Nebraska's Top 10 high school baseball games for April

As the Nebraska high school baseball season struggled through the damp, cool, but sometimes warm weather of March, several larger-than-life contests are coming up on the schedule in April. No. 1 on that list is, of course, defending Class A runner-up Omaha Creighton Prep at defending Class A champion Omaha Westside.

If that game doesn't catch your interest, how about defending Class B champion Lincoln Pius X traveling to semifinalist Elkhorn? Or, maybe, Norris at Elkhorn South? Either way, we're sure that at least a couple of these ball games will get you out of the house and into a ballpark near you.


1. Creighton Prep (Omaha) (5-0) at Omaha Westside (6-0), April 28
The Warriors knocked off Creighton Prep 7-3 in last year's Class A state championship game and return twin brothers Mike Waldron and Matt Waldron, as well as Will Patterson. But the Junior Jays are loaded as well with the return of Jason Allbery, Zacary Zagozda and Jefferey O'doherty, just to name a few. Creighton Prep may be more than a threat to end Omaha Westside's two-year Class A reign.

2. Pius X (Lincoln) (3-1) at Elkhorn (6-1), April 18
Lincoln Pius X upended the Antlers 10-4 in a Class A semifinal a year ago before knocking off Omaha Skutt 7-5 for the Class B state championship. If the Thunderbolts expect to defend their title, they may have to go through the Antlers once again. This contest will be a terrific gauge for both squads.

3. Norris (Firth) (5-2) at Elkhorn South (5-1), April 20
Norris went into the Class B state tournament boasting a 23-2 record last spring. Elkhorn South finished the season at 12-12. No matter. Both squads are ranked in the Top 6 of both the Omaha World Herald and Lincoln Journal Star's preseason Class B rankings. Norris won 5-4 in the lone contest played between these clubs a year ago.

4. Skutt Catholic (Omaha) (0-6) at Gretna (4-0), April 9
Gretna won the first contest between these two Class B powers a year ago, 3-2. Defending Class B runner-up Skutt Catholic then bounced back and evened the season series with a 3-1 triumph. Both ball clubs begin the 2015 season ranked in the World Herald's Top 5. Logan Ellis is off to a fast start for Gretna, getting five hits in 10 at bats this season to date. The SkyHawks are led by Kyle O'Neill.

5. Lincoln Southeast (3-3) at Lincoln Southwest (4-2), April 1
These two crosstown rivals split their first two games a year ago, and then Southwest took the season series with a 3-0 shutout of the Knights just before the state tournament last May. Both clubs are ranked in the Lincoln Journal Star's Preseason Class A Top 10.

6. Ralston (2-4) at Roncalli Catholic (Omaha) (1-7), April 21
The state's top player, Alec Bohm, leads the Crimson Pride up against upstart Ralston, which finished 7-13 a year ago. Omaha Roncalli won 6-4 last year before making the Class B state tournament field. Freshman Nate Sailors and senior Mark Weidner are a combined 15-for-37 for the Rams so far this season during a 2-4 start.

7. Omaha Skutt (0-6) at Gross Catholic (Omaha) (2-2), April 23
The SkyHawks took a 1-0 pitchers duel from Gross a year ago before going on to play for a state championship. Combined, these two squads are 2-8 so far this season. But don't expect that to last. Even if it does, this is still a big enough rivalry game to keep both school's fans on the edges of their seats.

8. Millard West (Omaha) (4-3) at Millard North (Omaha) (2-3), April 21
The Patriots knocked off North 10-0 a year ago, but both squads have the returning firepower to be in the state title chase. Jake Kistaitis and Phil Ehly will take to the diamond for Millard West, while Millard North is led by Riley Herold, Cole Johnson, Logan Sisson, Aaron Gerdes and Bryce Rogokos.

9. Papillion-LaVista (3-0) at Papillion-LaVista South (3-0), April 29
Papillion-LaVista South won 7-3 a year ago, but this is a bitter district rivalry and both schools are ranked in both preseason polls. Grant Suponchick is back for one more season with the Titans, while Papio returns nearly its entire lineup from a year ago.

10. Seward (3-1) at Crete (2-2), April 20
While both of these teams qualified for the Class B state tournament a year ago, their seasons were cut much shorter than they would have liked. Both squads are ranked in the Omaha World Herald and the Lincoln Journal Star polls. Seward and Crete split a pair of contests last year with Seward winning 7-6 and Crete bouncing back to take a 10-9 win. Expect more of the same when these two teams meet up this month.