'Dogs pounce on one bad Bison inning

The North Platte Bulldogs' catcher (left) thought she had senior Haiden Loop out at home plate until umpires changed their call and ruled she had lost control of the ball. Loop’s hustling hard slide caused the bobble as she scored McCook’s one run.

R.B. Headley/McCook Gazette

McCOOK, Neb. — Leave the door open and it doesn’t take long for noisy Bulldogs to turn Tuesday evening into one big mess.

The McCook Bison learned this again following a 5-1 loss to those district nemesis North Platte Bulldogs.

Bison were having a beautiful time outside at the Jaycees Complex through five innings.

Senior Avery Doucet was shutting out the visitors, junior outfielder Laurel Schmidt snagged sharp flies even with sun in her eyes and senior Cassidy Beeby rocketed a memorable double into deep center field.

Yet Beeby’s infield hit became the best Bison moment as senior Haiden Loop dashed around third base.

The throw home clearly beat this Bison speedster, but Loop’s strong slide into home caused just enough chase to give McCook a run.

One umpire initially ruined Loop “out!”.

Further discussion between both umps decided — and not without plenty of Bulldog protest — that the catcher lost control of this softball.

“That’s what we saw angle on the backside of it,” McCook coach Jason Cochran said. “One (umpire) said the catcher lost control and the ball was on the ground.”

With no replay reviews, North Platte (14-11 record) had no other response but to ignite a comeback.

The Bulldogs did just that, using aggressive baserunning and a Bison throwing error to score three sixth-inning runs.

Another pair dashed home on a line-drive single that flicked off one McCook infielder’s glove.

Freshman Abby Orr and sophomore Jayden Schledewitz were both credited with two RBIs.

“One bad inning has cost us in four or five games now,” Cochran lamented about his 9-10 Bison. “It seems like it happens in the sixth or seventh. We just have to be mentally tougher. Relax and don’t try to do too much.”

The Bison couldn’t do much against Bulldog senior pitcher Taylar Coleman.

Senior Shayne Coleman crushed a double over the N.P. left fielder only to be stranded at third base as McCook’s sixth inning ended.

The final Bison at-bat featured senior Jadie Stevens and Schmidt both ripping base hits.

Taylar Coleman calmly retired the next Bison on one pitch to finish her five-hit complete game.

Quite a feat considering McCook was averaging better than nine runs per game and still owns a .412 team batting average.

T. Coleman’s attack plan vs. Bison hitters was about as subtle as a Husker fan discussing the current football season.

“She threw hard,” Cochran said. “We needed to make adjustments at the plate.”

Doucet only permitted four Bulldog hits while walking one and striking out three.

“Avery did a great job tonight,” the coach confirmed.

McCook made the defensive plays around Doucet starting with a pressure-packed first inning.

North Platte loaded the bases, but catcher Beeby raced over to glove a foul pop fly for out No. 2.

The next Bulldog grounded a ball to shortstop Emily Jacobs.

She smoothly flipped that ball into third baseman Candace Coleman’s glove for an inning-ending force play.

McCook can start recovery on Thursday when the Bison play Gering and Scottsbluff on “middle ground” at Ogallala. First pitch is set for 3 p.m. MDT.

The Bison beat Gering’s Bulldogs, 14-1, en route to winning their McCook Invitational earlier this month.