Life was put into perspective over the weekend for several area baseball teams.
Friday's tornadoes impacted many lives in the hard-hit areas of Elkhorn, Bennington and Blair. The coaches from those teams said it was a difficult time but all said they were proud of the way their communities responded to those in need.
"Our players have been out doing what they can to help," Elkhorn coach Kyle McCright said. "One of our guys had his house demolished and that really hits close to home."
McCright said the tornadoes provided an important wakeup call for everyone concerned.
"It made us all realize that in the grand scheme, baseball is not that important," he said. "People's lives have been turned upside down, and doing what we can to help is what's needed right now."
The coach added it was the right decision for the Elkhorn school system to announce there would be no athletic events Saturday, one day after the tornadoes hit.
"Everybody was out helping," he said. "It just tears your heart out to see this happen to our community."
McCright, in his ninth season as the Antlers' coach, said it was gratifying to put athletic rivalries aside to help with the cleanup the past few days.
"It was cool to see people wearing gear from Elkhorn High, Elkhorn North and Elkhorn South," he said. "Everybody was working together, and that's the way it should be."
He said offers of help from other baseball coaches — and even opposing fans — have been overwhelming.
"We played Lincoln Southeast on Thursday and one of their parents contacted me after the storms to see what he could do," McCright said. "It's great to see the baseball community come together like that."
Bennington coach Scott Heese said his Badgers had a home game scheduled Saturday against Omaha Burke but the team voted against playing.
"The guys talked about it and they realized they just needed to help," Heese said. "We broke up in groups of four or five and went to different areas, and that was the right thing."
He echoed McCright's thoughts about the support for the community outweighing baseball at this time.
"Our guys have loved the sport since they were young," Heese said. "But I think they all realize that right now it's more important to help the community."
Blair coach John Roan said the recovery effort reminded him of the cleanup after a major hailstorm hit the town years ago.
"My wife and I were about to get married and that storm just pounded our community," he said. "Everybody dropped what they were doing to help, and it was the same way this weekend."
Blair coach John Roan said the baseball families were spared but athletes from the wrestling team had their homes hit Friday.
"We're thankful there were no major injuries," he said. "But you feel very bad for those families because it could have happened to anyone."
All three coaches said they'll try to get their teams refocused on baseball as the season winds down. Districts begin later this week and the state tournament starts May 10.
"That might be tough," McCright said. "But sports also can bring a welcome distraction and a two-hour baseball game might be the best thing to bring the community closer together."
Don Kraft Invite
For the third straight year, inclement weather affected the Don Kraft Invitational at Millard South.
Two rounds were contested but no championship game was played. Semifinal winners were Lincoln East and Millard West, which would have provided a final that was a rematch of last year's Class A championship.
The teams, ranked Nos. 1 and 2 in the overall Top 10, have not played this season.
"It seems like every year the weather interferes," Patriots athletic director Steve Throne said. "I still have the championship trophy from 2022, so next year I think we're just going to give it to somebody."
Top games this week
Class A: Tuesday: Papillion-La Vista vs. Papillion-La Vista South (at UNO). Wednesday: Papillion-La Vista at Millard North.
Class B: Tuesday: Platte Valley at Lincoln Christian.
Class C: Tuesday: Adams Central at St. Paul.
Photos: Cleanup continues after severe storms, tornadoes hit Omaha metro area