North’s Quinton Archer (center) is brought down by South’s Treshaun Beed (35), Trent Buda (15), Jaxson Gates (back center) and Seth Erickson (23) during the fourth quarter of the 66th annual Shrine Bowl of Nebraska game on Saturday, June 1, 2024, at Cope Stadium.

#4 Niagara Purple Eagles(38-16) at #2 Nebraska Cornhuskers (38-20)

Location: O’Brate Stadium, Stillwater, OK

Date/Time: Saturday, June 1st @ 1 pm CDT

Head Coaches: Rob McCoy (16th season, 299-459-3) & Will Bolt (5th season, 165-96-1)

TV/Stream: ESPN+

Radio: Huskers Radio Network, Huskers.com, Huskers App

Probable Pitchers: RHP Maximillian Ramirez IV (4-5, 6.38 ERA) vs RHP Mason McConnaughey (8-3, 3.09 ERA)

Check out the Corn Nation Stillwater Regional Preview!

Niagara did not pitch their top starter or the best bullpen arm in the 19-7 loss to the top seeded Cowboys. Nebraska is down their ace and hottest bullpen arm of the past two weeks, needing a more lively arm than the normal softer tossing lefties that make up the next tier of their pen.

Niagara likes to change pitchers more than Creighton. Expect to see at least 7. Their goal is to get their closer in the game somewhere in the mid to late innings with a close game. Then he can go 3-4 innings.

This is the first time Nebraska and Niagara have ever met on the diamond.

OMAHA — Two weeks after spurning a likely endorsement from the Nebraska Democratic Party, nonpartisan Senate candidate Dan Osborn has not yet drawn a party-backed write-in candidate against Republican U.S. Sen. Deb Fischer.

And he could avoid one altogether.

Leaders in Nebraska’s second-largest political party recently met and discussed whether to embrace state party Chair Jane Kleeb’s May 15 push for a party-approved write-in candidate. 

Discussions continue, attendees told the Examiner.

Kleeb said the party still could recruit a write-in candidate. She said Democrats still want Osborn to agree to endorse President Joe Biden and caucus with the Democrats if elected. 

“That is not asking too much,” she said.

Hasn’t decided in presidential contest

Douglas County Democratic Party Chair CJ King echoed Kleeb in saying he would prefer that Osborn side with Democrats, regardless of whether he wants a formal endorsement from the party.

“I hope he wins and caucuses with the Democrats,” King said. “I’d love to see him endorse President Biden.”

Osborn, a former Omaha-area labor leader at Kellogg’s, has said that he doesn’t know which party he will caucus with and that he hasn’t decided on who he will back in the presidential race. He has said he doesn’t want to alienate Republican supporters, including some who support former President Donald Trump.

“I’m a true independent who will never be beholden to any political party or politician, and that’s why I’ve been clear that I’m not taking their endorsements,” Osborn said. “I’m focused on defeating do-nothing Deb Fischer.”

Osborn may have to take sides

Kleeb and Senate observers have said Osborn will have to take sides in order to join Senate committees, where much of the day-to-day work in Congress gets done. Osborn said earlier this month he might have more influence in a tightly divided Senate by being open.

After the primary, Osborn announced he would not seek or accept endorsements from political parties — after spending months courting the state Democrats and persuading them to try keeping other candidates out of the Fischer race.

Osborn supporters also helped Kerry Eddy win the Legal Marijuana NOW Party’s Senate primary, even as Eddy posted plans to drop out and shift her supporters toward Osborn. And Osborn briefly sought the backing of other third parties, including the Libertarian Party.

Fischer’s campaign declined to comment for this story. Before the May primary, Fischer, a former teacher, state senator and school board member in Valentine, Neb., described Osborn as “a Democrat in sheep’s clothing.”