Kimball Junior Legion gets their first win

For the first time since 2008 Kimball has a Legion baseball team, though currently we have a junior legion team, athletes aged 17 and under, manager Luke Dea and head coach Wade Brashear hope to grow it.

"It started a handful of years ago, trying to rebuild the little league and trying to get it competitive – where we were traveling," Dea said.

Local kids were missing out on a great opportunity, Dea said, especially in the summer. So Dea and Brashear stepped up to help the athletes move beyond little league.

"It is not tax-base supported, it is not school supported, so there is a lot of volunteering and fund-raising," Dea added.

The biggest challenges the team has faced include facilities and funds but they are also a young team, playing a few from the Babe Ruth league (age 13-14).

"To keep it going takes a lot of time, money and effort," Dea said.

The team continues improving and building skills in the sport, Dea said. The local team faces teams from larger surrounding areas that have been playing together for years, and it shows. Despite the challenges the Kimball Junior Legion team continues to progress.

"The best way to do that is to just 'throw them in the fire'," he said. "The biggest difference between us and the other teams is that their pitching depth is much better than ours. Our biggest hurdle will be developing an entire pitching staff."

To that end, Dea points out that Brendan Walker is one of the standouts on the team while the coaches are challenged with developing more confidence in back-up pitchers.

"I would call him our only complete pitcher," Dea said. "When he is pitching we have a greater chance to win. When he is pitching it gives the whole team confidence. It makes him pretty valuable to the team."

Walker also boasts a high batting average, as does Kyle Spicer, according to Dea, and they are the stat leaders for the 15-player team.

The Kimball Junior Legion team, who brought home their first win last week from Morrill, their numbers and their positions are:

#3 Kyle Spicer, Center Field; #5 Colton Mielke, Third Base; #6 Ethan Bemis, Second Base; #7 Nathaniel Mars, Right Field; #8 Grant Hickman, Third Base; #9 Toby McManigal, Second Base; #10 Todd Hunsaker, Catcher; #12 Tyrus Gawith, Shortstop; #15 Trevor Ryschon, Left Field; #21 Austin Lulf, Right Field; #22 Brenden Walker, Third Base, #23 Logan Stahla, Left Field; #25 Garrett Pedersen

First Base, #27 Brady Kilgore, Center Field; #48 Greg Wilke, First Base.

They will be in action at home on Wednesday, June 29 with game times at 4 and 6 p.m., and again at home on July 2, with games at 2 and 4 p.m.