Cardinals cap strong season at state

KEARNEY, Neb. — McCook Cardinals coach Chad Graham was happy to see the 10-and-under baseball team play three tough state tournament games and win over Hastings last weekend.

“Good learning experience and I was very proud of the way the boys played,” he remarked. “We were a little undermanned going down there with only 10 players, but the boys fought hard until the last out.”

A recap of Cardinals’ state games:

McCook 13,

Hastings 7

The Cardinals weathered a push by Hastings Athletics 10U in the third inning where they coughed up four runs, but still won on Friday.

In the first inning, McCook Cardinals 10U got their offense started. Brody Graham drew a walk, scoring one run.

Trenton Raile went 2-for-3 at the plate to lead McCook Cardinals 10U in hits.

McCook Cardinals 10U tore up the base paths, as three players stole at least two bases.

Raile led the way with two.

Cason Waugh earned the win for McCook Cardinals 10U. He allowed four hits and three runs over two innings, walking one.

Trey Tiller, Tripp Raile and Brody Graham all put in work in relief out of the bullpen, steering their team towards the victory.

LaVista 13,

McCook 4

\McCook Cardinals 10U watched the game slip away early and couldn’t recover in a 13-4 loss to La Vista Panthers 10U on Friday.

McCook lost despite outhitting La Vista Panthers 10U seven to six.

La Vista Panthers 10U got on the board in the first inning. An error scored one run for La Vista Panthers 10U.

McCook Cardinals 10U put up three runs in the third inning.

McCook Cardinals 10U’s big bats in the inning were led by singles by Trenton Raile and Brody Graham.

Kooper Rakes was on the pitcher’s mound for McCook Cardinals 10U. He went one inning, allowing five runs on zero hits and striking out two.

Graham, Trenton Raile, Brody Anthony, Simon Garcia, Rakes, Tiller and Noah Mashek each had one hit to lead McCook Cardinals 10U.

Graham led McCook Cardinals 10U with two stolen bases, as they ran wild on the base paths with five stolen bases.

Elkhorn 12,

McCook 7

McCook Cardinals 10U lost the lead late in a 12-7 defeat to Elkhorn Reds 10U on Saturday. The game was tied 5-5 until Elkhorn pulled away.

Despite the loss, McCook Cardinals 10U did collect eight hits in the high-scoring affair. Unfortunately, Elkhorn Reds 10U had eight hits on the way to victory.

McCook Cardinals 10U knotted the game up at five in the top of the fourth inning, when Oliver Corbett singled on a 3-2 count, scoring one run.

McCook Cardinals 10U tallied four runs in the fourth inning. The offensive firepower by McCook Cardinals 10U was led Anthony, Mashek and Corbett, who each had an RBI in the inning.

Mashek went 3-for-3 at the plate to lead McCook Cardinals 10U in hits.McCook Cardinals 10U didn’t commit a single error in the field.

Corbett had 13 chances in the field, the most on the team.

Graham started the game for McCook Cardinals 10U.

He went three innings, allowing five runs on five hits and striking out seven.