Lady Indians earn trip to College World Series with 9-1 win
The McCook Community College softball team is going to the school's first-ever appearance in the National Junior College Athletic Association World Series after beating Western Nebraska Sunday 9-1.
The Lady Indians swept their way to a Region IX Tournament title with three straight wins as the top seed and playing at the Jaycees Sports Complex. MCC will be one of 20 teams traveling to Yuma, Ariz. to play May 19-24.
"What a ballgame, what a tournament," said MCC Coach Mike Mendenhall. "I can't be more proud of the girls and the accomplishments they have had this year."
After trailing 1-0 eight pitches into the game, MCC tied the game in the bottom of the first, took a 2-1 lead in the second inning, and broke the game open with six runs in the fifth inning to end the game on the eight-run rule.
Freshman Paige Warren (Victoria, British Columbia) and sophomore Anna Elliott (Calgary, Alberta) both helped the MCC offensive cause with home runs and freshman Kaliyah St. Amand (Duncan, British Columbia) picked up the win in the pitcher's circle.
"It was a pitcher's duel early on but our girls just kept scrapping at the plate," said Mendenhall. "Kaliyah threw very well, and our defense was on point."
The first batter of the game, Western's Randi Mitchell, lined an 0-2 pitch into right field for a triple. With one out, the Cougars took a 1-0 lead on an RBI-groundout.
Sophomore Laila Gutierrez (Seminole, Texas) singled with one out in the first inning, stole second base and scored on an RBI-double by freshman Payton Kinsley (Didsbury, Alberta) to tie the game 1-1.
In the MCC second, the Lady Indians got leadoff single by Anna Elliott (sophomore, Calgary, Alberta), a Western error in the outfield, and a bunt single by freshman Peytann Weiland (Aurora, Colo.) to load the bases. Freshman Paige Warren (Victoria, British Columbia) lined an RBI-single to left field to give MCC a 2-1 lead.
With one out in the fourth, Warren drove solo home run to right field to put the Lady Indians ahead 3-1.
Western Nebraska threatened in the fifth with a one-out MCC infield error, a stolen base and an infield groundout advancing the runner to third base, but second baseman Ayana Goodwin (sophomore, Broomfield, Colo.) ranged far to the middle of the diamond and snared a hard line drive to end the inning.
MCC sealed the game in the fifth inning. Elliott started the six-run frame with a one-out solo home run to center field. St. Amand followed with a double, Weiland walked and a Western error loaded the bases.
"We had some great energy, and I knew that their pitcher was going to be worn out," said Mendenhall of Western Nebraska pitcher Kayli Cooper who left the game after the walk to Weiland. "We had some huge hits late in the game to put it away."
St. Amand scored on a passed ball. Warren walked and another Cougar error scored another run to make it a 6-1 Lady Indian lead. Kinsley doubled in two runs and Gutierrez scored the walk-off run on a fielder's choice with Sadie Kahl batting.
MCC outhit Western Nebraska 11-2. Warren, Gutierrez, Kinsley, Elliott and St. Amand all had two hits.
After allowing the leadoff triple, St. Amand allowed just one single over five innings. She walked one and struck out six.
Western Nebraska committed three errors. The Cougars finish the season at 27-25.
MCC improves to 48-9 on the year and on Tuesday will find out who they play when the bracket for the College World Series is announced.
The Lady Indians went unblemished in the tournament winning the opening game Friday over Trinidad State 10-3. On Saturday MCC outlasted Western Nebraska 2-1 in eight innings before ending the tournament with the 9-1 win Sunday.
REGION IX TOURNAMENT
MAY 2-4 at McCook
JAYCEES SPORTS COMPLEX
RESULTS From Friday, May 2
Game 1 – McCook 10, Trinidad State 3
Game 2 – Western Nebraska 13, Otero College 5
RESULTS From Saturday, May 3
Game 3 – Otero College 3, Trinidad State 2 (Trinidad State eliminated)
Game 4 – McCook (46-9) vs Western Nebraska (25-24), 2:30 p.m.
Game 5 – Western Nebraska 11, Otero College 3 (Otero College eliminated)
RESULTS From Sunday, May 4
Game 6 – McCook 9, Western Nebraska 1, (Western Nebraska eliminated)