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Late rally boosts MCC to baseball sweep
A double-header sweep by the McCook Community College men's baseball team March 7 was just what the doctor ordered to help cure the MCC diamond ills.
The Indians won two games over the Hastings College junior varsity in action at the Jaycees Sports Complex. McCook rallied in the opening game, scoring four runs in the bottom of the seventh inning to force extra innings, then the Indians scored a single run in the bottom of the eighth to win 6-5. In the nightcap, MCC took control early and cruised to an 8-2 victory.
The two wins evened McCook's season record at eight wins and eight losses.
McCook struggled offensively early in the first game, as the Hastings JV built a 5-0 lead after 5 1/2 innings. MCC got a run back in the bottom of the sixth, then Tre Ostergaard shut down the Broncos in the top of the seventh to give the Indians a shot at a comeback.
The big hit for McCook in the bottom of the seventh was a two-run double by Venezuela native Manny Perez. Perez had a two-strike count when he delivered the hit.
"It was a good swing, and he did a nice job," MCC head coach Jon Olsen said of Perez' big blast.
Mike Lechman pitched the eighth inning for the Indians and held Hastings scoreless, setting up MCC for the winning run. McCook loaded the bases and a walk forced home the winning run.
"It was good to come back," Olsen said. "We just didn't get anything going early, but our pitchers did a good enough job to keep us in the game, our bullpen. Tre Ostergaard actually pitched three days in row and he pitched really well. Mike Leach got the win throwing eighth inning."
OLSEN SAID his squad played much better in Thursday's second game. Hastings scored a run in the top of the first, but MCC came right back with three runs in the bottom of the inning. McCook's big hit came from freshman Casey Philpot, who delivered a two-run single following hits by Manny Menocal and Ryan Silva.
McCook added two more runs in the second on an RBI double by Grant Hindman and a bases-loaded, ground-out fielder's choice by McCook product Justin Terry. MCC got three more runs in the third on Menocal's RBI double, a line-drive RBI single by Silva, and a run-scoring sacrifice fly.
Another McCook graduate, Chris Conroy, turned in a strong pitching effort for the Indians. Conroy worked five innings, surrendering just one run, and got the early strong offensive support.
"When you're pitching in a close game every pitch, every defensive play is so crucial. It puts a lot of pressure on you," Olsen said. "So it's nice to open up a little bit and be able to relax a little bit and go from there."
We needed a day like this to get a couple wins and get back to .500. I thought we played tight all week. Finally in the seventh inning and the beginning of the second game (Thursday), we loosened up and played a lot better."
McCOOK dropped a 12-1 decision to Northeastern (Colo.) Junior College Wednesday, March 6, in a nine-inning single game at the Jaycees Complex. MCC trailed 3-1 entering the seventh inning, then NJC scored nine runs to pull away.
"That was a really tough loss," Olsen said. "You feel like you're in the game and doing some good things, and then you lose like that, it's tough. But give credit to our guys, they came back and battled back (Thursday)."
The Indians lost two close games by scores of 3-2 and 5-1 against host Otero Junior College March 3 in LaJunta, Colo.