The Emporia A-16s dropped their final two games of the Wendy’s Tournament, failing to make Sunday’s semifinals round.
Emporia lost to Gardner-Edgerton, 10-5, and Wichita, 14-5, on Saturday.
“Our team is a work in progress,” Emporia A-16 coach Aaron Lechien said. “We’re taking baby steps right now. Hopefully, at the end of the year, we’ll be where we want to be.”
Emporia had the lead in each of the two losses.
In the first game, the 16s held a 2-0 advantage after three innings before Gardner-Edgerton exploded for 10 runs in the final three frames.
Emporia tacked on one in the fifth and two in the sixth, but it wasn’t enough to overcome the deficit.
Derek Neilsen contributed a home run for the 16s, while Dominic Rodriguez went 1-for-1 with a triple and two walks.
Emporia led 2-0 after the first against Wichita, but the Braves responded by scoring four in the second.
Wichita tacked on at least one run in every other inning.
Neilsen was the offensive highlight for Emporia, going 2-for-3 with a run scored and two stolen bases.
Dylan Smith and Chase Speer both went 1-for-3 with a run scored.
Emporia once again competed with only nine players.
“The guys give maximum effort, and as a coach, that’s all I can ask,” Lechien said. “Some guys are out of position, but they’re doing a good job of adjusting.”
The A-16s (1-8) take on Junction City at home on Friday.
Lechien said he believed better days were ahead for his team.
“If I told them to run through that wall, almost all of them would make an attempt to do it. They’re very coachable, and I couldn’t ask for a better group of kids,” Lechien said. “We’re a totally different team from our first tournament, and we’re only going to get better.”
Wendy’s Classic
Saturday at Emporia
Gardner 10, Emporia 5
Gardner-Edgrtn 000 235 X — 10 13 0
Emporia A-16s 002 012 X — 5 6 3
W — Goldsmith. L — Dylan Smith.
2B — Emporia: Trevor Turney; Gardner-Edgerton: Hess, Caroll, Johnson, Kidwell. 3B — Emporia: Dominic Rodriguez; Gardner-Edgerton: Caroll. HR — Emporia: Derek Neilsen. SB — Emporia: Derek Neilsen, Jacob Hastings; Gardner-Edgerton: North 2, Goldsmith 3, Caroll, Self 2, Johnson, Kidwell, Graceffa.
Emporia A-16 highlights — Derek Neilsen 1-2, HR, SB, 2 HBP; Dominic Rodriguez 1-1, 3B, R, 2 BB; Trevor Turney 2-2, 2B, R, BB.
Wichita 14, Emporia 5
Wichita 041 315 X — 14 5 2
Emporia A-16s 200 021 X — 5 7 6
W — Daniel Pratt. L — Bryan Little.
2B — Wichita: Clint Palmer. SB — Wichita: Brad Shoemaker 2, Greg Smith, Andy Schafer, Clint Palmer; Emporia: Derek Neilsen 2, Derek Krause.
Emporia A-16 highlights — Derek Neilsen 2-3, R, 2 SB; Dylan Smith 1-3, R; Chase Speer 1-3, R.