May, 2, 2021, Densmore Field,  Lincoln, Nebraska -  Stormtroopers got the early lead with good pitching and solid defense highlighted by a diving catch made by SS, Andre B, robbing a single from Noel of the Reds in the bottom of the first.  The Stormtroopers looked to capture an opening day win building a 5-3 lead through six innings but Reds pitching struck out seven in a row leading into the bottom of the 7th where the offense took over responding with twelve runs that ended with a hit to shallow left bringing in the game-ending run.  

The teams return to play May 16th as the League yields to celebrate Mother's Day, May 9th.  The Stormtroopers will face the Dons, 2019 runner-ups and the Reds challenge the 2019 Champions, Lincoln Diablos.  The LABL did not have a 2020 season due to COVID restrictions.

May 6, 2021, Sherman Field, Lincoln, Nebraska  -   After a lost season in 2020, the defending League Champions took on the Defending Regular Season Champions at Sherman field Thursday night.  The Dons are returning a skeleton of their winning club from 2019 challenging the Manager, Chris Last, to repeat in 2021 while the aging Diablos will look to capture the LABL cup in back-to-back seasons. 

This re-match of the 2019 Championship, where the Diablos claimed the LABL Cup winning the best-of-three series, 2-1, promised to be competitive.  The Dons got a 1-0 lead in the top of the first but the Diablos responded with six runs in the bottom half capped off by a Ike Lowe homerun on a 1-0 pitch that just cleared the left field fence.  Exit velocity unknown. Casey Culhane, Diablos, provided sound pitching for the Diablos to maintain the cushion as the Diablos won, 10-1. 

On this night, the Diablos look to be the team expected to be while the Dons are needing to rebound from a tough loss and show if they will be competing in July.  However, if Thursday night is a lens into the coming season, this Dons team has some work to do.