Lady Indians win 10-3 to open Region IX Tournament
The McCook Community College softball team got home runs from both pitchers to open Region IX Tournament play Friday with a 10-3 win over Trinidad State. The win gives the Lady Indians their 46th win of the season to set an all-time school wins record.
“It was a good day for us,” said MCC Coach Mike Mendenhall. “It’s always nice to win the first one and bring the nerves down.”
Sophomore starting pitcher Sadie Kahl (Calgary, Alberta) hit a two-run home run in the third inning, freshman reliever Kaliyah St. Amand (Duncan, British Columbia) hit a solo homer in the fourth and freshman Payton Kinsley (Didsbury, Alberta) powered a three-run home run in the sixth to put away the Trojans.
“Both of our pitchers kept us in the game, and we had some big hits when we needed them,” said Mendenhall.
MCC will play Western Nebraska Saturday at 2:30 p.m. with the winner of that game advancing to the championship on Sunday. The loser of that game will play an elimination game at 5 p.m. Saturday.
On Sunday the two remaining teams will play at noon with a second game to be played if neither team has two losses.
MCC freshman Paige Warren (Victoria, British Columbia) opened the scoring for the Lady Indians Friday with a leadoff walk. She stole second base, advanced to third on an infield groundout then scored on a two-out single by sophomore Lexi Knapp (Berthoud, Colo.).
Trinidad took a 2-1 lead in the second off Kahl with a walk, a single, a sacrifice bunt and a two-run line drive single. MCC responded in the bottom of the inning with a two-out double by St. Amand who went to third on a passed ball and scored on a wild pitch.
The Trojans took the lead back in the third taking advantage of an MCC error to lead off the inning followed by a sacrifice bunt and a single.
“Even when we were down 3-2 early, I wasn’t too concerned,” said Mendenhall. “I knew our offense would come alive.”
Trailing 3-2 in the third, the Lady Indians got back-to-back doubles by Kinsley and Knapp to tie the game followed by a two-out home run by Kahl, her second of the season – to put MCC up 5-3.
A leadoff MCC error in the fourth put Trinidad on the offensive. After a sacrifice bunt, Kahl hit the next batter to put the tying run on first base. St. Amand came on in relief and retired the first hitter on a sacrifice bunt then struck out the next hitter with the tying run at second base.
St. Amand then led off the bottom of the inning with a solo home run to give MCC a 6-3 lead. It was also St. Amand’s second home run of the year. She continued the momentum on the mound striking out the side in the fifth. The Lady Indians loaded the bases in the bottom of the fifth with one out on a Knapp single and two Trojan errors, but MCC was unable to score.
After giving up a leadoff single in the sixth St. Amand struck out three more hitters.
A leadoff error by Trinidad in the MCC sixth followed by a one out walk set the table for Kinsley who hit a three-run homer to left to put MCC up 9-3. It was Kinsley’s team and league-leading 21st home run of the year. Knapp followed with a single. Pinch runner Haley Emmerson (Sterling, Colo.) stole second, tagged up on a two-out flyball and scored on a passed ball.
St. Amand retired the side in order in the seventh, striking out two of three to preserve the win for MCC.
Kahl pitched 3.1 innings, allowing two earned runs on three hits, two walks and one strikeout. St. Amand pitched 3.2 innings, allowed one hit and struck out nine.
In addition to the three home runs, Knapp led the way with four hits and two RBIs, Kinsley and St. Amand both had two hits.
In Friday’s other game, third-seeded Western Nebraska knocked off No. 2 Otero College 11-5.
Otero will play Trinidad State in an elimination game Saturday starting at noon. MCC plays Western Nebraska at 2:30 in the second game with the final game of the day an elimination game between the winner of the Otero-Trinidad State game against the loser of the MCC/WNCC game at 5 p.m.
Up-to-date information about MCC softball including livestream links, schedule, statistics, rosters, photos and more can be found on the MCC Athletics website, www.mccindians.com
FINAL REGION IX STANDINGS
REGION OVERALL
W-L W-L
McCook 20-4 45-9
Otero 18-6 24-17
Western Nebraska 16-8 25-23
Trinidad State 11-13 20-26
Northeastern JC 8-16 15-38
Luna 5-15 9-39
Lamar 2-18 8-32
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
Saturday, May 3
Game 3 – Trinidad State (20-27) vs Otero College (24-18), Noon (elimination game)
Game 4 – McCook (46-9) vs Western Nebraska (25-24), 2:30 p.m.
Game 5 - Winner of Game 3 vs Loser of Game 4, 5 p.m. (elimination game)
Sunday, May 4
Game 6 – Winner of Game 4 vs Winner of Game 5, noon (elimination game)
Game 7 – (If necessary), 2:30 p.m.