The North Platte 80s put on a show for their fans on Sunday as they closed the season with a 14-4 win over the Grand Junction Razorback Suckers at Bill Wood Field.

“They came out and played the game we all knew they could play,” 80s Manager Todd Everleth said. “The players played loose. They had fun today. It’s been a long hard season with a lot of injuries and heartache throughout. But we came out for the community and the guys did what they needed to do in their last day.”

The 80s (15-35-1) wasted no time taking the lead in the first inning on a single by Stephen Kent. Gustavo Rivera then followed with a three-run home run to make it 4-0.

Kent stepped up to the plate in next inning and hit a two-run homer of his own to make it 6-0.

Grand Junction got on the board against North Platte starter Carson McCurdy in the fourth but Ryan Rifenberg had to hit into a double play with the bases loaded and no one out to do it.

In the bottom of the fourth, Sean Bennett hit a bloop single to center field to score two runs and keep the rout going for the 80s.

North Platte buried Grand Junction in the seventh. T.J. Beninati hit a solo home run. Kent tripled to center scoring another run, McCurdy hit a two-run homer and Nick Neighbours drew a walk with the bases loaded to make it 13-1.

The 80s scored another run in the eighth before the Razorback Suckers scored three runs in the ninth.

Before the game, the 80s honored the team’s host parents and gave out the Jerome Vieyra MVP Award which Garrett Flaagan was named the winner. Flaagan is the only member of the current team to have played for the 80s in their inaugural season of 2024. It is the second straight year the award has been given out by Richard and Donna Vieyra in memory of their son Jerome, a former North Platte Legion player.

Everleth has led the 80s through all three years. He initially announced his retirement a year ago. But after a successful season in which North Platte qualified for the Pecos League playoffs in 2025, he decided to give it one more shot.

“I came three years ago with a mission to bring pro baseball to North Platte and grow the game,” Everleth said. “I think we did it. We came here and got a community to back us up and that’s what baseball is all about, it’s about community. That’s what these guys did the most.”

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