MCC softball hosting World Series qualifier; starts Friday

The McCook Community College softball team won its first ever Region IX title Sunday beating Northeastern Junior College 6-4. After winning all three games in the tournament, the team moves on to host the Plains District best-of-three championship series starting Friday at 3 p.m. against Butler Community College. The second game will be at noon Saturday followed by Game 3 if necessary.

This is the first ever Region IX championship for MCC Softball. The team improves to 42-19 with the win.

“I am incredibly proud of what this group of players that were out there today accomplished working together,” said MCC Coach Kevin Kaalberg.

On Sunday, NJC broke open a scoreless tie with two runs in the fourth inning, but MCC responded immediately.

“They didn’t get rattled when they fell behind, they just continued to work and believe in themselves,” Kaalberg said.

Ashland Baca (sophomore, Byers, Colo.) doubled to lead off the bottom of the fourth inning and came home on a double by Tyler Mooring (freshman, Santa Clara, Utah), who scored on an NJC error.

MCC took a 4-2 lead in the fifth inning when Nevaeh Ogden (freshman, Littleton, Colo.) led off with a bunt single and Taylor Thein (sophomore, West Branch, Iowa) homered to left. It was her ninth home run of the year. After two outs, Mooring launched a solo home run to center field to make it a 5-2 MCC lead. This was also Mooring’s ninth homer of the year.

The Plainswomen responded with a double and a two run homer in the sixth to cut deficit to 5-4.

Avery O'Neil (sophomore, Ellsworth, Wis.) pitched the first six innings for MCC and allowed two earned runs on four hits. She didn’t walk a hitter and struck out five.

With one out in the MCC sixth, pitch hitter Alyssa Winter (freshman, Lexington) lined a home run to center to put MCC up 6-4.

Anna Wilcox (sophomore, Victoria, British Columbia) came on in the seventh. She struck out the first batter, gave up a single to the second, struck out the third hitter and induced a championship-clinching groundball to first base.

MCC out-hit NJC 8-5. Mooring led the team with three hits.

“These fourteen players deserve all the credit for what this team was able to accomplish,” Kaalberg said.

That includes hosting the best-of-three Plains District Championship Series starting Friday at 3 p.m. with the second game Saturday at noon followed by Game 3 if necessary.

MCC is 20-4 this season at the Jaycees Sports Complex.

Butler is the Region VI champion and was ranked sixth in the latest NCAA DI Softball Poll and is 46-2 with a 21-game winning streak.

The winner goes to the Division I World Series in Yuma, Ariz. May 24-28.

For all the up-to-date information on MCC softball this season including, schedules, statistics, rosters and photos, please visit the official website of MCC Athletics at: https://mccookcc.prestosports.com/landing/index

POST SEASON SOFBALL SCHEDULE

REGION IX TOURNAMENT

DOUBLE ELIMINATION

At McCook May 6-8

FRIDAY RESULTS

Northeastern Junior College 9, Western Nebraska 7

Trinidad State 5, Otero Junior College 1

McCook CC 5, Northeastern JC 1

Western Nebraska 7, Otero JC (Otero eliminated)

SATURDAY RESULTS

WINNER’S BRACKET

Game 5 – McCook 6, Trinidad State 4

ELIMINATION GAMES

Game 6 – Northeastern JC 6, Western Nebraska 3 (Western Nebraska eliminated)

Game 7 – Northeastern JC 4, Trinidad State 2, 8 innings (Trinidad State eliminated)

SUNDAY RESULTS

Game 8 – McCook (41-19) 6, Northeastern JC 4 (NJC eliminated)

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PLAINS CONFERENCE CHAMPIONSHIP

At McCook

(Best-of-three series)

FRIDAY, 3 p.m. -- Butler Community College at McCook CC

SATURDAY, Noon -- Butler Community College at McCook CC

SATURDAY, 2:30 p.m. (Game 3 if necessary)