MCC Softball splits Friday schedule at home showcase

The McCook Community College softball team split a pair of games Friday in the Region IX round-robin showcase. MCC downed Luna 7-4, then lost a 10-2 decision to Otero. Saturday's seven-game schedule for the seven teams in the region was canceled because of weather.

"Overall it was a very good weekend, I'm very proud of the way they fought and played as a team," said MCC Coach Kevin Kaalberg.

MCC goes to 9-7 on the season.

"Like every team there are things we need to work on, but this is a good group of kids so I have no doubt they will continue to work and get better," he said.

MCC was scheduled to to Sterling, Colo. March 11-12 for a four-game series with Northeastern Junior College but that has been postponed by weather. The teams will play doubleheaders in Sterling March 24 at 11 a.m. (MT) and again on April 6 at 11 a.m. (MT

The Plainswomen went 4-0 at McCook Thursday and Friday to improve to 13-10 on the season.

For more photos from today's games, please visit the MCC Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/MPCCMcCook

GAME 1 – McCook CC 7, Luna 4: As the visiting team on the scoreboard, MCC pulled on top with two runs in the first. Alexis Cortez (sophomore, Arvada, Colo.) led off with a double. Rae VanMilligan (sophomore, Marion, Iowa), brought home the first run of the game with an RBI-single and Ashland Baca (sophomore, Byers, Colo.) doubled to make it 2-0.

Luna scored a run in the bottom of the inning but MCC responded with two more runs in the third. Nevaeh Ogden (freshman, Littleton, Colo.) had a bunt single to start the inning and went to second on an error. VanMilligan singled her in and later scored on a Baca double.

Freshman starting pitcher Tyler Mooring (Santa Clara, Utah) held Luna to three hits through six innings and two unearned runs. She didn't walk a hitter and struck out three.

MCC extended its 4-0 lead with a three-run sixth. Madisyn Simms (freshman, Port Moody, British Columbia) and Taylor Thein (sophomore, West Branch, Iowa) led off with singles and Ogden had an RBI-single to left field. VanMilligan followed with an RBI-single and the final run scored on an RBI-groundout with Baca batting.

Anna Wilcox (sophomore, Victoria, British Columbia) pitched the final inning and picked up the save allowing three hits, and one earned run. She struck out two.

MCC had 13 hits with three each from Ogden and VanMilligan and Baca had two. VanMilligan drove in three and Baca two.

GAME 2 – Otero 10, McCook CC 2: The Ratters overcame a 2-1 deficit in the sixth inning and added two more in the seventh to break open a tight game 10-2.

After Otero took a 1-0 lead in the second, MCC added a run in the third and took the lead with a run in the fourth. Nevaeh Ogden led off the third with a single and stole second, with two out she came home on a single from Tyler Mooring. Freshman Madisyn Simms (Port Moody, British Columbia) put MCC up 2-1 with a one-out solo home run in the fourth inning.

Avery O'Neil (sophomore, Ellsworth, Wis.) went 5.2 innings, allowed five earned runs, didn't walk a batter and struck out seven. Anna Wilcox pitched the final 1.1 innings and allowed three earned runs, and struck out one.

MCC had eight hits from eight different players.

Region IX Showcase Schedule

THURSDAY RESULTS

Northeastern 13, Trinidad State 5

Otero 9, Western Nebraska 1

McCook 6, Trinidad State 5 (8 innings)

Otero 5, Luna 0

Northeastern 9, Lamar 2

Western Nebraska 25, Luna 4

McCook 24, Lamar 1

FRIDAY RESULTS

Trinidad State 8, Lamar 0

McCook CC 7, Luna 4

Western Nebraska 10, Trinidad State 2

Northeastern 12, Luna 6

Lamar 9, Western Nebraska 8

Northeastern 5, Otero 1

Otero 10, McCook 2

SATURDAY SCHEDULE

All games canceled