GIRLS CONTINUE STRONG SEASON START

MCC vs. Adrian Ellsworth Thursday, April 11

The Murray County Central Rebel Softball team played their fourth game of the season this past Thursday. The Rebels hosted the Dragons of Adrian Ellsworth in a Red Rock Conference. The Rebels were hoping not to start a losing streak after falling to Edgerton Southwest Minnesota Christian on Tuesday night. The Dragons were hoping to pick up their first win of the season against the Rebels, but it wasn’t to be, as the Rebels picked up a much needed win.

The Dragons scored first against the Rebels in the second inning. Brekkyn Dreesen would reach base on an error and advance to second base on a passed ball and then to third on a wild pitch. A Jenniges grounded out to short and the Dragons led 1-0. The Dragons were then held without another run until the sixth inning, when Dreesen singled and advanced to second on an error. A Rebel throwing error allowed her to come around and score, The Dragons also scored three runs in the top of the six inning when Dreesen ripped a double to deep right centerfield. The double would plate three runs for the Dragons who finished the game with a total of 5.

MCC has been slow to start on offense this season, falling behind in each of their games this last week. The Rebels scored their first three runs of the game in the bottom of the third. The Rebels started the inning with a base hit by Calleigh Doeden, who has started the season strong for the Rebels. Kate Blankenship then reached base on a fielders choice, which turned Doeden into the first out of the inning. With two outs, Emmi Peltola hit a pop fly to center that was dropped, scoring a run and putting Peltola on first. She would soon steal second base as Thea Schneider was walked. The bases were loaded when Abby Loosbrock was hit by a pitch. Atalie Rosenbrook hit a low line drive into left field to bring in two runners. In the fourth inning, the Rebels opened the at bat with singles by Hailey Peschges and Calleigh Doeden. Blankenship hit into a fielders choice to put runners at first and second. Runners advanced to second and third on a fielders choice by Ava Deacon. Emmi Peltola hit a line drive to second base that was not caught, and two more runs scored. The Rebels sixth and final run would come from an Abby Loosbrock double and a ground out be Elyse Paulzine. The Rebels would need all six of their runs to get the win 6 to 5.

The Rebels took advantage of the Dragon errors to score three of their six runs and all of the Rebels runs were unearned. Ataltie Rosenbrook and Calliegh Doeden had two hits with each player hitting a double. Rosenbrook had a pair of RBI’s. The Rebels out hit the Dragons 7 to 4, but both teams gave up more runs than they should have because of errors. Thea Schneider got the win, allowing zero earned runs while striking out 9. The Rebel win was their second in the Red Rock Conference and proved to be a good bounce back after losing to the Flying Dutchmen.

MCC vs. Lac Qui Parle Valley Eagles on Friday, April 12

The MCC Softball team played host to the Lac Qui Parle Valley Eagles on Friday in a non-conference matchup. The Eagles are coached by MCC Alum Scott Sawatzky. The Rebels would get their bats going in this game in the fourth and fifth innings, as the Rebels scored 13 runs on their way to their biggest scoring day of the season, putting together backto- back wins to end the week.

The Eagles and the Rebels have had some of the same issues this season, especially when it comes to defense. If you play good defense and you don’t give the opponent extra bases or extra base runners, you make yourself a much tougher team to beat. Both teams have struggled in that area and this game was no different. The Rebels gave 5 errors and the Eagles six. Thea Schneider started for the Rebels and went all five innings, striking out 4 and walking 1. She allowed 3 runs, but all 3 runs were unearned, meaning an error figured into each of the runs. The Eagles scored two runs in the second inning and another in the fourth but it wasn’t enough.

The Rebels were able to turn the 6 Eagles errors, along with 7 hits into a total of 13 runs. The Rebels scored a single run in the third inning and then 6 in the fourth as the Rebels took their first lead. The Rebels helped their cause by drawing 6 walks while striking out just three times. MCC would end the game in the bottom of the fifth inning when Abby Loosbrock hit the team’s first home run of the season and it just so happened to be a grand slam. The four runs scored on the play put the Rebels ahead 133, ending the game in the 5th.

Thea Schneider got the win, pitching a solid game for the Rebels and not allowing the Eagles to put together big innings at the plate. MCC, on the other hand, got nice production up and down the lineup. Nearly every position in the batting order got on base, either by a base hit or by drawing a walk. The Eagles six errors aided the Rebels in their big innings. Abby Loosbrock and Emmi Peltola each had two hits, with Loosbrock driving in 4 and Peltola 2. Kate Blankenship had 2 RBIs and Calliegh Doeden had an RBI and a double in the game. The Rebels will have a big game, in terms of the Red Rock Conference, coming up this week with games against RTR, HLOF, and RRC/WWG.