MCC Softball season ends with a pair of Saturday Region IX tournament losses

STERLING, Colo. – The McCook Community College softball team lost twice Saturday in the Region IX tournament to end the season.

In a game that was suspended in the fifth inning Friday because of weather, top-seeded Northeastern Junior College softball team overcame a 5-3 deficit to score three runs in the bottom of the seventh inning Saturday for a 6-5 win. That setback sent McCook Community College into the consolation round of the double-elimination Region IX tournament where they lost to Trinidad State 10-1.

"I think the emotions of the first game got to us a little bit that second game," said MCC Coach Mike Mendenhall. "The last game doesn't define the season we had. These girls put everything they had on the line all year long."

MCC, which finished third in Region IX, knocked off second-seeded Trinidad State in the second game Thursday to advance to Friday's matchup against top-seeded NJC and held the 5-3 lead Friday before play was suspended because of weather, then resumed Saturday.

"It's always tough when it has to come to an end. I want to thank all the sophomores for keeping this team together from the beginning even before I took the job," said Mendenhall. "It shows that they are incredible leaders and going to do great things in life."

After starting the season with eight losses and falling to 1-14, MCC came back to finish the season at 31-28. 

For all the up-to-date information on MCC softball this season including up-to-date scheduling changes, statistics, rosters and photos, please visit the official website of MCC Athletics at mccindians.com

GAME 1 – Northeastern JC 6, McCook CC 5: On Friday, MCC was leading 5-3 with two outs and nobody on base in the bottom of the fifth inning when the game was halted because of lightning in the area. The game was resumed Saturday morning and the only scoring took place in the bottom of the seventh inning.

NJC had a single, two walks, a two-run double by the reigning Region IX Player of the year Rylyn Nelson to tie the game followed by a walk-off single by Addy Deal.

MCC pitcher Ella Covill-Marter (Queensland, Australia) absorbed the loss, allowing seven hits, five walks and six strikeouts.

MCC had taken a 4-0 lead in the first inning of the game. Sophomore Nevaeh Ogden (Littleton Colo.) walked, Madisyn Simms (Maple Ridge, British Columbia) doubled, Andie Suhai (Medicine Hat, Alberta) singled home Ogden. Sophomore Hailee Ruble (Delta, Colo.) followed with a three-run home run to put MCC up 4-0.

Northeastern got one run back in the first and scored two in the third to cut the deficit to a run at 4-3.

In the fifth MCC got a run on a pair of out-out errors and an RBI-groundout by sophomore Emma Pennala (Kennewick, Wash.) to lead 5-3.

GAME 2 – Trinidad State xx, McCook CC 5: Hailee Ruble doubled to lead off the second inning and scored on a groundball by Emma Pennala.

Trinidad State took the lead in the third scoring five times and added five more in the fourth to lead 10-1.

Ruble pitched the first three innings for MCC and freshman Isabella Robertson (Las Alamos, N.M.) pitched the final inning.

MCC's only hit in the game came from Ruble.

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REGION IX DIVISION 1 TOURNAMENT

at Sterling, Colo. May 4-7

(All games MST)

THURSDAY RESULTS

Game 1 – Luna CC 7, Otero JC 2

Game 2 – McCook CC 4, Western Nebraska 1

Game 3 – Trinidad State 20, Lamar 0 (5 innings)

Game 4 – Northeastern JC 18, Luna CC 0 (5 innings)

Game 5 – Western Nebraska 19, Lamar 6 (5 innings) – (Lamar eliminated)

Game 6 – McCook 3, Trinidad State 2

FRIDAY GAMES

Game 7 – Trinidad State 15, Otero Junior College 5 (5 innings) (Otero eliminated)

Game 8 – Luna CC 10, Western Nebraska 9 (Western Nebraska eliminated)

SATURDAY GAMES

Game 9 – Northeastern JC 6, McCook CC 5

Game 10 – Trinidad State def. Luna CC (Luna eliminated)

Game 11 – Trinidad State 10, McCook CC 1 (McCook eliminated)

SUNDAY GAME(S)

Game 12 – Trinidad vs. Northeastern JC 10 a.m.

Game 12 – Trinidad vs. Northeastern JC 10 a.m. (if necessary)