Valparaiso off to undefeated start in Area Tournament (2025)

BLAIR- A 3-0 start has got the Valparaiso Post 371 Juniors cemented in the championship series of the B-3 Area Tournament at Memorial Field in Blair. So far, Post 371 has secured a 10-3 win over Platte River, a 4-1 win over Rolling Hills Post 43, and an 11-3 victory over Blair Post 154.

In the opening game of the Area Tournament, Valparaiso was matched up with the fifth seed the Platte River Rivals on July 12. An eight-run first inning powered Post 371 to the big win.

Trailing 2-0 in the bottom of the first, Hunter Sykes doubled to left field to jumpstart Valparaiso’s offense. He came around to score on a single to center hit by Lucas DenHartog.

The Rivals walked the next three out of four batters which resulted in another two runs for Post 371 and put Post 371 ahead 3-2.

A single from Grayson Goering to center, followed by a wild pitch and a walk by Platte River, increased Valparaiso’s edge out to four runs.

Devin Watkins closed out the first for Post 371 with a single to right field that drove in Asher Allen and Tyson Burcham and put Valparaiso up 8-2.

In the bottom of the fourth inning, Post 371 had another prime opportunity to score when the Rivals walked two batters and hit another which loaded the bases. Kamber Lechtenberg ended up scoring on a passed ball and Kendol Benes was walked in which increased Valparaiso’s lead to 10-2.

Platte River did score one more run in the top of the fifth which ended up pulling them within seven runs in the end.

Watkins led the way offensively with one hit and two RBIs. All driving in one run for Post 371 were Adam Jamison, Goering and DenHartog.

Getting the win on the mound was Sykes who pitched 2.1 innings, gave up two earned runs and set down four batters on strikes. DenHartog was next to pitch going 2.1 innings with four strikeouts.

Closing out the game was Allen who went 2.1 innings and struck out six batters.

In the second game of the tournament on July 13, Valparaiso scored an upset over the top seed Wayne. Behind a strong performance from Tucker Matulka on the mound, Post 371 pulled out a 4-1 victory.

Despite giving up seven hits, Matulka surrendered no earned runs and set down four Blue Devil batters on strikes.

Valparaiso jumped out to the early lead, by putting up three runs in the top of the second.

With one out, Matulka singled to right field, Lechtenberg was hit by a pitch, and Allen was walked which loaded the bases. They were driven in by a single in the infield from Matulka and a double to left field from Sykes.

Post 371 was right back on the offensive attack in the third when Matulka and Lechtenberg both singled to center. Coming up with the third single of the inning was Allen which scored a run and put Valparaiso in front 4-0.

Rolling Hills Post 43 did get one run back in the sixth inning, but that was as close as they would get as Post 371 held on to win by three.

Racking up two hits and driving in two runs was Sykes while Allen and Jamison both had one hit and one run batted in.

On July 14, Valparaiso poured on the runs as they knocked off the host Blair Post 154. They put up eight runs in the fifth inning and won by a final of 11-3 in six innings.

All driving in two runs with at least two hits against the Bears were: DenHartog, Matulka, and Allen. Wyatt Jelinek finished with two hits and one RBI.

Going all six innings with one earned run given up and four strikeouts was Sykes.

In the semifinals of the Area Tournament, Post 371 took on West Point Post 70 on July 15. Even with a loss, Valparaiso reached the Championship Series that started on July 16.