Baseball: Bennington Badgers Hot Streak Runs Cold in District Final

3–4 minutes

By Baylor Detjens, Photos by Marisa Dawson & Jeff Douglas

A baseball player dives for a catch as another player reaches for a throw. The scene captures the action on a baseball field with players in uniforms, demonstrating athleticism and teamwork.

After 7 of the 8 starting position players from last season’s Bennington Baseball team, the NSAA Class B runner-up, graduated, there were doubts that surrounded this team. Bennington responded by going 19-9 and the season ending in a 2-0 district final loss to #1 Skutt after a 5-3 win over Norris in the district semi-finals.

The Badgers came into the B-2 District Tournament hot with a 5 game win streak. The team that started with Norris, was their first opponent in the bracket. BHS started the scoring off in the bottom of the first, but Norris would grab a 2-1 lead in the top of the third. Bennington responded with an explosive 3 run third inning and would add another run in the 4th. This 5-2 lead would hold into the top of the 7th where the Titans could only tally one more run and their comeback would come up short. 

A baseball pitcher stands on the mound at night, illuminated by a bright floodlight, with dust swirling around him.

The Badgers were propelled by big games from two juniors: Connor Smith and Kellen Mlnarik. Smith pitched six innings and racked up six strikeouts while only allowing one earned run, four hits and one walk. The pitcher also added a home run and three RBIs on 1 for 3 behind the plate. Mlnarik on the other hand went a perfect 3 for 3 and added an RBI. These performances aided the Badgers to their 6th consecutive win, but the job wasn’t finished.

BHS was just one win away from taking a trip back to state but ahead of them laid the #1 team in the state, Skutt Catholic. The Skyhawks were essentially unstoppable in Class B this season. Skutt came in at 23-5 with only one of its losses being to a Class B team (5-3 at Gretna East, April 21; others being to two Class A and two out-of-state opponents). The Skyhawks also rode in on a 5 game hot streak of their own but the Badgers had a plan. Bennington coach Collin McClain told his team before the game, “If we play clean defense and pitchers execute pitches, we’re going to give ourselves a shot.”

A young baseball player wearing a white jersey and blue cap is celebrating emphatically on the field, showing excitement with a clenched fist and open mouth, indicating a moment of achievement or victory.

That seemed off at first, as the Skyhawks started the game with one run in the first and another in the third. Those were both batted in by sophomore Sean Hipsher who went two for three with a triple on the day. However, that would be all the scoring in the entire game, for a two nothing final. A big piece of this was Skutt’s Easton Elam. The Junior pitched a complete game allowing zero earned runs, zero walks and only three hits. All Coach McClain could say was “I mean that kid on the mound is good, like credit to him, he’s good.” 

Despite the crushing defeat, McClain is proud of his team and most notably “the way we handle adversity.” He recalled earlier in the year before the EMC tournament where they “got thumped three times.” McClain explained there were “conversations and talks within the team and between players.” The team could decide ”we either fold right now or we find a way to get better.” McClain then proudly stated, “We found a way to get better, and we found a way to be our best team at the very end.” 

A baseball player in white and blue uniform is standing in the outfield, preparing to catch a ball. The player is wearing a cap and sunglasses, with a baseball glove raised, and the background features a chain-link fence and trees.

Moving on, much of the team will look ahead to the summer for the Legion season where McClain’s goal for the team is, “Continue to grow as like I said, mentally first.” He claims when “you watch them flying around in practice when there’s no pressure on them, they look really good and so it’s just translating that to the field. I think the more we do that, we’re going to continue to get better. And I think over the course of a summer, I wouldn’t be shocked if by mid July, we’re really clicking on all cylinders there.” For now though, the Badgers end this year 19-9 and as the Eastern Midlands Conference Champions and the District B-2 Runner-Up.

A group of baseball players wearing blue hats and white jerseys sit on the bench, focusing on the game.
A baseball player slides into base while another player reaches out to catch a thrown ball, with an umpire watching the play from behind.
A baseball player in a white uniform with the number 12 shakes hands with teammates on the field, showcasing a moment of camaraderie during a game.
A baseball player in a white uniform with the number 9 is running towards first base, holding a bat, while teammates watch from the dugout.
A baseball player attempts to catch a ball while another player slides into second base during a game.
A baseball player in white uniform slides into second base while a fielder in dark uniform prepares to catch the ball.
A baseball player in a white uniform is attempting to tag out a runner in blue who is sliding towards the base. The scene is set on a well-maintained baseball field with trees in the background.
A young baseball player swings a bat at a pitch during a game, with teammates in the background watching from the dugout.
A baseball player sliding into home plate as the catcher attempts to catch a thrown ball.
A baseball catcher in blue gear crouches to catch a pitch while the home plate umpire in black stands nearby. The background shows players in team uniforms.
A baseball player in a white uniform swings a bat at a baseball during a game, while the catcher, wearing a red helmet and chest protector, crouches behind home plate.
A baseball player swings for a hit during a game, while a catcher crouches behind home plate. The scene captures other players in the dugout cheering in the background.
A baseball player swings a bat while a catcher prepares to catch the pitch, with teammates in the background watching the game.
A baseball player in a white uniform is running towards home plate while a teammate in a blue and white uniform is preparing to throw the ball from the infield. Another player stands in the background, ready in position. The scoreboard shows the game status.
A baseball player wearing a white jersey with blue accents pitches the ball on a baseball mound at night.
A baseball player slides towards a base while another player prepares to catch the ball, with an umpire observing the play in the background.
A baseball player slides into second base while another player stands ready to catch the ball, with an umpire observing the play.
A baseball player in a white and blue uniform stands in an outfield position, preparing to throw a baseball. He wears a blue cap and has a focused expression.
A baseball player wearing a white uniform and a blue hat is standing in the outfield, preparing to catch a ball.
A baseball player in a white uniform and blue cap is fielding a ball in the outfield, with a green fence and a sign in the background.
A baseball player in a white uniform and blue cap fielding a ground ball on a grassy baseball field.
A young baseball player in a white uniform with blue accents is on the field, preparing to throw a baseball. He is wearing sunglasses and a blue cap, with a determined expression on his face.
A baseball player wearing a white jersey and blue cap throws a baseball while standing on a field.
A baseball player in a blue and white uniform throwing a baseball from the infield, with another player in the background observing.
A baseball team in white uniforms with blue hats huddled together on the field, discussing strategies.
A baseball player in a blue and white uniform is on the pitcher's mound, in a dynamic throwing position, with trees in the background.
A baseball catcher in protective gear is positioned to receive a pitch, while a batter swings at the ball. The background shows spectators watching the game.
A young baseball player in a blue helmet and white uniform swings at a pitched ball during a game, with spectators in the background.
A baseball player in a white uniform swings at a pitch during a game, with spectators in the background.
A baseball player sliding into home plate during a game, with a catcher in position to receive the play. Other players are visible in the background.
A baseball player in a white uniform is poised to hit a ball that is nearing the plate, while a catcher in red gear prepares to receive the pitch. In the background, teammates and spectators are visible.
Two baseball players on the field; one standing on first base while the other, in a black hoodie, talks to him.
A baseball player in a white uniform swings at a pitch during a game, with the ball just leaving the pitcher's hand. A catcher in red is crouched behind home plate, and spectators are visible in the background.
A baseball game scene featuring two players; one is running towards second base while the other is positioned at first base, ready to receive the ball.
A baseball player in a white and blue uniform is about to throw a baseball from the infield, while another player stands in the background.
A baseball player in a white uniform swings at a pitch during a game, while a catcher in red gear crouches behind home plate. Spectators can be seen in the background.

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