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Danyel Neilson -
Lilly Kleven -
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May 8 MLA/C at Slayton (x2)
The MCC Rebel Softball team was at home for two games on Friday night. With the regular season coming to an end on May 14th in Slayton the Rebels would host the Wolverines of Mountain Lake Area Comfrey for two games as a makeup game that had to be pushed back two different times because of cold weather. The Wolverines have had a terrific season and their strong play continued on Friday.
For the first game of the day MCC were the visiting team on the scoreboard. The Rebels took the first lead of the game when Ava Deacon tripled and Reese Wajer bunted her home. The Wolverines put together 5 straight hits including a pair of doubles as the Wolverines would go ahead 5-1. The Wolverines scored a run in the fourth and two in the fith, but ended the game with a three run shot in bottom of the sixth for the 11-1 win over the Rebels. Calleigh Doeden and Kat Miller had a pair of hits for the Rebels with the top 6 hitters in the lineup getting at least one hit.
In the second game the Rebels were the home team. The Wolverines took control of the game early, scoring four runs in the first and second inning to go ahead 8-0. With a tournament on Saturday the Rebels rotated in their younger players early in the game for some varsity experience. Jaelynn Bittker got her first action in the circle in relief, striking out three hitters and walking two. Jaelyn Kline picked up a strong hit as did Emma Ahlquist and Charlie Paulzine. The Rebels put six runs on the board before the Wolverines took control of the game, taking the win 22 to 6.
Ashlyn Pfeiffer picked up two wins for the Wolverines on the day. The Wolverines with the two wins stay in a three way tie for first place in the Red Rock Conference race. MLAC, Adrian Area, and Edgerton/SWC are all 8-2 on the season. The losses for the Rebels ended their two game win streak.
May 9 MCC at Wabasso Tourney
The Murray County Central Rebel Softball team was in Wabasso on Saturday for tournament play. The Rebels would get the challenge of facing two of the best pitchers in the area during the tournament and would show some growth on the defensive side of the game. Although the scores didn’t go the Rebels’ way, they competed against some strong teams.
Game 1 of the day, the Rebels took on New Ulm Cathedral who came into the game at 15-2 on the season. The Greyhounds scored two runs in the first inning but the Rebels trailed 3-0 through the top of the 4th inning. New Ulm Cathedral ended the game in the 5th inning with a grand slam. Charlie Paulzine threw her best varsity innings of the season in the loss, but took some big steps. Jane Altermatt threw a no hitter, striking out 12 of the Rebel hitters.
In the second game of the day the Rebels played the Eagles of Laq Qui Parle Valley for the second time this season. Earlier the Rebels lost to the Eagles in Slayton but this time around the Rebels would get some revenge. Kate Blankenship threw 7 innings, striking out 5 walking 5 and giving up 8 hits. Calleigh Doeden led the bats with 3 hits in 4 at bats including a triple that scored 2 runs. Joelle Hellewell and Ava Deacon had two hits each with Hellewell driving in 4. MCC came through with a big four run in the top of the seventh inning with all runs coming in with two outs. The Rebels picked up a much needed 5th win of the year.
For the final game of the day the Rebels faced off against the BOLD Warriors who are led by pitcher Kaitlyn Flann. The Rebels trailed 2 to nothing after three innings with the Warriors scoring 1 run in each of the first two innings. The Warriors put together three runs in the fourth and fifth innings to get the 8-0 win. Emma Ahlquist and Hayden Miller got the teams two hits in the game as Flann struck out 11 hitters in 5 innings. The Wabasso Rabbits took first place in their tournament with New Ulm Cathedral taking second place. Edgerton/ SWC would place 3rd with Redwood Valley 4th and then BOLD.
The Rebels have one week of regular season play left. The Rebels will play in Edgerton on Tuesday and then at home Thursday against Adrian Area. The playoffs will begin May 19th with seeding coming up this Friday.
May 12 MCC at Edgerton/SWC
The MCC Softball team opened their final week of the regular season on Tuesday on the road in Edgerton. The Rebels took on the Flying Dutchmen in a Red Rock Conference matchup. Earlier this year Edgerton/ SWC beat the Rebels 137. On Tuesday the winds would play havoc with the Rebels and the home run was in play as the Flying Dutchmen would get the win.
The Flying Dutchmen scored four runs in the first inning with a pair of doubles and a walk, but when it looked like the Rebels might escape after giving up two runs Presley Van Dyke hit a two run homer to make the score 4-0. The Rebels allowed a single run in the second inning and didn’t allow a run in the third. With the Rebels trailing 5-2 in the fourth the Flying Dutchmen came alive once again. The fourth inning opened with a pair of errors on the Rebels that would allow a run to score. Then a single and a walk loaded the bases. Cali Wagner hit a grand slam to bring in four runs with one swing of the bat. Later in the inning the Flying Dutchmen got a three run homer from Addie Nibbelink. The Dutchmen finished the fourth inning, scoring 10 runs before the Rebels could get the final out.
The Rebels got just four hits in the game off Presely Van Dyke. Ava Deacon had two of the hits. Deacon drove in the Rebels first run on a base hit that was effected by the wind that would score Addie Dierks. Kate Blankenship doubled in the fourth inning and would later score on a single by Hayden Miller. The Rebels best chances to score came in the top of the 4th inning but the Rebels failed to come up with a big hit. The Rebels lost 15 to 2 in 5 innings.
Presely Van Dyke got the win, allowing 4 hits and 2 runs while striking out 10. Kate Blankenship took the loss for the Rebels allowing 5 runs and 4 hits in three innings while striking out 2. Ava Deacon had two of the Rebels 4 hits while Hayden Miller and Kate Blankenship had a hit each. The Dutchmen connected on 4 home runs including a grand slam, a three run homer, a two run shot, and a solo homer. MCC will finish the regular season on Thursday at home against Adrian Ellsworth.
