SIDNEY – The Sidney Platte Valley Company Post 17 Juniors saw their season come to an end Monday evening with a 9-3 loss to Alliance in the Class B Area 7 Tournament at Legion Field. Sidney ends their season with a 16-7 record, while Alliance moves into the championship game with a 26-3-1 record.

Alliance scored first on a double to left field by Jaxson Esparza that plated Tony Escamilla in the top second inning. But a pair of strike outs by Sidney starter Rhyder Bayne ended the inning with Alliance leading 1-0. Sidney would not get to bat in the bottom of the second for over two hours because of a lightening delay. When play resumed, Sidney loaded the bases on two Alliance errors and a single by Calvin Borgmann. Weston Neumann tied the game with a sacrifice fly, scoring Bayne from third.

Alliance added a run in the third and three more in the fifth to take a 5-1 lead. Sidney loaded the bases again in the bottom of the sixth inning on a one-out single by Bayne and walks to Will Gillham and Calvin Borgmann. Weston Neumann walked to score Bayne, leaving the bases loaded. Rylan Swope was ruled out on an infield fly rule for the second out, but Gillham would score Sidney’s second run of the inning while courtesy runner Corbin Bondegard was caught a rundown on a steel attempt. Sidney trailed 5-3 heading into the final inning.

Alliance exploded for four runs on three hits in the top of the seventh inning to take control of the game. Sidney was unable to engineer a comeback and saw their season end with a 9-3 loss.

Rhyder Bayne took the loss on the mound for Sidney, giving up five runs (1 earned) on five hits while striking out seven and walking only two in five and two third innings. Sam Hulbert continued pace Sidney with his brilliant play in the tournament going two for four at the plate.

Alliance defeated Chadron Tuesday afternoon to win the tournament and advance to the Class B state tournament in Gering, beginning this Saturday.