family to us coaches.”

As the Badgers move forward, McClain said the focus remains unchanged. “We just continue with the process,” he said. “Baseball is a very humbling game. You’re never as bad as you think you are, and you’re never as good as you think you are. We just have to keep showing up with focus and discipline and good things will happen.”