FCB Juniors claim No. 5 spot for state-qualifying tourney

The McCook First Central Bank Juniors have enjoyed road games and will be only seeded fifth among seven teams competing in area tournament play at Holdrege starting one week from today.

Rebecca Steward/Syndicate Publishing

HOLDREGE, Neb. — The McCook First National Bank Juniors will see Gothenburg Melons again when Class B Area tournament play starts on Friday, July 8.

McCook FCB (9-14) and Gothenurg split their two regular-season meetings with FCB winning the most recent contest in G-Burg.

They’ll collide next at Holdrege to begin the seven-team showdown for a Class B state tournament spot.

First pitch is set for 2:30 p.m. one week from today as top seed Holdrege hosts the double-elimination event.

Whoever wins will take on Holdrege Saturday at 7:30 p.m. Holdrege has earned a first-round bye.

The other first-round contests feature No. 3 Broken Bow vs. No. 6 Cozad (5 p.m. Friday) and No. 2 Minden vs. No. 7 Doniphan-Trumbull (7:30 p.m.).

Whoever wins the area tourney advances to Class B state at Wahoo staring Saturday, July 16.

The remaining tournament schedule:

Saturday, July 9

Elimination games (Games 5,6) at noon and 2:30 p.m. Winner’s bracket games (Games 7,8) at 5 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.

Sunday, July 10

Elimination games (Games 9, 10) at 2:30 and 5 p.m.; Winner’s bracket game (11) at 7:30 p.m.

Monday, July 11

Game 12 at 5 p.m.; Game 13 at 7:30 p.m.

Tuesday, July 12

Game 14: First championship game, 5 p.m.

If necessary, a second championship game would follow at approximately 7:30 p.m.