McCook seniors stretch shutout string to five games

HOLDREGE, Neb. — A feeling of being stranded filled the holiday weekend for anyone running bases against McCook National Bank’s seniors.

Not that many from Holdrege, Gothenburg or Broken Bow reached base during the McCook weekend road sweep.

McCook’s season numbers are starting to resemble a really good 1995 Nebraska football game: MNB Seniors 63, other teams 0.

Coach Scott Smalley saw his unbeaten team blank Gothenburg, 15-0, Friday night; trounce Broken Bow 12-0 on Saturday and cap the holiday with a 9-0 win over Holdrege Monday evening.

They routed Imperial 19-0 and Ogallala 8-0 last week for the 5-0 start featuring five straight shutouts. Ogallala arrives to play the first rematch tonight (8 p.m.) at McCook’s Jaycee Complex.

They won’t see Kaden Sitzman, who threw a one-hitter at Ogallala Wednesday night.

He returned to permit — oh no! — five Holdrege hits Monday while striking out nine in five innings.

Sitzman threw 18 first-pitch strikes — which means almost every Holdrege hitter was starting in a 0-1 hole.

Sitzman delivered two of McCook’s eight hits as the Seniors blasted ahead 6-0 before Holdrege took its first swing.

DJ Gross drove home two runs while Cameryn Berry and Derek Greenlee each sent one teammate on that magical journey to home plate where no McCook opponent has reached through five games.

Gross, Spencer Krysl and Clayton Stevens each walked twice.

McCook hitters were more productive on Saturday at Broken Bow.

Drew Harvie and Stevens both ripped three of 15 MNB hits.

Justin Barenberg belted two to help support Gross’ first shutout on the hill this season.

Gross threw 19 first-pitch strikes in his five innings, held Bow to four hits and fanned five.

He also added another three RBIs with Barenberg and Harvie knocking in two apiece.

McCook tallied runs furing four difference innings starting with a four-run first.

On Friday, Trae Koetter pitched what was McCook’s third one-hitter in three games to start the season.

Koetter again worked all five innings and struck out five.

The bats unleashed three, six, four and two-run frames.

Sitzman and Berry both clubbed two hits. Barenberg and Krysl each totaled two RBIs.

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Juniors rule the road

HOLDREGE, Neb. — McCook’s Juniors made their two first wins this season memorable at Gothenburg and Holdrege last weekend.

The Juniors first proved they could win a tough, tight 3-1 game at Gothenburg Friday evening.

McCook (2-2 record) overcame five errors thanks to Seth Dugger pitching seven strong innings and permitting only four G-Burg its.

Morgan Fawver, Walter Fitzsimmons and Coady Armstrong each drove home one clutch McCook run.

Leading just 1-0 through five innings, the Juniors added two huge runs for “breathing room” then fought off Gothenburg’s last-gasp comeback attempts.

Dugger, Fawver and Dawson Bredvick provided three of only four McCook hits.

Fawver, Fizsimmons and Armstrong also drew walks.

On Memorial Day evening, the Juniors’ offensive provided fireworks with three, four and six-run innings that took down host Holdrege.

Fawver’s three RBIs ignited the attack again.

Armstrong and Dugger each batted in a pair of McCook runs.

Dugger and Armstrong were also good for two hits apiece.

McCook only outhit Holdrege, 9-7, but turned several walks into breakaway runs.

Joel Carter, Luke Rogers and Fawver each drew a pair of free passes.

Logan Barenberg pitched three innings to earn the win. He held a 7-3 lead which reached 13-3 when Justin Chauncey took over those mound duties in the fourth.

They teamed for four strikeouts of Holdrege batters.