Seniors made final win at Jaycees one to clearly remember

McCook National Bank Senior Asher Wilson returned from injury to deliver two huge late hits during the 5-4 comeback win over visiting Loomis Thursday night at the Jaycees Complex.

R.B. Headley/McCook Gazette

McCOOK, Neb. — There was an opening lightning delay, sprinklers going off at 10 p.m with the mood already doused by a 4-1 Loomis lead and better than any firework lighting up McCook’s sky...

Another Kooper Rakes rocket soaring over the outfield fence.

All this and the home team still needed one more rally right before 11 p.m. Thursday night.

If indeed this was McCook Legion Post 203’s final Seniors game at the Jaycees Complex, it brought almost every drama except lit firecrackers landing on someone’s lap.

They weren’t hitting double digits like so many of their other 21 wins, but McCook National Bank found a way to reach the upcoming league championship game.

The Seniors prevailed because relief pitcher Kale Sattler had worked 4 2/3 innings while allowing just one Loomis hit.

He retired the final three visitors on a called third strike, swinging strike and a not-sizzling ground ball directly to shortstop/teammate Bryson Gullion.

Now the MNB boys were ready to finish this late-night comeback.

They had wiped out Loomis’ 4-1 advantage with another Rakes home run after Bryson Gullion’s single started this first MNB rally.

Sattler soon supported his fine pitching with a solid base hit that Loomis center fielder Jace Shukar could only retrieve off the grass.

Though Sattler soon stole second base, he really didn’t need to because Cole Davidson’s rip into left field became a game-tying triple.

Trenton Raile’s fly ball ended the fifth inning at 4-4 — but this recent team addition was far from finished.

Because two innings later, Rakes drew a walk and Asher Wilson smashed his second of two huge base hits.

Sattler bunted both teammates into scoring position, which prompted a Loomis intentional walk of strong hitter Davidson.

Raile only needed a second pitch to make this decision backire. He lined the baseball sharply into center field and nothing could stop Rakes from touching home with MNB’s game winner.

The Seniors (22-7 record) secured a spot in Sunday’s league championship game against Central City. McCook fell 9-1 at Memorial Park in Kearney.