MCC women shut out Region foe before rain hits

TRINIDAD, Colo. -- The McCook Community College softball team downed Lamar 6-0 Sunday morning but later rain came and postponed the two remaining Region IX Tournament games. MCC was to play an elimination game Sunday but because of forecasted weather in Trinidad the balance of the tournament will be moved to Adams State University in Alamosa, Colo., to take advantage of dry conditions and turf fields.

The Lady Indians will take on Western Nebraska at 12:30 p.m. (MT) Monday. The Cougars were a 5-3 winner over Otero Junior College Sunday in an elimination game.

The tournament will resume in Alamosa with top seeded Trinidad State playing No. 2 seed Northeastern Junior College at 10 a.m. (MT) Monday, followed by the MCC-Western Game. A win by the Lady Indians over Western would put them in a game against the loser of the Trinidad State/NJC game Monday at 4 p.m.

MCC opened the Region IX Tournament Saturday with a 6-1 win over Western Nebraska to send the Cougars to the consolation bracket of the double-elimination tournament. MCC lost to NJC 7-3 in the second game of the day Saturday. Western came back to beat Luna Community College in a Saturday elimination game and the Sunday win over Otero, 5-3.

On Sunday in Trinidad, the Lady Indians broke up a 2-0 game in the sixth inning with a four-run frame to back to the complete-game shutout pitching of sophomore Anna Wilcox (Victoria, British Columbia on the way to a 6-0 win over Lamar Community College. Freshman Taylor Thein (West Branch, Iowa) drove in three of the six runs.

The Lady Indians took a 2-0 lead in the second inning. Sidney Sansregret (sophomore, Surrey, British Columbia) walked to lead off the frame. Camryn Laird (sophomore, Pueblo, Colo.) bunted her to second base. Sansregret advanced to third on a wild pitch and scored on a two-out single from Thein. Thein stole second and third base and scored on a single from Alice Midiri (sophomore, Condove, Italy).

Wilcox handcuffed the Runnin’ Lopes offense limiting them to five hits, she walked one and struck out five.

The scored remained 2-0 until the MCC half of the sixth inning when Rae VanMilligan (Marion, Iowa) led off the inning with a double, followed by a two-run home run from Thein. Freshman Alexis Cortez (Aurora, Colo.) followed with a bunt single. A Lamar error and a walk loaded the bases. Freshman Ashland Baca walked to drive in the fifth run and a passed ball brought home the final run.

The Lady Indians had nine hits in the game with two-hit games from Thein and Midiri.

REGION IX TOURNAMENT

SATURDAY RESULTS (At Trinidad, Colo.)

Game 1 – Otero Junior College 9, Lamar Community College 8

Game 2 – Northeastern Junior College 17, Luna Community College 1

Game 3 – McCook Community College 6 Western Nebraska Community College 1

Game 4 – Trinidad State Junior College 9, Otero Junior College 5

Game 5 –Western Nebraska 6, Luna Community College 3 (Luna eliminated)

Game 6 – Northeastern Junior College 7, McCook Community College 3

SUNDAY RESULTS (At Trinidad, Colo.)

Game 7 – McCook 6, Lamar 0 (Lamar eliminated)

Game 8 – Western Nebraska 5, Otero Junior College 3, (Otero JC eliminated

Game 9 – (Championship Bracket) Trinidad State JC vs. Northeastern Junior College, PPD

Game 10 – Game 7 winner vs. 8 winner, PPD.

MONDAY’S REVISED SCHEDULE (All times MDT)

At Adams State University, Alamosa, Colo.

Game 9 – (Championship Bracket) Trinidad State JC vs. Northeastern Junior College, 10 a.m.

Game 10 – McCook Community College vs. Western Nebraska, 12:30 p.m.

Game 11 – Game 10 winner vs. loser of Game 9, 4 p.m.

TUESDAY SCHEDULE

Game 12 – Game 9 winner vs. Game 11 winner, 12:30 p.m.

Game 13 (If necessary) – Game 12 winner vs. Game 12 loser (if both teams only have one loss)