REBELS SOFTBALL TEAM PLAYS WELL WITH THREE HOME GAMES IN A ROW

April 9 HLO/Fulda at MCC

The Murray County Central Rebel softball team was at home for the first time this season on Thursday afternoon. It was a cold day in Slayton, as the Coyotes of Heron Lake Okabena Fulda came to town looking to knock off the Rebels, while MCC was looking for their first win of the season. Each team would send out a senior to pitch, with Kate Blankenship starting for the Rebels against Addyson Hendel for the Coyotes. After a back and forth start to the game, the Rebels pulled away for the hard fought win.

The Coyotes took the early lead, as Lauren Hendel reached base via an error and later scored on a ground out to shortstop to plate the first run of the game. The Rebels answered back in the bottom of the first inning. Ava Deacon walked and Reese Wajer singled to put two runners on base. The Coyotes came through with a great defensive play. With a ground out to the pitcher, Deacon was thrown out at the plate. Kat Miller came through with a double to left field pulling the Rebels into a 1-1 tie.

The Coyotes reclaimed the lead with back to back hits by the Coyotes. A single to center field by Scholton and then Paxton Hendel doubled off the right field fence. The Rebels got out of the inning, not allowing another run. The Rebels answered back with two runs of their own to claim the lead. Lilly Kleven doubled to left center field and Addy Dierks reached base on an error that scored Kleven. Danyel Neilson ground out to first base later in the inning, that scored Dierks and the Rebels led 3-2.

The Rebels did not allow the Coyotes to score in the final five innings. HLOF loaded the bases with one out in the third inning, but a big strikeout and a line out back to the pitcher ended the inning with no runs scoring. The Rebels opened up the game in the bottom of the third. Reese Wajer walked and then scored on a Kate Blankenship triple to right field. Calleigh Doeden singled with one out to score Blankenship, putting MCC ahead 5-2. The Rebels would add three more runs to get the win 8-2.

Kate Blankenship pitched all seven inning for the Rebels, striking out 10 and walking 1. She allowed 5 hits in the game and 2 runs, but only 1 was earned. She picked up the win, her first of the season. Addyson Hendel took the loss, pitching six innings, striking out 2, walking six and allowing 6 earned runs. Kate Blankenship and Danyel Neilson had two hits each with Blankenship having a double and a triple with 1 RBI. Neilson drove in two runs in the game to lead the team. The Rebels are scheduled to play three games this coming week all in Slayton beginning on Monday.

April 13 LQPV at MCC

The MCC Rebel softball team opened a busy week at home Monday against the Lac Qui Parle Valley Eagles. The Eagles were 0-1 coming into the game while the Rebels were 1-1. This would turn into a hitters game as the two teams combined for 21 hits in the game, with both teams threatening to score each trip to the plate. In the end, the Eagles would hang on for the win.

The Eagles took the lead in the second inning, scoring on a single run while loading the bases before being retired. The Eagles posted three runs in each of the third and fourth inning. The top of the order led the way for LQPV, scoring six of the team’s seven runs. The Eagles got just one extra base hit, but they bunched their hits together to score runs. The Eagles did a great job hitting while behind in the count and with two outs. The Eagles used 10 hits and 5 walks to plate seven runs. MCC didn’t allow a run after the third inning, but the damage was done.

The Rebels left the bases loaded three times and another inning they left runners at sec- and third. MCC scored a run in the second inning when Ava Deacon singled in Lilly Kleven from third base, but with the bases loaded and 1 down, the Rebels couldn’t plate another run. MCC scored in the third inning Calleigh Doeden singled and stole second base. Charlie Paulzine grounded out to second base and Doeden advanced to third. She scored on a Lilly Kleven sacrifice fly to right field. The Rebels scored again in the fifth inning. Kat Miller singled. Then the Rebels loaded the bases with one out. Jaida Carlson had a pinch hit opportunity and drew a walk, bringing in Miller from third. The Rebels would fail to bring in another run leaving the bases loaded. MCC scored twice in the sixth inning. Ava Deacon singled and then advanced to third base on a Kate Blankenship double that missed being a homerun by inches. Calleigh Doeden singled in both runners as the Rebels got within 2. At 7-5 in the last inning, Addy Dierks singled to center and advanced to second on an error by the Eagles. MCC then popped out to second base and flew out to centerfield before the game ended on a Rebel strikeout. LQPV got the win 7-5. The game ended with the Eagles scoring 7 runs, on 10 hits, with 2 errors. The Rebels had 5 runs, on 11 hits, and 2 errors. Charlie Paulzine took the loss for the Rebels in the circle, allowing 4 runs in three innings on 3 walks and 6 hits allowed. Calleigh Doeden finished the game with 3 hits and 2 RBI’s with a walk. Kate Blankenship had two hits including a double. Ava Deacon had a pair of hits and an RBI in the losing effort. The Rebels will turn around on Tuesday and play a Red Rock Conference game against the RRCWWG Falcons.

April 14 RRC/WWG at MCC

It was not a pitchers dual in Slayton on Tuesday as the Rebel Girls Softball Team played their second Red Rock Conference game of the season. MCC played host to the 1-3 Red Rock Central Westbrook Walnut Grove Chargers. Both teams were looking for their second win of the season as the Rebels were 1-2 to open the season. In a game that was filled with 27 hits and 6 walks, runs were not on short supply.

Carli Ross got the start in the circle for the Falcons while Kate Blankenship got the start for the Rebels. The stats were pretty similar between the two. Blankenship allowed 13 hits while Ross allowed 14. Each pitcher walked 3 in the game. Blankenship had 2 strikeouts and Ross had 1. In the end the Rebels had the bigger hits in the game which would lead them to the win.

Ava Deacon had four hits in the game and in the leadoff spot that allowed the Rebels to use their running game. Kate Blankenship drove in three runs in the game but it was Kat Miller driving in 4 and Calleigh Doeden driving in two that helped the Rebels get the lead and keep it. The Rebels scored six runs in the fourth inning. Miller hit a three run homerun and Doeden followed a pitch later with a solo shot. The Rebels led 13 to 7 heading into the top of the seventh inning.

Leah VandeWeile hit her first career homerun, giving the Falcons hope with one out but trailing 13 to 10. The Falcons added one more run before Ava Deacon ended the game with a foul ball pop up to the Rebel catcher. MCC would get the win 13 to 11.

Kate Robinson picked up her second win of the season in the circle. Reese Wajer had a great day in the field retiring six Falcons on pop fly catches or ground ball outs. Kat Miller drove in four in the game, Blankenship 3, and Doeden 2. Ava Deacon also drove in a pair of runners in the game among her base hits. The Rebels will try to earn a winning streak when they host TMB on Thursday in Slayton.