HASTINGS, Neb. – The last time the Hastings Tigers made state as a baseball team, their current group of 10 seniors were 8th graders.

"This senior class has a lot of grit and a lot of fight, and I think that really is a big factor for us and changed the difference that helped us just keep going, stay energy level high, and believe." said Senior First Basemen Chance Vertin. 

Those seniors and everyone else on the team needed every ounce of fight in them in their district final game against Ralston, where they trailed by six runs early, but came back to win 12-10, getting them to Omaha for the first time since 2021.

"That last ground ball was hit, time just kind of froze," said Senior Pitcher Eli Schneider, who was on the mound when the final out was recorded. "I remember I was jumping up in the air, and then pure joy from there."

This Tiger squad endured plenty of adversity this season, starting off the year 8-4, before losing six games in a seven-game stretch in the middle of the season, but then ending the year winning four of their last five. 

It was the team’s leadership that powered the Tigers through, says Head Coach Blake Marquardt.

"This senior group has been a group that has played truly from eight grade together, they've kind of come up through the ranks together," said Marquardt. "Some of these guys are three-sport athletes, and I think the camaraderie, and the chemistry they've created within each other I think have brought this team where it is today."

While this team is the number eight seed in Class B, having to go up against number one in the first round, and with no experience at state before, the seniors know they’re in the same boat as each team, and have a wealth of talent to rely on all around the team.

"We've got a lot of guys on this team that come through in different moments, it's just really easy to trust one other," said Schneider. "Like we did in districts, those could've been our last games. We're going to have a lot of energy and be louder than the other team."

Hastings travels to Omaha to take on #1 Skutt Catholic Saturday morning at 10 a.m. in the first round of the double-elimination state tournament.

You can follow along with the Tigers' games on KHAS Radio.