Big crowd sees Bison girls dust Holdrege

Friday, September 1, 2017
McCook’s Ashley Miller (3) earned some high fives from varsity teammates after she scored two runs as a courtesy runner Thursday night.
Steve Towery/McCook Gazette

McCOOK, Neb. — Facing an 8-1 Holdrege foe, McCook’s softball players got extra jolts of inspiration before they even launched one extra-base hit Thursday.

“They were pulling up another set of bleachers. There must have been 500 to 600 fans here,” coach Jason Cochran observed about the long-awaited home opener at McCook’s Jaycees Complex. “Who wouldn’t want to play on a night like this?”

Students played a big role, staying on their feet and cheering the Bison who had averaged 14 runs during three previous wins.

Their pace slipped to 10 Thursday night — but it was more than enough as McCook a hooting-and-hollering 10-2 home win.

“We get energy from the home fans which is really nice,” senior Emily Jacobs said even before the game began.

“We were maybe a little overjuiced (to start),” Cochran added. “But we’ve got five girls hitting over .400 right now. We just had to stay patient and drive it.”

Senior Shayne Coleman drove a double just over the Duster left fielder and really started a fun Bison evening.

The next pitch took a beating from senior Cassidy Beeby, whose double over Holdrege’s center fielder scored Coleman to make it 4-0.

Ashley Miller ran for catcher Beeby and showed her speed on Jacobs’ fly ball into right.

Though the ball was caught, Miller motored home with McCook’s fifth run.

The Bison (6-4 record) would continue adding runs against a Holdrege whirlwhind that’s already won two tournaments this season.

“They’re a good team,” Cochran confirmed. “They have some very nice bats at the two and three spots (in the lineup). But we were up to the challenge tonight.”

Senior pitcher Avery Doucet limited any Duster damage. She permitted just six hits while throwing all six innings.

McCook moved within “mercy rule” range after seniors Jadie Stevens and Emily Arp both ripped base hits.

Sophomore Kori Uerling quickly split the Duster outfield with sizzling missile which scored both teammates.

Uerling slid into third and finished her two-RBI triple.

Stevens (walk) and Arp (single) continued being the best senior leaders as they started another run-scoring rally.

Senior Haiden Loop’s squeeze bunt plated Stevens for an 8-2 Bison advantage.

Following sophomore Candace Coleman’s single, Stevens delivered a two-run single perfectly into center to finish this 10-2 McCook win.

Arp’s three hits led a Bison attack totaling 14.

Loop, Shayne Coleman, Stevens and Beeby added two hits apiece.

Stevens, Coleman and Uerling equally divided six RBIs. Beeby, Loop and Jacobs added one RBI each.

Miller joined Arp and Loop in scorign two runs apiece. Sophomore Trinity Sorensen added one more run as a Bison courtesy runner.

“And it’s nice to be going home before 10 p.m.,” Cochran concluded since McCook played its first nine games at places like Hastings, Kearney, Gothenburg and Cozad.

The big Bison challenge now will be facing those Dusters again at 9 a.m. to start Saturday’s McCook Invitational.

Holdrege didn’t pitch its “ace” on Thursday but Cochran expects to see the best Saturday morning.

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