The Metro Conference championship game between Gretna (16-1) and Papillion La-Vista (12-4) is set for tonight at 7 p.m. The Dragons enter the game as the No. 1-ranked team in our power rankings. Their only loss was 7-5 to Papillion on Sept 2nd in the finals of the Kaiti Williams Memorial Leadoff Classic. Papillion comes in ranked No. 4 in the power rankings and winners of 10 of their last 11 games. The only loss in that stretch came to Millard North.
Gretna started off the Metro tournament will a 13-0 win over Omaha North and then beat Millard South 10-0. The Dragons claimed a spot in the championship with a 5-1 win over Millard North. Papillion-Lavista started with a 10-3 win over Omaha Burke and then won a hard fought 3-1 game versus crosstown rival Papillion-Lavista South in the quarterfinals. In the semi’s the Monarch’s beat Westside 12-2 to setup Monday night’s championship game rematch.
Players to Watch:
Both teams are loaded with talent. Here are a few players to keep an eye on for tonight’s game.
Alexis Jensen (Gretna – 2025 – Nebraska commit)
Jensen has been one of the most dominate pitchers in the state this year. She has an ERA of 0.41 for the season. Against Millard South she had 9 strikeouts and followed that up with 14 more against Millard North in the semi-finals. Jensen did not pitch for the Dragons in the Sept 2 loss.
Kloey Hamblen (Papillion – 2024 – Peru State commit)
Hamblen was 2-for-3 and scored three runs in the semi-finals versus Westside. The senior third baseman came up big for the Monarchs in the Sept 2 game. She was 2-for-3 with a home run and five RBI. She leads the Monarch’s in home runs with 4.
Carlie Muhlbach (Gretna – 2025 – Nebraska commit)
Muhlback led the Dragons offense against Millard North and has been one of the leading hitters all season. The Husker commit is hitting .529 for the season with 14 RBI.
Maizey Carpenter (Papillion – 2026)
Carpenter leads the Monarchs in hitting with a .487 average. In the win over Westside the sophomore was 2-for-2 with a two doubles. She’s also been solid defensively at second base.
