Bison softball seniors win home finale; McCook plays in GNAC tournament Saturday

Friday, September 28, 2007
Grant Strunk/McCook Daily Gazette McCook High School senior softball players and parents from left; Lanae Fritsch, Austin Wilson, (Gilbert Wilson and Bob Fritsch not present); Chris, Ashley and Dave Carfield; Cherie, Marissa and Chris Wallace; Rose, Hailee and Joe Koetter; Karen, Kirstie and Dennis Hiatt; Lisa, Jessica and Terry Einspahr, Gayl, Cody and Gary Korus; Suzanne, Sarah and Kent Craw.

The McCook Bison softball team downed the Kearney Bearcats 2-0 at the Jaycee Sports Complex Thursday night.

It was the last game at the Jaycee Sports Complex in a Bison uniform for eight seniors.

The seniors are Sarah Craw, Cody Korus, Jessica Einspahr, Kirstie Hiatt, Hailee Koetter, Marissa Wallace, Ashley Carfield and Austin Wilson.

Amanda Einspahr led off with a base hit to left-center field, advanced to second on a passed ball. She scored on an error by the catcher.

The Cats retired the side, with the Bison taking a 1-0 lead into the second frame.

McCook recorded two base hits in the second inning, with Hailee Koetter and Marissa Wallace both hitting singles to left.

Koetter would be doubled off at second base, after the third baseman caught a line drive hit by Ashley Carfield.

The Bison had one base hit in the third frame, with Amanda Einspahr hitting a single to right-center field. Einspahr was thrown out trying to steal second base.

McCook grounded out to end the inning, scoring no runs.

In the top of fourth frame, the Bison recorded their fourth three-and-out defensive stop.

In the bottom of the fourth inning, Austin Wilson led off with a base hit to left, advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by Kirstie Hiatt. Wilson advanced to third on a passed ball, but was tagged out attempting to score, on a fielder's choice hit by Koetter to third base.

Cody Korus reached on an error by the first baseman, with Koetter and Korus both advancing a base on the error. McCook flied out to center field to end the inning, with two base runners stranded.

In the top of the fifth inning, the Cats would have their first base runners both reaching on walks. The Bison retired the side, stranding runners on second and first.

In the bottom of the fifth frame, Carfield led off with a base hit to left field. Sarah Craw reached on an error by pitcher, with Carfield being thrown out trying to advance to third base on the error.

Craw advanced to second base on the error, and advanced to third on a wild pitch. Craw was stranded at third base to end the inning, with no runs scored.

In the top of the sixth, the Cats had another base runner reach on a walk and advanced to second on a sacrifice. The Bison retired the side, stranding the runner at second.

In the bottom of the sixth frame, Wilson led off with a base hit to left-center field. Danae McCorkle then hit a line drive to their third baseman for the first out.

Wilson attempted a hit-and-run and the third baseman overthrew first base for the double play.

Wilson advanced to third on the error. Koetter followed with a base hit to left field, scoring Wilson. The Cats retired the side, stranding two base runners for the Bison.

McCook recorded their fifth three-and-out defensive stop in seven innings, to end the game at 2-0.

Kirstie Hiatt picked up the win for the Bison. She allowed no hits, no runs and no walks while striking out seven in 5 2/3 innings.

Marissa Wallace allowed no hits, no runs and three walks, while striking out two in 1 1/3 innings.

The Bison are 19-4 on the season, and travel to Kearney for the Greater Nebraska Athletic Conference tournament on Saturday.

McCook opens play against North Platte at 10 a.m. The Bison will play at noon and 2 p.m., regardless of wins or losses.

Scottbluff and Hastings are on the Bison side of the bracket, with Kearney, Lexington, Norfolk and Columbus on the other side of the bracket.

Bison JV drops finale -- The McCook Bison JV softball team fell to Kearney 10-8.

The Bison had some defensive letdowns in the first two frames. The Cats scored two runs on one hit, and three errors in the top of the first.

Katie Hoffmaster led off with a deep shot to left field for a triple. Hoffmaster scored on a passed ball. The Cats retired the side, and took a 2-1 lead into the top of the second inning.

Kearney scored six runs on two hits, with the Bison defense committing four errors in the top of the second.

In the bottom of the second frame, McCook's Katie Douglas reached on an error by the centerfielder and advanced to second on the misplay.

Douglas advanced to third on a dropped third strike scored on a passed ball. The Bison grounded out to end the inning, with Kearney leading 8-2 after two complete innings.

Both defenses recorded a three-and-out defensive stop in the third inning.

Both teams had one base hit each in the fourth frame, with Douglas singling to right. Douglas eas stranded at first to end the inning. Kearney recorded one hit and no runs in the top of the fifth.

Hoffmaster had the lone base hit for the Bison in the bottom of the fifth, but was later called out on an interference call to end the inning.

In the top of the sixth inning, the Cats added two more runs on three hits and three errors by the Bison defense.

The Bison rallied in the bottom of sixth inning as time expired. Erin Premer was hit by a pitch.

Kelsey Gillen and Brittini Bieker both followed with base hits to left to load the bases. Douglas reached on a walk, scoring Premer. Shannoa Blake followed with a timely base hit to right field, scoring Gillen, Bieker and Douglas.

Gretchen Sehnert followed with a base hit to right. Danielle Cappel followed with a fielder's choice hit to the shortstop, scoring Blake.

Amberette Burkey followed with a base hit. Premer followed with another base hit to left-center field, scoring Cappel. Burkey was thrown out at third attempting an extra base on the hit by Premer to end the game.

The Bison recorded six hits in the sixth frame alone, while they recorded three hits in the first five frames combined.

Kelsey Gillen went 1 2/3 innings, allowing three hits and eight runs. Brittini Bieker went 5 1/3 innings, allowing five hits and two runs while striking out three.

The Bison JV softball team ended itsseason with an 8-2 record.

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