Jordan Brewers Return to Class B State Tournament With Top Seed
By Andy Buckner
While it may not have come as a surprise to many, it was still a battle for the Jordan Brewers to clinch their ticket to the MBA Class B State Tournament. With District 3B playoffs kicking off on July 13, Jordan’s talented amateur baseball team needed to advance to the championship game of the playoffs in order to make their way back to the state tournament this year. Making quick work of their first two opponents, the Brewers won by way of the mercy rule with a 13-0 victory over the Montgomery Mallards and then a 12-0 win over the New Prague Orioles, with both games going the minimum seven innings.
While the 12-0 victory over their neighboring rivals was enough for them to be assured a place in the upcoming state tournament, the Brewers went into their playoff championship matchup against Webster with more on the line, and they made sure to play hard for it.
“There’s always pride, but we wanted a one seed (in the state tournament) because we want a bye,” manager Scott Hollingsworth told The Hub News, adding slightly tongue-in-cheek, “We’ve got a lot of older guys who could use a week off.”
They were able to defeat Webster 6-3, clinch District 3B’s No. 1 seed in the state tournament, and earn a bye in the tournament’s first round. An impressive feat to be sure, but one that the Brewers had been fully expecting to reach since last year ended with a loss in the state championship game.
“We set a goal every year. Last year we lost (in the championship game) so we set the goal this year that we’ve got to win one more game,” Hollingsworth said.
Closer to reaching that goal, the Brewers were able to add reinforcements to the roster via the league’s postseason draft. Before the state tournament each year, participating teams can draft players from teams around the league that did not qualify for the tournament. This year, it will be New Prague alums Gavin Bergman and Nolan Eischens coming to help the Brewers weather the tough storm of the state tournament schedule. They both figure to be key contributors on the mound when the time comes that the Brewers’ primary pitchers need rest in a packed schedule.
As the pitching is being reinforced, the offense will take a slight hit, as Kyle Hvidsten will be moving down to Virginia before the state tournament to prepare for his senior year of college baseball at Liberty University. However, Rockhurst University junior Afton Koch has returned to Jordan after a summer spent leading a Christian faith-based baseball camp in Southern California. The young infielder and his smooth left-handed swing figure to provide ample run production in the weeks ahead.
With this year’s state tournament taking place in Hutchinson, Gaylord and Brownton, the Brewers will be much farther from home than last year, when the tournament took place in Jordan’s own Mini-Met. However, it is fair to expect many Jordan faithful to make the trip. The impact the Brewers have had on the community this summer is abundantly clear, especially when taking a look at the field after each home game. Children can be seen running all over the field playing their own games of catch, wiffle ball or hotbox. As meaningful as a state championship would be for the Brewers, their ability to stir up fun for those kids has made the season meaningful enough.
“I don’t think there’s a better ballpark in the world that has all these kids playing afterward. It warms our hearts in the dugout to see it, because that’s the future. With us getting older, a lot of those kids are going to be playing on this field in another eight to 10 years,” said Hollingsworth.
Those kids — and the rest of the community — will have two more opportunities to see their hometown team in action as they tune up for the state tournament. Friendly exhibitions will be played against Stockmen’s Irish and the Champlin Logators on Aug. 13 and 18, respectively. Both games will be played at 7:30 p.m.
As summer winds down, it is always difficult to say goodbye to the amateur baseball season. However, with their talented lineup, pitching staff and young reinforcements for the state tournament, the Brewers are in a strong position to provide a happy ending to this season.