MCC Softball opens tournament at home Friday at 4 p.m.
First-round matchups and game times have been announced for the Region IX Softball tournament to be held this weekend at the Jaycees Sports Complex.
As the regular-season Region IX champion, MCC gained the top seed and will open play Friday at 4 p.m. against the winner of the first game of the day (11 a.m.) between fourth-seeded Northeastern Junior College (30-23, 17-17) and fifth-seeded Western Nebraska (24-28 overall and 17-13 in conference).
Second seeded Trinidad State (26-25, 18-12) will play third-seeded Otero Junior College (30-25, 17-12) in the second game of the day at 1:30 p.m.
The final game Friday will be an elimination game between the loser of Game 1 between Western Nebraska and NJC and the loser of the Trinidad State-Otero game. That game will start at 6:30 p.m.
An MCC win Friday would put them in the noon game Saturday against the winner of the Trinidad State/Otero game Friday. If MCC loses its first-round match they would be relegated to the consolation round Saturday.
Here is the weekend schedule:
FRIDAY
Game 1 – Northeastern Junior College (17-13) vs. Western Nebraska (17-13), 11 a.m.
Game 2 – Otero Junior College (17-12) vs. Trinidad State, 1:30 p.m.
Game 3 – McCook CC (21-9) vs Game 1 winner (Northeastern JC or Western Neb.), 4 p.m.
Game 4 – (Consolation bracket): Game 1 loser vs. Game 2 loser, 6:30 p.m.
SATURDAY
Game 5 – Game 2 winner vs Game 3 winner, noon.
Game 6 – Game 4 winner vs Game 3 loser, 2:30 p.m.
Game 7 – Game 6 winner vs Game 5 loser, 5 p.m.
TO BE ANNOUNCED
Game 8 – Winners bracket champion vs. Game 7 winner
Game 9 (If necessary) If this is the first loss for Game 8 loser
REGION IX FINAL STANDINGS
REGION IX OVERALL
W-L Record W-L PCT.
McCook 21-9 39-19 .672
Trinidad State 18-12 26-25 .510
Otero JC 17-12 30-25 .545
Northeastern JC 17-13 30-23 .566
Western Nebraska 17-13 24-28 .461
Lamar 8-20 13-36 .265
Luna 4-23 8-39 .170