MCC adds Monday doubleheader to start season

After the opening four-game weekend of McCook Community College softball was cancelled because of cold weather in Texas, the team has added two games to the schedule and will now open the season Monday at home with a doubleheader against Colby Community College. The games will start at 2 p.m. at the Jaycees Sports Complex.

MCC, under third-year coach Kevin Kaalberg is coming off a 38-14 year. Those 38 wins are the second most ever by an MCC softball team, trailing only the 2015 team that finished with 45 wins. The 2022 version of MCC softball will include a pair of returning pitchers, five experienced sophomore position players and 10 first-year players. Kaalberg feels it all adds up to a lot of versatility and athleticism making the team quicker and deeper than a season ago.

Seven sophomores return for a team that went 18-8 in Region IX play and gained the No. 3 seed in the post-season tournament where they went 2-2.  MCC set team records in winning percentage (.731), batting average (.368), on-base percent (.453), slugging (.564), OPS (1.016), runs (464, and 8.92 per game), walks per game (4.12) pitcher strikeouts (281) and strikeouts per seven innings (6.03).

MCC's schedule is adding more high-level teams each year under Kaalberg.

Following the doubleheader with Colby MCC will travel to Burlington Iowa for an indoor schedule that will include six games against six opponents Feb. 25-27.

On March 3-5, MCC will open the Region IX schedule in a big way, hosting the six other Region IX teams in an early-season round-robin showcase. The coach said he pushed hard for this weekend not only to give his players the chance to play in front of home fans but also to showcase the community.

"We have the opportunity to have six teams come here for four days, and have revenue come through," Kaalberg said. "We're reaching out to restaurants and want to promote a community that has been very supportive of us and this is a way we can give back."

From a competition standpoint Kaalberg said it will be a tough three days for all the players from all seven teams: Western Nebraska, Northeastern Junior College, Luna Community College, Lamar, Trinidad State, Otero and MCC.

"It's going to be good competition with everybody playing two games a day, so can you maintain focus for six games against six different opponents in three days?" Kaalberg said. "But it is going to be fun to have all the teams here."

Also new to the schedule this year will be a spring break trip to Arizona and a move from the annual weekday doubleheader against North Platte (The Purple Out games for epilepsy awareness), to a Saturday, April 2 starting at 1 p.m.

MCC's spring break trip will take place March 15-17 and include a doubleheaders against Dawson Community College, South Mountain Community College and the reigning NJCAA Division II Champs in Phoenix Community College.

"The level of competition is going to jump but that's an opportunity for the program -- especially from a recruiting standpoint -- when I can tell recruits about playing high-level competition they know it's a great opportunity to be seen on a different level," Kaalberg said.

Assisting Kaalberg again this season is his daughter Madison, whom the coach credits with helping build a foundation in their first three years together at MCC.

"She does a fabulous job, and our program would not be making the strides it has without her," he said. She's an incredible coach and a great person for the players to have, softball-related or outside of athletics. She's just doing a great job."

Highlighting the roster this year are a pair of sophomore pitchers who return for MCC in Avery O'Neil (Ellsworth, Wis.) and Anna Wilcox (Victoria, British Columbia). Both players were named to the 2021 Omaha World-Herald All Nebraska Junior College team.

Wilcox started 23 games a season ago and appeared in 36 with a 10-4 record along with three saves. In 147.1 innings, she struck out 123 with a 3.18 ERA. O'Neill started 22 games and appeared in 30 and went 9-0, pitching 100.1 innings and striking out 104 with a 3.70 ERA. She sustained an injury and rehabilitating, hoping to return to the circle in March.

"I'm excited about the opportunities this staff can provide. The sophomores and the incoming freshmen each bring something a little different to give us that depth," Kaaberg said.

Incoming freshmen include Paige Smith from Perth, Australia, and Tyler Mooring (also an infielder) from Santa Clara, Utah.

"I think this pitching staff is deeper and stronger than last year, and I like that both Smith and Mooring can hit so that gives us even more versatility," Kaalberg said.

Behind the plate MCC will have a pair of freshman this season in Sydney Erlandson (Woodbury, Minn.) and Madisyn Simms (Port Moody, British Columbia).

"They are both incredibly talented catchers defensively and offensively. I like the strength they bring at this position and they had good falls for us," Kaalberg said.

A group of five sophomore position players return with four being integral elements in the lineup.

"We have some returning veterans who are really going to stabilize the team, including four who played a lot in 2021," Kaalberg said.

Alexis Cortez, was an all-Region IX player her freshman season and was named to the World-Herald team. She set team records for walks in a season with 38 as well as a .563 on-base average. The outfielder appeared in 48 games, had 154 at bats, scored 61 runs, banged out 69 hits, 17 doubles, two triples and three home runs. She batted .448, drove in 38 runs and stole 25 bases.

"She batted leadoff for us last year and I see her continuing that role this year to bolster our offense and get us started," Kaalberg said.

Ashland Baca (Byers, Colo.) threatened the all-time MCC home record last season before teammate Taryn Jenkins, sophomore, nudged ahead late in the season to set the record with 20. Baca finished with 18 home runs and 18 doubles in 48 games, batting .387, and driving in 65. She reached base 45.6 percent of her plate appearances as a freshman and slugged .801 while being named to the World-Herald's all JUCO team.

Utility players Taylor Thein (West Branch, Iowa) and Rae VanMilligan (Marion, Iowa) were both honorable mentions on the Omaha World-Herald all-JUCO team. Thein batted .344 in 48 games with five home runs, 39 RBIs, 20 stolen bases, a .421 on-base average, and slugged .515. VanMilligan batted .333 in 47 games with two homers, 37 RBIs and six steals and finished the season with a .991 fielding percentage, playing mostly middle infield.

"I feel all of them improved a lot over last year and bring that stability and veteran leadership that will help bring the young players along," Kaalberg.

Sophomore Isabel Lozano (Greeley, Colo.) appeared in 24 games and had 31 at bats.

"Izzy got some playing time last year but she's really come on and improved so I see her playing a bigger role as a sophomore," Kaalberg said.

In addition to freshmen Erlandson and Simms who will see time at catcher, Morgan Walter (Estevan, Saskatchewan) is the only sophomore among the newcomers.

Freshman position players joining the team this year include outfielder Emma Pennala (Tri-Cities, Wash.), middle infielder Madison Morlett (Dallas, Ga.), and three utility players: Alyssa Winter (Lexington, Neb.) who will catch and play other positions; Nevaeh Ogden (Littleton, Colo.) who plays outfield and first base; and Cassidy Fife (Provo, Utah) an outfielder/utility player.

"I'm excited for what the first-year players will bring and I see a lot of them contributing right away," Kaalberg said. "One thing I like about this group is that there are a lot of players fighting for playing time and a lot of players who deserve playing time."

The coach said with everyone working hard it will be up to the staff make sure everybody 'gets their reps, and as teammates making sure they are pushing each other in practice.

"I've seen growth from fall to spring. They've picked up a lot focus this spring, and really come together," Kaalberg said.

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