MNB Seniors beat Holdrege again to secure state meet berth

Steve Kodad/McCook Gazette McCook National Bank Seniors pitcher Jon Spilinek releases the ball in the Class B Area 6 Tournament championship finals July 23 at Holdrege. Spilinek pitched a complete game as McCook downed Holdrege, 7-1, to win the Area 6 Tournament title and qualify for Class B Legion Seniors State Tourmament starting Saturday, July 27, in Gering. (Reprints available at McCookGazette.com)

HOLDREGE, Neb. -- The McCook National Bank Seniors have had some rough outings defensively during the 2013 summer Legion baseball schedule.

But the McCook squad turned in a stellar effort in the field behind a strong performance by starting pitcher Jon Spilinek Tuesday, July 23. The result was a 7-1 victory over Holdrege First National in the finals of the Class B Area 6 Tournament at Holdrege.

The Area 6 Tournament title sends the MNB Seniors to the Class B Legion State Tournament at Gering July 27-31. McCook will face Area 2 Tournament champion Waverly in first-round state tourney action Saturday afternoon.

Steve Kodad/McCook Gazette McCook National Bank Seniors baserunner Cameron Burkey (front) stretches for first base after hitting an infield grounder during Class B Area 6 Seniors Legion Baseball Tournament action Tuesday, July 23, at Holdrege. Holdrege first baseman Alex Hamling (30) caught the ball as Burkey was out on the play. (Reprints available at McCookGazette.com)

Spilinek was a key to McCook's epic 11-10 comeback win over Holdrege Sunday, July 21, to send the MNB Seniors to the Area 6 Tournament title game. He worked the final two innings after McCook scored 10 runs in the fifth to rally from a 10-1 deficit. Spilinek recorded four of the six final Holdrege outs by strikeouts in Sunday's win.

Spilinek was equally as strong in Tuesday's contest. He pitched all seven innings for McCook, scattering nine hits, but most importantly, just two walks and a hit batsmen. Spilinek worked out of several jams, including bases loaded for Holdrege in two innings and two other innings with two Holdrege runners stranded on base.

"Jon pitched outstanding," said McCook head coach Mike Mendenhall. "Two walks -- walks have been a little bit of an issue for him this year. He always has one bad inning. But he didn't have one (Tuesday). Our defense had his back, as well. Going into that game I didn't know what we would have, because the last time we played Holdrege (Sunday's 11-10 rally win), we had quite a few errors.

Steve Kodad/McCook Gazette McCook National Bank catcher Lucas Post reaches to catch a foul ball during Class B Area 6 Tournament championship finals against host Holdrege July 23. (Reprints available at McCookGazette.com)

"Our defense was lights-out, Jon was lights-out. We did get out of jams, which was very nice to see."

CAMERON BURKEY led off the game for McCook with a single, and Burkey later scored on a bases-loaded walk to Josh Escher. The Seniors added three more runs in the top of the second thanks to a single by Tyler Howard, a Holdrege error, two walks and a two-RBI single by Lucas Post.

Holdrege got a run back in the bottom of the second thanks to four consecutive singles. But Spilinek induced a ground ball to second baseman Cash Bortner, who threw to first for the third out to end the threat.

The hosts left five runners aboard in the fourth and fifth innings combined and did not score a run. McCook came back with a pair of insurance runs in the top of the sixth.

Spilinek got on base when the Holdrege catcher couldn't handle the called third strike. Spilinek advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by Howard, then Burkey walked. With two outs, Bortner lined a single to right field to plate Spilinek, and Burkey advanced to third on the throw. Burkey later scored on a passed ball for a 6-1 lead.

McCook added another run in the seventh on a single, a fielder's choice, a Holdrege error and Spilinek's bloop single.

Coach Mendenhall said the late runs for his squad were a dagger to Holdrege.

"They had their opportunities. They were one hit away from getting back into the game," he said. "Those two runs at the end of the game (in the sixth inning) were huge. That helped take the life out of them."

Holdrege put a runner on base in the bottom of the sixth, but a fly out and Spilinek's strikeout ended the threat. In the bottom of the seventh, Holdrege sandwiched singles around a fly ball that was caught by McCook catcher Lucas Post in foul territory. Spilinek struck out Dakota Falk for the second out, then Kaden Sitzman ended the game when he hauled in a fly ball in right field to punch McCook's state ticket.

McCook had seven hits, with Post singling twice to lead the locals.

CLASS B AREA 6 SENIORS LEGION BASEBALL TOURNAMENT

Friday, July 19 First-Round Results

Gothenburg 12, Broken Bow 5

Holdrege First Nationals 3, Kearney County (Minden) First Bank 1

Saturday, July 20 Results

Kearney County (Minden) 9, Broken Bow 4 (Broken Bow eliminated)

McCook National Bank 15, Gothenburg 0 (5 innings)

Sunday, July 21 Results

Gothenburg 5, Kearney County (Minden) 4, (Minden eliminated)

McCook National Bank 11, Holdrege 10 (McCook to championship finals)

Monday, July 22 Results

Holdrege 16, Gothenburg 8 (Gothenburg eliminated)

Tuesday, July 23 Results

Championship Finals

McCook National Bank 7, Holdrege 1

McCook National Bank advances to Class B Legion Seniors State Tournament at Gering July 27-31