Knights season ends in Region IX Championship

Beatrice, Neb.  – On the brink of elimination, North Platte upset No. 1 seeded Southeast before falling to No. 2 seeded Central in the Region IX Postseason Championship.

North Platte 2 Southeast 1

A Sarah Perez home run in the fourth inning helped North Platte earn an elusive Region IX win in the consolation bracket of the postseason tournament on Sunday.

Victoria Arellano earned the win for the Knights. The freshman right hander pitched seven innings allowing just one run on five hits and struck out three in the win.

In the top of the first inning, Alieze Moreno reached on a single to right field before being advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt from Arellano. Heaven Hutchison hit into a fielder's choice that would retire Moreno, but an error by the Bobcat first baseman allowed Arellano to score.

North Platte held the Bobcats scoreless through two innings, but a single by Tyra Martin tied the game up at 1-1 in the bottom of the third inning. The Knights were able to retire the side without any further damage, as teams headed into the top of the fourth.

In the fourth inning, Sarah Perez stepped into the box and connected on a solo shot to put the Knights into the Region IX Championship.

Central 7 North Platte 3

North Platte used momentum from game one to plate three runs in the top of the first inning. Back-to-back singles by Arellano and Hutchison gave the Knights two baserunners with no one down. Four batters later, Sofia Foster connected on a two RBI single to center, before a single by Callie Klemenz brought home the final run of the inning.

The Raiders fought back in the bottom half of the frame with three runs on four hits to tie the game up headed into the second inning.

Defenses tightened up over the next three innings, before a North Platte error pushed the Raiders out front. Central would add two more runs in the bottom of the sixth inning and hold off the Knights to claim the title.

Perez would take the loss in relief for Arellano. The sophomore right hander pitched four innings allowing one run on four hits.

Knights close out the 2025 season with an 8-23 overall record.