By Marisa Dawson, Photos by Nick Scofield

The Bennington Juniors Legion baseball team is heading to the state tournament with plenty of momentum after capturing the Area Tournament championship with an undefeated run.

Bennington secured the title with a 6-3 victory over Gene’s Auto Papio South Post 32 Juniors on Tuesday, capping off a tournament that showcased the team’s resilience, dominant pitching and growing chemistry.

For first-year head coach Caden Prendergast, the championship was a reflection of how much the group has grown throughout the summer.

“I was very impressed with how well we played together as a team,” Prendergast said. “Throughout the tournament it felt like a family inside the dugout and that is something we have been striving for as a team.”

That sense of togetherness translated onto the field, particularly on the mound.

“Our pitching staff was also very impressive all tournament,” he said. “We had guys start games that have started all year long, and guys that haven’t started a game on the mound all year. Our pitchers dominated all weekend long and it pushed us to amazing defensive success.”

The championship game against Papio South was another example of the team’s ability to capitalize on opportunities. After both teams scored two runs in the second inning, the game remained tied until the fifth, when Bennington broke it open with a four-run frame. Despite recording just four hits, the Juniors made the most of their chances to secure the 6-3 victory.

The road to the championship wasn’t without adversity.

In Sunday’s semifinal matchup against Creighton Prep’s The Birds Jr. Legion, Bennington erased a 2-0 deficit in the fifth inning before walking off with a run in the bottom of the eighth to claim a 3-2 victory.

For Prendergast, that comeback may have been the defining moment of the tournament.

“A moment that really stood out would have to be our game winner against Creighton Prep,” he said. “We were down 2-0 up into the 6th inning and battled to tie the game up and send it into extra innings.”

As the game wore on, he could feel the momentum building inside the dugout.

“Our energy in the final innings of that game was unmatched,” Prendergast said. “As a team I felt like our excitement and our energy gave us all the momentum we needed.”

He credited Connor Crouch’s performance for helping deliver the victory.

“In the 8th inning we loaded the bases up and then Connor Crouch got the game winning hit into left field after pitching a shutout top half of the inning,” Prendergast said. “It showed our teams perseverance and passion in tense spots.”

With an area championship now behind them, the Juniors are turning their attention to the state tournament. Prendergast said the focus this week extends beyond the physical side of the game.

“We are emphasizing playing without pressure on our mind and working as a team to create good results,” he said. “Baseball is played best when the team is having fun and working together to do things right.”

He also wants the team to continue building the chemistry that has fueled its success throughout the tournament.

“Emphasis on the in-between pitch type of things, such as communication and motivating each other, is what we will be focusing on this week,” he said. “I want them to be able to play as a family this weekend, because when we do I have confidence that this team can do anything they strive for.”

The Juniors enter the state tournament believing they still have more to prove.

“I think the whole team is excited and ready to prove a lot of people wrong,” Prendergast said. “We have played hard to get to this point, but we all understand what we are capable of as a team and showing ourselves that it doesn’t matter what other people think of you as long as you stay true to yourself.”

As he reflects on his first season leading the program, Prendergast said the experience has been just as rewarding for the coaching staff as it has been for the players.

“This group of kids has been an amazing first group for me to learn from,” he said. “Everybody has done a lot of learning this year, both players and coaches.”

While he is proud of what the team has accomplished, he knows there is still work to be done.

“I have been very grateful for my coaches and players up until this point for their passion and dedication to the team,” Prendergast said. “As we all know though, the job’s not finished yet.”

Bennington will look to carry its championship momentum into the state tournament this weekend as the Juniors continue their postseason run.