McCook FCB Juniors show rivals 'we want it more'

The intensity was high as Kooper Rakes (above) puts on his brakes around third base with help from coach Konor Rakes (above right).

R.B. Headley/McCook Gazette

McCOOK, Neb. — Pop-up slide, pop-up slide!

Not on this Saturday.

Kooper Rakes went head-first, pancake-your-face in the dirt which even left big brother Konor smiling.

It was classic Pete Rose-style dirty work — but the First Central Bank Juniors definitely got this job done with a 5-4 walk-off win over rival Ogallala.

“Our guys showed heart, they just wanted the win more,” coach James Mockry declared after McCook took a late 4-1 lead, allowed three tying runs and then won anyway. “We’ve had some other close wins, but this one showed the toughness of this team.”

Indeed, the contest was a classic grinder for all seven humid innings at McCook’s Jaycees Complex.

The familiar foes fought to a 1-1 tie for almost five full innings.

Yet following Tripp Raile’s walk and one perfect single up the middle from Asher Wilson, Kooper Rakes doubled both teammates home.

Grady Miller — who also drew a walk — promptly motored home on Trey Tiller’s infield ground ball.

“Grady just finds a way to propel himself into a game with his talent,” Mockry observed. “Both he and Asher Wilson are constantly getting on base for us.”

Prophetic words because two innings later...the teams were deadlocked again at 4-4.

Facing an 0-2 count, Wilson put another ball into play and beat Ogallala’s throw to first base.

Wilson dodged one close pickoff throw before stealing second base one pitch later.

Now it was Miller’s turn to execute a play that didn’t go along quite perfectly with the gameplan.

“We were trying to move Asher to third and bring it up Kooper,” Mockry said.

But why stop there?

Rakes had already tripled besides his hustle double — so why not give him a break?

Miller bunted the ball towards third base where Ogallala’s pitcher fielded it and sent his throw whizzing past first base.

Perfect excecution!

Because Wilson trotted home for the game winner without any more Ogallala challenges.

The FCB Juniors had a truly gritty 5-4 triumph.

“Our guys find a way, and we have to keep finding ways to score runs,” the coach observed about his now 4-5 Legion team.

Raile scored two crucial runs while Cole Walter and Noah Mashek each delivered one hit.

Simon Garcia pitched the first three innings where he struck out seven visitors.