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Gritty MNB uses final 10-run rally to take down Longhorns
McCOOK, Neb — Moms who will remain anonymous discussed laundry detergent just moments before the McCook National Bank’s home game with Imperial Tuesday night.
How appropriate!
Every bit of grit, dirt, grind and focus was needed to clean up a 7-3 deficit into one very pretty final score for the home crowds:
MNB 13, Imperial 7.
“We need to learn to compete from pre-game warmups to first inning to the finish and not overlook anyone,” coach Konor Rakes said about his second home game as MNB head coach. “We kind of did that (overlook the foe) tonight. But these are competitive guys who have some grit.”
True grit overcame 13 walks to Imperial batters that helped build a 6-1 visitors lead which Conner Stromberger capped with a bases-loaded, three-RBI triple in the fourth inning.
“I’m not sure what to say about those (walks). They were mostly by guys who’ve thrown some quality innings for us,” coach Rakes said as the Seniors had returned from a busy four-game weekend in Ashland Friday through Sunday.
Senior Bo Schlegel restored control when he pitched four solid innings of relief, allowing just one more Imperial run and striking out seven.
The Seniors then started flexing their toughness as Asher Wilson doubled home Jaime Samaniego.
Kooper Rakes — who totaled nine RBIs in two games on Saturday — delivered another run-scoring sacrifice fly to score Wilson and bring MNB within 7-3.
Yet amazingly, the real McCook rally featured 10 unearned runs during an Ozzy Osbourne “crazy train” kind of sixth inning.
Even more amazing, the Seniors scored almost all those 10 runs with two outs.
Abel Wilson’s four-pitch walk started the frame with Cole Davidson earning his own free pass.
However, relief pitcher Stromberger struck out those next two MNB batters.
Bryson Gullion drew yet another four-pitch walk and the merry-go-round of madness was officially beginning to spin.
Kooper Rakes lofted one possible game-ending fly ball into fairly deep center — so deep it was dropped while Gullion and Davidson both motored home.
Wilson had already scored so MNB was now within 7-6.
Following a Koooooper stolen base, Kale Sattler connected to send one ground ball into the third baseman’s fielding range.
Oops. It happened again as this fielding error allowed Rakes to reach the magical dish and make it 7-7.
Ty Junker next reached on a dropped infield pop fly which seemed like another inning-ending out.
Instead, Sattler touched the plate for MNB’s first lead all game at 8-7.
What’s the old baseball adage?
“Put the ball in play and good things can happen...”
“That’s what we did,” coach Rakes confirmed.
Schlegel delivered a clean RBI-single to plate Junker and started the string of three consecutive MNB base hits.
Abel Wilson was on base again when Samaniego’s single near third bases scored two more runs for an 11-7 advantage.
The MNB Seniors even mixed in some tricky baserunning.
Asher Wilson started for second base, drew Imperial’s attention before Samaniego sprinted home with the 12th MNB run.
Ironically, the most impressive hit from Bryson Gullion was caught just a few feet from home-run range but MNB had complete control of this contest.
Overall, the Seniors totaled nine hits from eight players in their eighth game this season.
Imperial (0-1) saw Kaden Vogt pitch the first frames where he allowed only three runs. He also drew four of those 13 MNB pitcher walks.
Yet McCook moves on to busy action at the Jaycees Complex tonight.
They’ll resume a rain/lightning-postponed Monday contest vs. Holdrege at 5 p.m.
Holdrege was leading 1-0 in the second inning when the game was stopped.
Following this first game, North Platte will challenge MNB where an 8 p.m. first pitch is scheduled.