The Osmond Tigers 10-and-under baseball team capped off a perfect 11-0 season by winning their league tournament held Thursday-Saturday, June 26–28. Originally scheduled to begin Wednesday, June 25, tournament play was delayed by weather and began Thursday in Neligh, putting added pressure on pitching rotations due to pitch count rules.
In their opener against Plainview, Axyl Rice took the mound for the Tigers, allowing just one hit in the first before striking out the side. Osmond jumped out to a quick 3-0 lead in the bottom of the first with singles from Carter Gansebom and Braxton Stelling, followed by a three-run home run from Knox Koehler.
Rice pitched a clean second inning before Plainview threatened in the third. After two runners reached base, Knox Koehler came on in relief and got the final out to preserve the lead.
Offensively, the Tigers continued to create opportunities. In the second inning, Tripp Koehler doubled, Josiah Heilbrun was hit by a pitch, and Carter Gansebom added his second single, but the Tigers couldn’t capitalize.
Jameson Koehler chipped in with a single in the third, and the fourth inning saw hits from Spencer Koehler and Carter Gansebom (his third of the game), along with another HBP for Tripp Koehler, loading the bases once again. Despite the threats, Osmond couldn’t add to their lead.
Knox Koehler finished strong on the mound, retiring all six batters he faced over the final two innings to seal the 3-0 win.
Blank Creighton “B” in second game of tournament The Osmond Tigers 10U rolled to a 9-0 semifinal win over Creighton "B" Friday night, using a powerful offensive performance and solid pitching to move on to the semifinals.
Jameson Koehler took the mound for the Tigers and delivered a gritty performance to start the game. After giving up a base hit that struck him in the face off the bat of a Creighton hitter — resulting in a cut lip and bloody nose that took nearly 10 minutes to stop — Koehler showed impressive resilience. He returned to the mound unfazed and struck out the next two batters to end the inning.
In the bottom half, the Tigers’ offense — quiet at times in Thursday’s opener — came alive. Carter Gansebom led off with a double, followed by a two-run homer from Axyl Rice. Singles from Knox Koehler, Spencer Koehler and Tripp Koehler, and a double by Axton Stech capped a fiverun first inning.
Carter Gansebom took over on the mound in the second and third, giving OSMOND TIGER 10U TEAM CAPTURES LEAGUE TITLE up just one hit and striking out four. The Tigers added four more runs in the second inning, all with two outs, on five straight singles from Gansebom, Braxton Stelling, Rice, Knox Koehler, and Jameson Koehler.
The team includes, back row: Coaches Justin Koehler (left), Adam Rice, Tyler Gansebom; middle row: Tripp Koehler, Dillon Melcher, Axton Stech, Knox Koehler, Jameson Koehler, Spencer Koehler; front row: Corbin Willard, Josiah Heilbrun, Braxton Stelling, Axyl Rice, Carter Gansebom; not pictured: Atlas Kelly
Spencer Koehler closed the game in dominant fashion, striking out all three batters he faced in the fourth. He also added a single in the bottom half of the inning, but no additional runs were scored.
With hits from eight different players and a combined two-hit shutout on the mound, the Tigers moved to 9-0 on the season.
Shut Out Niobrara-Verdigre, Advance to Championship Game The Osmond Tigers 10U squad continued their dominant tournament run Saturday morning with an 8-0 shutout victory over Niobrara-Verdigre in the semifinal round.
Axyl Rice took the mound to start and, after allowing one baserunner, settled in to retire the next three batters. He followed up with a dominant second inning, striking out the side.
The Tigers’ offense wasted no time jumping on the board in the bottom of the first. Carter Gansebom and Braxton Stelling opened the game with singles, setting the table for a triple from Axyl Rice. Jameson Koehler and Axton Stech added singles, Spencer Koehler was hit by a pitch, and Tripp Koehler capped the rally with a triple to give Osmond a 5-0 lead.
The Tigers tacked on three more runs in the second behind singles from Corbin Willard, Carter Gansebom, Braxton Stelling, Axyl Rice, Knox Koehler, and Jameson Koehler, pushing their lead up to 8 runs.
Carter Gansebom came on in relief to pitch the final two innings, striking out five and keeping Niobrara-Verdigre off the scoreboard. With the win, the Tigers advanced to the tournament championship, improving to 10-0 on the season.
Edge Elgin to Capture Undefeated Season, Tournament Title The Osmond Tigers 10U team closed out an undefeated 11-0 season by claiming the league tournament championship with a hard-fought 2-1 victory over a resilient Elgin squad.
Elgin, coming off three games earlier in the day working through the losers’ bracket, faced a fresh Tigers team led on the mound by Knox Koehler. Knox set the tone early, retiring Elgin in order with a strikeout in the first inning. Osmond’s offense quickly responded, with Carter Gansebom singling and Braxton Stelling reaching on a hit-by-pitch. Axyl Rice followed with a single that scored a run, and Jameson Koehler added a sacrifice fly to put the Tigers up 2-0.
Knox continued his strong pitching into the second inning, retiring the side in order with solid defensive support. Though the Tigers produced a few more baserunners in the final innings — including a hit-by-pitch from Tripp Koehler and singles from Axyl Rice, Spencer Koehler, and Jameson Koehler — they were unable to extend their lead.
Jameson Koehler took the mound in relief for the third and fourth innings, allowing just one run while striking out two. Axyl Rice closed the game in the final inning with a perfect frame, striking out all three batters he faced to secure the championship.
The Tigers’ balanced pitching and timely hitting proved the difference in a closely contested finale, capping a remarkable undefeated season and tournament run.
Season Recap:
The Osmond Tigers 10U baseball team enjoyed a season marked by both success and steady improvement, culminating in an impressive tournament run that showcased their growth.
Throughout the tournament, the Tigers played some of their best baseball, stringing together numerous base hits while allowing just one run and scoring 22. Their pitching staff — anchored by Axyl Rice, Jameson Koehler, Knox Koehler, Spencer Koehler, and Carter Gansebom — delivered strong performances, supported by solid defense behind the plate and in the field.
Axton Stech showed remarkable toughness, catching every tournament game despite playing with a broken thumb. The team’s success was a true group effort, with key contributions at the plate, on defense, and in the dugout from Braxton Stelling, Tripp Koehler, Corbin Willard, Dillon Melcher, Josiah Heilbrun, and Atlas Kelly.
Coaches Tyler Gansebom, Adam Rice, and Justin Koehler expressed pride in the boys’ hard work and dedication throughout the season, both in games and practices. Their commitment and teamwork were the foundation of a memorable undefeated 11-0 season.
