McCook Seniors 2-1 against Beatrice

The McCook National Bank Seniors won 2-of-3 games against the Beatrice Seniors Friday and Saturday at the Jaycees Sports Complex in McCook.

The McCook American Legion Juniors game on Friday against Cambridge was cancelled.

MNB won the first game on Friday 4-2 over Beatrice. Matt Serbousek pitched a complete game victory.

Serbousek gave up two runs on three hits while striking out nine Beatrice hitters in seven innings of work.

MNB coach Tye Hallowell said he was happy with his pitcher's performance.

"Serbousek flat-out dominates hitters," Hallowell said. "Whenever he pitches like that we feel confident that we can beat anyone we play against."

Beatrice took the first lead when Luke Nichols hit a RBI single that scored Brett Laurtsen to put them up 1-0 in the top of the third.

Serbousek neutralized the Beatrice offense in the top of the fourth by striking out the side.

MNB then tied up the ball game in the bottom of the fourth when Jason Eder scored off of a Derick Lorentz double to knot up the game at one.

In the bottom of the fifth Spencer Walter showed off his muscle by powering the Beatrice pitcher's offering over the left-field fence for a two-run home run that put MNB up 3-1.

Then in the sixth Quinton Pohl scored off of an error to extend MNB's lead to 4-1.

Nate Eskra tried to rally Beatrice in the top of the seventh with a pinch-hit double.

Another pinch hitter, Austin Bruhn, reached base on an error and scored Eskra to cut McCook's lead to 4-2.

However, that's all that Serbousek would allow. He retired the next three Beatrice batters to end the game and capture the victory.

Beatrice 001 000 1 -- 2 3 1

McCook 000 121 x -- 4 8 2

M -- Matt Serbousek. B -- Travis Sand. W -- Serbousek. L -- Sand. 1B -- Adam Kotschwar (2), Jeff Holthus, Al Shiers, Derick Lorentz, Matt Beckenhauer, M. Luke Nichols, Tanner Earhart, B. 2B -- Lorentz, M. Nate Eskra, B. HR -- Spencer Walter, M.

McCook 5,

Beatrice 4

MNB won the second game on Saturday over Beatrice 5-4.

Derick Lorentz pitched a complete game in the victory for MNB.

Lorentz allowed four runs off of eight hits and striking out eight in seven innings.

"Lorentz pitched really well, he was hungry for a good outing after a rough game last Tuesday against Ogallala," Hallowell said.

MNB ran out to an early lead when both Adam Kotschwar and Matt Serbousek scored to put MNB on top 2-0.

Lorentz then showed his prowess on the mound by setting down Beatrice's lineup in order for both the first and second innings.

In the third frame Serbousek hit a double and would later score to extend MNB's lead to 3-0.

The game would remain at 3-0 until the top of the sixth inning when Beatrice was up to bat.

Luke Nichols reached base on a double and Travis Sand brought him in with a single. Alex Sedlacek hit a RBI single that scored Sand to cut MNB's lead to 3-2.

MNB did not respond in the bottom of the sixth and Beatrice took advantage of the opportunity in the top of the seventh.

Lorentz hit Brett Laurtsen with a pitch that granted him a free base. Luke Nichols again reached base with a single. A wild pitch advanced the base runners to second and third base.

On a full count Beatrice's Adam Parde smacked a double that brought in both base runners and captured the lead for Beatrice 4-3.

Down by a run in the bottom of the seventh Serbousek led off with a single. Serbousek stole second and then Holthus was walked to put runners on first and second.

Both Serbousek and Holthus advanced on the basepaths via a wild pitch. Jason Eder ended the game by scoring both runners to capture the second straight victory over Beatrice.

Beatrice's record was an impressive 20-8 before running into the MNB squad.

"It was kind of a nerve-racking game. It stirred up emotions and these kind of games prepare us for the post-season," Hallowell said.

Beatrice 000 002 2 -- 4 8 1

McCook 201 000 2 -- 5 5 0

M -- Derick Lorentz. B -- Adam Parde. L -- Parde. 1B -- Matt Serbousek (2), Eric Anderson, Quinton Pohl, M. Luke Nichols, Travis Sand, Travis Mann, Shane Essam, Alex Sedlacek, B. 2B -- Serbousek, Anderson, M. Nichols, Parde, Brandon Angeford, B.

Beatrice 15,

McCook 11

MNB dropped the final game to Beatrice 15-11 on Saturday. Quinton Pohl started the game for Hallowell before being relieved in the second inning by Jason Eder.

Spencer Walter replaced Eder in the fourth inning. Matt Beckenhauer took Walter's duties on the mound in the fifth frame.

Jeff Holthus finished out the game after taking over in the sixth innings.

The five pitchers combined to allow 15 runs on 14 hits. Hallowell said the number of pitchers had already been decided before the game.

"We planned on using a lot of guys on the mound because of the busy schedule and it's easier to rest their arms this way. Plus, we will be able to use them in the next couple of days."

Beatrice put three runs on the board in the top of the first to take the lead. Matt Serbousek then shot a solo home run in the bottom of the first and Spencer Walter also scored to cut the lead to 3-2.

Beatrice scored four more runs in the top of the second to stretch their lead to 7-2. Jared Muehlenkamp put up another solo homer for MNB in the bottom of the third to make the score 7-3. In the fourth frame Beatrice put up another three runs. MNB put up three runs for their cause in the bottom of the inning to cut into Beatrice's lead, 10-6.

But, MNB allowed Beatrice five more runs in the fifth frame and one more run in the sixth inning. MNB scored two runs in the fifth and another three runs in the bottom of the seventh inning before coming up on the short end to Beatrice 15-11.

Despite the loss, Hallowell was very pleased with his team's 14 hits in the contest.

"That's a really good offensive day," he said. "We had a lot of guys with multiple hit games and we are making progression from where we were struggling to a game with fourteen hits and that is very pleasing from a coaching stand point."

Winning 2-out of-3 from Beatrice also satisfied the MNB coach.

"This series against Beatrice makes me very happy, and the game we lose we have good offensive production. This helps our confidence going into a tough week."

MNB's season record is 24-16. MNB will host their final regular season home game on Tuesday with "MNB Night" against district foe Lexington.

The first 250 paid admissions will receive a one-dollar off coupon for the concession stand. Action is slated to begin at 8 p.m.

The Juniors host Lexington at 5:30 p.m.

Beatrice 340 341 0 -- 15 14 4

McCook 201 320 3 -- 11 14 1

M -- Quinton Pohl, Jason Eder, Spencer Walter, Matt Beckenhauer, Jeff Holthus. B -- Tanner Earhart, Luke Nichols. W -- Earhart. L -- Pohl. 1B -- Adam Kotschwar, Matt Serbousek (2), Holthus, Walter, Al Shiers (2), Jared Muehlenkamp, Beckenhauer (2), M. Brett Laurtsen, Nichols, Tanner Earhart, Isaiah May(2), Adam Parde (3), Shane Essam, Travis Sand, B. 2B -- Shiers, M. Earhart, Travis Mann (2), B. 3B -- Holthus, M. Parde, B. HR -- Muehlenkamp, Serbousek, M.

Colby 3,

McCook 2

The McCook American Legion Seniors lost a 3-2 decision at Colby Wednesday night.

Matt Beckenhauer was the losing pitcher.

No other information was available.