MCC baseball team splits season-opener with Dodge City

Thursday, February 19, 2009

DODGE CITY, Kan. -- The McCook Community College Indian baseball team started its season Tuesday by splitting a doubleheader with Dodge City Community College in Dodge City, Kan.

Dodge City won the opener 11-0 while the Indians came back to take the nightcap 5-4.

The Indians (1-1) on the season will travel this weekend back to Kansas for a doubleheader Friday against Hesston College at Hesston, then travel on for a double header at Independence Community College Saturday and finish the weekend with a single nine-inning game against Labette Community College on Sunday.

Tuesday, the Indian bats were held in check in Game 1 as they only managed two hits, both coming from sophomore center fielder Josh McKinney, the game was close going into the bottom of the sixth, then Dodge City opened it up with an eight-run sixth inning.

Trailing 3-0 going into the bottom of the sixth. McCook starter Andre O'Conner walked the lead-off hitter of the inning, then an error put two runners on, O'Conner was lifted for a reliever who proceeded to give up eight runs on four hits, the big blow being a grand slam from the Conquistadors' clean-up hitter, another single and two run home run followed bringing in another reliever to finish the sixth.

"In the first game I was really disappointed in our offensive production, I did not see that coming," said MCC coach Jon Olsen. "I didn't think their pitcher was too overpowering, I just think we were a little too excited and nervous going into our first game.

"I couldn't have been prouder of our guys how we came back in Game 2, especially after how the first game ended. "I told them between games 'hey we have 55 games left, don't be shocked by how the first game ended. We just had one really bad half inning.' We always talk about responding well to failure and adversity and we did a nice job in Game 2."

The Indian bats woke up in the first inning of Game 2 as freshman shortstop Lars Trizila led off the game with a solo home run.

Then three batters later, Taylor Trotter added another solo home run to put the Indians up 2-0.

In the bottom of the inning Dodge City scored three runs on five hits of Indian starter Austin Parker, but that would be all Parker would give up until the 6th, with one out in the bottom of the sixth he gave up his final run on a solo home run, he retired the next two hitters to give the Indians a 5-4 lead going into the last inning.

The Indians loaded the bases in the top of the seventh but failed to score, then in the bottom of the seventh, freshman closer Jesse Zeller got the ball for his first college appearance.

After walking the first hitter, Zeller recorded the first out on a sac bunt, then a single to left put runners on first and third with one out, before Zeller induced a ground ball by Dodge City's three hole hitter back to himself as he started the game ending double play.

"It was a tough spot for Zeller in his first game of his career to come into a one-run game against the meat of the order on a very good hitting team," Olsen said. "After walking the first hitter he settled down and did a great job to get his first save."

Trizila led the Indians in Game 2, going 2-for-3 with a home run and double, while Trotter scored two runs including the go ahead run in the fitfh inning on an RBI groundout by Tyler Vessey to go along with his home run in the first inning.

Sophomore catcher Chris Jirik went 2-for-3 with an RBI single.Vessey, Alex Hecht and Chris Kalk all added singles in the game as well.

On the mound Parker threw six innings giving up four earned runs on seven hits while striking out three and walking one. Zeller came into close the game. He worked one inning, walked one, gave up one hit and no runs.

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