The Wayne Blue Devils will head out to challenge Platte Valley at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday. The squads are rolling into the game with opposing streaks: Wayne has struggled recently with four losses in a row, while Platte Valley will arrive with four straight victories.
On Friday, Wayne didn't have quite enough to beat Lincoln Lutheran and fell 7-6.
Jaxson Kneifl
| 04/24/26 vs Aurora | 3 |
| 05/01/26 vs Lincoln Lutheran | 2 |
| 04/21/26 @ Twin River | 2 |
| 04/18/26 @ Central City/Centura | 2 |
| 04/13/26 vs Holdrege | 2 |
| + 12 more games |
Jaxson Kneifl was cooking despite his team's loss, going 2-for-4 with two runs, one stolen base, and one RBI. He has become a key player for Wayne: the team is 6-1 when he posts at least two runs, but 7-11 otherwise. The team also got some help courtesy of Adrian Contreras, who went 2-for-3 with two RBI and one run.
Meanwhile, Platte Valley got themselves on the board against Plattsmouth on Thursday, but Plattsmouth never followed suit. They came out on top against the Blue Devils by a score of 5-0.
The result came thanks to Carson Hollst's shutout, as he gave up just four hits and racked up eight Ks. He has been consistent: he hasn't given up more than two walks in eight consecutive appearances.
At the plate, the team relied heavily on Hunter Hatzenbuelher, who went 2-for-3 with two stolen bases, two runs, and one double. He has been hot recently, having posted at least one stolen base the last four times he's played. Wave Cerny was another key player, going a perfect 2-for-2 with one stolen base and one run.
Platte Valley hit smart and finished the game with only two strikeouts. The team has now struck out at least five batters in five consecutive matchups.
Platte Valley's win bumped their record up to 19-2. As for Wayne, their defeat dropped their record down to 13-12.
The pitchers for both teams better look sharp on Saturday as neither team is afraid to steal. Wayne has been swiping bases left and right this season, having averaged 3.4 stolen bases per game. However, it's not like Platte Valley struggles in that department as they've been averaging an even more impressive 5 stolen bases. The only question left is which team can snag more.
Wayne came out on top in a nail-biter against Platte Valley in their previous matchup back in May of 2025, sneaking past 3-2. The rematch might be a little tougher for the Blue Devils since the team won't have the home-field advantage this time around. We'll see if the change in venue makes a difference.
