Bison alum's Hawks reach World Series!

Wednesday, May 22, 2019
Marcus Clapp
northeast.edu photo

MILES CITY, Mont. — Their early reputation as road warriors clearly paid off during one amazing trip to Montana last weekend.

Facing a top 20-ranked roadblock didn’t bother the Northeast Community (Neb.) College Hawks.

McCook Bison alum Marcus Clapp’s team beat Miles City once, 11-4, and then again 8-4 on Saturday to make some truly great history.

The Hawks are headed for this weekend’s NJCAA College World Series Division tourney in only their second year as a program.

Not only do they own an impressive 34-18 record, the Hawks will take a seven-game win streak into Saturday’s World Series opener against Monroe (N.Y.) Community College.

The Hawks are seeded seventh among 10 World Series teams, while those Monroe Tribunes (29-19) are No. 10.

All games are being played at David Allen Memorial Park in Enid, Okla.

It’s a fulfilling trip to finish a season that started with flood waters around Norfolk postponing several early-season games.

The entire Northeast Community College student population was evacuated for 24 hours where they stayed in area churches and other safe locations.

In early April, Clapp and his Hawks were still waiting for their first home game following 26 road or neutral-site contests.

“It’s by far the most frustrating season I’ve ever had as far as scheduling,” Clapp commented on April 11 to the McCook Gazette.

Yet the former Bison three-sport athlete was also clearly thankful conditions had improved.

The Hawks had already shown great tenacity, starting 15-11 and only getting better as their second season continued.

They shook off a 1-5 stretch just before the post-season and soon started this current seven-win streak.

Clapp has experienced plenty from playing college baseball at Louisiana Tech University, coaching in places from Minnesota to Arizona and starting this new baseball program.

Watch for details about the Hawks’ World Series contests next week.

Respond to this story

Posting a comment requires free registration: