COLLEGE BASEBALL Cole Evans and Rans Sanders helped keep a piece of Grand Island tradition alive while playing for the Nebraska baseball team. It was the second-straight season the Huskers had multiple players from Grand Island. Last year, city natives Casey Burnham and Shay Schanaman were on the Husker squad with Evans.
This season, Evans was on the Huskers with former Grand Island baseball player Sanders. "It was pretty cool to have a few Islanders play for Nebraska this season," Evans said. "It's kind of becoming a tradition at this point.
" After both players came to Nebraska as transfers, the two were part of a 2024 season that was memorable for not only the team and coaches but to the fans as well. Nebraska finished second in the Big Ten regular season. The Huskers dropped its opening game of the Big Ten Tournament to Ohio State.
But they rallied together to win five straight games to win the tourney for the first time ever and went on to play in the NCAA Tournament. The Huskers finished 40-22 overall and went 1-2 in the Stillwater Regional. Both players said they enjoyed their senior years at Nebraska.
Evans said: "I have no regrets at all. It was the best experience and I'm glad that I was part of a great season." Sanders said: "It was definitely one of my favorite years of college, that's for sure.
I wouldn't have traded it for anything." Evans, who was the Nebraska Gatorade Player of the Year in baseball in 201819 and was the Independent Co-Athlete of the Year in 201.
