NTL BASEBALL: NEB PULLS AWAY FROM SUGAR VALLEY, CLINCHES PLAYOFF BERTH (May 9, 2026)

BY CHRIS MANNING
Northern Tier Sports Report
ROME — NEB baseball did something very few teams in their position ever due - they made the district playoffs a year after not having a team thanks to an 8-0 win over Sugar Valley Rural Charter in non-league action Saturday.

“After that blowing that game with Sayre I started doubting myself,” NEB coach Brian Salsman said. “Thankfully, the kids showed up today, and played a really good game.”

What’s more impressive is the team did with nine of the 14 players being freshmen. On any given day half the starting line-up is ninth graders, and with just three seniors and no juniors, six of the nine are underclassmen.

“I was a little skeptical coming in with how young the team was but all the freshmen have surprised me very much,” said senior Kohen Hugo.

Several area programs around the area that struggle with numbers, and even lose seasons because of a lack of interest, usually don’t turn around and have a winning year the first year back.

Just having a season this year was a win for the Panther coaching staff.

“Very much so,” Salsman said. “Our freshmen have really produced. They’ve done a really great job - Anthony (Johnson) and (Cooper) Hugo are two of our three leading hitters, Elijah’s (DeLancey0 done a great job at third base for the most part of the year, Wes Alderfer has done a fantastic job catching and had quality at bats, and then even a couple kids coming off the bench. Keagan Netherton with a hit today, so we’ve got a lot of production out of those guys, and we’re pleased.”

Since they didn’t have a team last year this will be the third year in a row NEB baseball has qualified for districts. The team’s three seniors - Kohen Hugo, Tanner Judson, and Tyler Goodenow - have a district title under their belt, and a district runner-up finish, so they’ll be looking to add to that this year.

“That’s makes me very proud,” Kohen said about leading this group.

Salsman credits Kohen Hugo for setting the tone on and off the field.

“Since we moved him into the lead off spot he’s been dynamite,” said Salsman. “He’s really embraced that role, and he’s been getting on base, he’s been stealing bases, scoring runs like crazy, and, of course, his pitching is always a plus for us. He’s been doing a great all year in that category.”

It was Johnson getting the job done on the mound Saturday as he went the distance for the win, striking out 10 with three hits, and two walks to nab the shutout.

Johnson was also strong at the plate, going 2-for-3 with two runs scored, and an RBI.

Aldefer (1-for-3) and Judson (1-for-3) had 2-RBI each with a run scored, while Kohen Hugo (1-for-4) scored and drove in three runs.

Keagan Netherton (1-for-1), DeLancey, and Brad Shores all scored with Goodenow (1-for-3) also getting a hit.

In the bottom of the first Kohen reached on an error, then later scored on a Johnson sacrifice fly to make it 1-0 Panthers.

The game fell into a pitcher’s duel after that, with NEB’s defense stepping up in the fourth inning as they got a Pheonix runner out in a rundown between third and home.

In the fourth Johnson led things off a with. After an out DeLancey drew a walk, setting up an RBI single from Alderfer for a 2-0 lead.

Judson followed with a big 2-run single to make it 4-0 Panthers.

Shores would draw a walk setting the table for Kohen Hugo’s 2-run single as NEB took control of the game with a 6-0 lead.

They’d add another in the fifth as Johnson reached on an error, then later scored on an Alderfer RBI ground out.

In the sixth Netherton hit a lead-off single then came in on a Kohen Hugo fielder’s choice for the 8-0 final.

NEB finishes the regular season 10-9 and will wait to see who they get in the playoffs. If things ended right now they’d take on CV, whom they’d lost to twice (13-5, 11-3) but the situation is still fluid.

Millville could leap frog CV while Sugar Valley could win their final two games to make the playoffs, forcing an opening round game with the Panthers.

Still, NEB is ready for anybody as they look to make their third straight district title game.

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PHOTOS BY CHRIS MANNING

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