MCC Softball tops Trinidad State

The McCook Community College softball team downed Trinidad State Saturday to take the winner's bracket of the Region IX Tournament. MCC won 6-4 and will play the consolation bracket winner Northeastern Junior College for a championship battle Sunday starting at noon.

"This is step 2," said MCC Coach Kevin Kaalberg. "I'm proud of how the kids battled today and kept their composure in a very high-intensity game."

The first seven hitters in the MCC batting order reached base in the first leading to four runs and MCC never trailed after that.

MCC added a run in the fourth and two in the sixth and MCC sophomore pitchers Avery O'Neil (Ellsworth, Wis.) and Anna Wilcox (sophomore, Victoria, British Columbia) held the Trojans to four unearned runs.

"Our pitchers threw well and was supported by good defense," Kaalberg said.

An MCC error to start the game put the Trinidad State leadoff batter on base. A sacrifice bunt and two singles put the Trojans up 1-0.

MCC responded in the bottom of the inning by putting the first seven hitters on base via five singles and two walks. Freshman Nevaeh Ogden (Littleton, Colo.) singled on a bunt to lead off the inning, sophomore Taylor Thein (West Branch, Iowa) bunted for a base hit and Alexis Cortez (sophomore, Aurora, Colo.) lined a single to center to load the bases for Ashland Baca (sophomore, Byers, Colo.). She drove home two with a single to centerfield. After a walk, Madisyn Simms (freshman, Port Moody, British Columbia) singled home Cortez and freshman Sydney Erlandson (freshman, Woodbury, Minn.) put MCC up 4-1 win her RBI-single.

"We had a very good approach offensively with their starting pitcher and executed it well," Kaalberg said.

After a pitching change with bases loaded and nobody out, Trinidad was able to escape the first inning trailing 4-1.

Simms singled to lead off the third inning and after a Trojan error and a groundout, Rae VanMilligan (sophomore, Marion, Iowa) singled home Simms to put MCC up 5-1. Ogden walked to load the bases for Thein, who singled to put MCC ahead 6-1.

Trinidad added an unearned run in the fourth to cut the lead to 6-2.

Avery O'Neil (sophomore, Ellsworth, Wis.) began the game in the pitching circle for MCC and didn't allow an earned run in four innings of work. She allowed a single and a double to lead off the fifth and was relieved by Anna Wilcox (sophomore, Victoria, British Columbia). Wilcox induced a lineout, a pop out and a groundout to end the threat.

Trinidad put the first two hitters on in the sixth with singles. An MCC error allowed one run to score and a groundout-RBI cut the MCC lead to 6-4.

MCC loaded the bases in the bottom of the sixth but failed to plate any more runs.

After Wilcox recorded two outs in the seventh on seven pitches, Trinidad launched a rally with a double and a walk but the game ended on a come-backer to Wilcox.

O'Neil pitched four innings, allowed seven hits and one walk while striking out two. Wilcox went three innings and allowed one hit and three walks.

MCC had 12 hits in the game with two each by Thein, Cortez, Baca and Simms.

MCC improves to 41-19 on the season and take on the opponent they began the post-season against in Northeastern Junior College. After losing the first two games of the season against the Plainswomen in Sterling, Colo. March 23, MCC has won four straight games including the their tournament matchup.

After opening the tournament Friday with a 9-7 win over Western Nebraska, the Plainswomen lost 5-1 to McCook, relegating them to the consolation bracket where they beat Western Nebraska again Saturday 6-3, then took down Trinidad State 4-2 in eight innings.

An NJC win over MCC would force a second game Sunday.

For all the up-to-date information on MCC softball this season including, schedules, statistics, rosters and photos, please visit the official website of MCC Athletics at: https://mccookcc.prestosports.com/landing/index

REGION IX SOFTBALL TOURNAMENT

REGION IX TOURNAMENT

DOUBLE ELIMINATION

FRIDAY RESULTS

Northeastern Junior College 9, Western Nebraska 7

Trinidad State 5, Otero Junior College 1

McCook CC 5, Northeastern JC 1

Western Nebraska 7, Otero JC (Otero eliminated)

SATURDAY RESULTS

WINNER'S BRACKET

Game 5 – McCook 6, Trinidad State 4

ELIMINATION GAMES

Game 6 – Northeastern JC 6, Western Nebraska 3 (Western Nebraska eliminated)

Game 7 – Northeastern JC 4, Trinidad State 2, 8 innings (Trinidad State eliminated)

SUNDAY SCHEDULE

Game 8 – McCook (41-19) vs. Northeastern JC (33-24), noon

Game 9 – If Northeastern JC wins Game 8