After having lost a blowout in their previous game against Gretna, Norfolk was happy to have turned things around on Thursday. They won by a run and slipped past the Lincoln North Star Gators 6-5. The Panthers' hitters stepped up their game for this one, as that was the most runs they've scored all season.
Ayden Papstein
| 03/26/26 vs Lincoln North Star | 5 |
| 05/01/25 vs Pius X | 3 |
| 05/05/25 vs Fremont | 2 |
| 04/29/25 @ Millard South | 2 |
| 03/20/25 vs Columbus | 2 |
Ayden Papstein made a splash no matter where he played. He pitched five innings while giving up three earned runs off three hits. The dominant performance also gave him a new career-high in strikeouts (five). He was also big at the plate, going 1-for-2 with one run, one double, and one RBI. That run marked the first that he has scored this season.
In other pitching news, Kaden Lichty looked comfortable as he pitched one inning while giving up no earned runs off one hit. What's more, he posted two strikeouts, the most he's had since back in March of 2025.
Papstein wasn't the only one making solid contact as four players wound up with at least one hit. One of them was James Lanman, who went 1-for-2 with one triple, one run, and one RBI. That run was Lanman's first of the season.
Norfolk's first victory this season bumped their record up to 1-3. As for Lincoln North Star, their defeat dropped their record down to 2-2.
We've got plenty of inter-district action coming up soon. Norfolk will challenge rival Papillion-LaVista at 12:00 p.m. on Saturday. Meanwhile, Lincoln North Star is set to square off against their familiar foe Norris at 12:00 p.m. on Friday.
Article generated by infoSentience based on data entered on MaxPreps
