Force is strong with McCook softball team

A pair of McCook Rebel Gray infielders close in one McCook Force runner before she can reach third base during their doubleheader at the Jaycees Complex Tuesday night. However, the Force did win both contests while stretching their fastpitch softball winning win streak to five.

R.B. Headley/McCook Gazette

McCOOK, Neb. — Chilly winds blowing across McCook’s Jaycees Complex couldn’t stop a Force heating up at just the right time Tuesday night.

The McCook Force 14-and-under girls softball team made it five straight wins by scoring 25 runs during their 15-8, 10-6 wins over McCook Rebels Gray.

Coach Joe Johnson’s team is now 13-10-1 in just their third season.

Game one was filled with extra-base power as Abbie Johnson homered and Faith Raburn doubled twice.

Olivia Eschlimann and Katie Taylor also crushed two-base hits — meaning only three of the Force’s eight total hits were singles.

Carly Peters delivered two more hits with Raburn, Johnson and Taylor all driving home two runs.

They needed all these cool heroics to offset the Rebels’ own eight-hit barrage.

Trinity Raburn singled, doubled and scored two runs.

Kendall Miller added two hits with two RBIs.

Yet a truly hot start before the weather cooled featured seven first-inning McCook Force runs.

Brooke Evans showed great toughness as she still pitched all four innings for the Rebels — but rally attempts fell just short.

Game two brought an 18-hit Force attack starting at the top. Leadoff girl Isabel Raburn doubled twice in this time, singled, scored two and batted home another run.

Faith Raburn (two runs, RBI) and Eschliman (two RBIs, run) also went three-for-three.

M.K. Simeon homered and doubled to join in more extra-base Force fun.

Bailey Ahlemeyer and Faith Raburn both tripled. Johnson added one more double.

The Force pitching was more frightening as Isabel Raburn, Johnson and Faith Raburn teamed to permit only three Rebel hits.

Carsyn Hanes doubled, walked and eventually scored three runs to keep those Rebels within striking range.

Miller doubled again, but the only other hit was a Kelsey Redfield single in this breezy nightcap.

The sweep followed three Force wins last week by a 41-9 total.