GIRLS PLAY 5 SOFTBALL GAMES IN BUSY 5-DAY STRETCH

Thursday, May 9 MCC at HLO/Fulda MCC 10 HLO/F 0

The MCC Rebel Softball team was on the road on Thursday afternoon, as they continued their Red Rock Conference Schedule against the Coyotes of Heron Lake Okabena Fulda. The Rebels beat the Coyotes by 15 runs in their first meeting in Slayton earlier this season and were looking to continue a six-game winning streak. The Rebels pitching would stand out on Thursday, as the Rebels didn’t allow a hit in MCC’s 7th straight win.

Thea Schneider has been the workhorse in the circle for the Rebels this season, but with a Saturday tournament on the schedule the Rebels were hoping to take a few innings off her arm on Thursday and they did just that. Schneider dominated through three innings, striking out eight batters while walking one and hitting one. The Coyotes struck out eight times in the three innings with the only out coming on the basepaths recorded on a groundout to first base. Taylor Larson came into the game in relief in the fourth inning to pitch her first innings of the season. She struck out three batters in two innings and also didn’t allow a hit. The Rebels took care of business in a game that you don’t want to slip up in.

At the plate, the Rebels took advantage of walks and seven Coyote errors to pull away. MCC scored 2 runs in the first, 2 runs in the second, 3 in the third, and another 3 runs in the fourth, building a ten-to-nothing lead. Ava Deacon, who had a good week against the conference opponents last week, had a pair of hits and 2 RBIs in the game. Elyze Paulzine doubled in a pair of runs in the game as MCC got the ten-run ruled win and their 7th straight win.

The Rebels dominated the game, as they should, led by the pitching and defense which was strong. Thea Schneider picked up the win, but Larson stepped in to throw a couple of key innings, after missing much of the season. The Rebels combined for nine hits, led by Deacon with two. Kate Blankenship was strong at the plate with a pair of hits and three runs scored. The bottom three in the Rebels lineup had four hits, 3 RBIs, and 5 runs scored. MCC would get one day off before heading to the Wabasso Invitational Softball tournament on Saturday.

Saturday May 11 Tournament in Wabasso Edgerton/SWC 3 MCC 1 Redwood Valley 7 MCC 6 TMB 9 MCC 7

The MCC Rebel Softball team was 9-1 heading into Saturday’s tournament in Wabasso. The tournament featured some of the top teams in Section 3A softball, with Edg/SWC, Wabasso, BOLD, LQPV, MCC, and TMB along with KMS and Redwood Valley from Section 3AA. The Rebels opened the tournament with Edgerton Southwest Minnesota Christian, in a game that would also count for the two teams in their Red Rock Conference standings. The Rebels followed the Dutchmen, with games against Redwood Valley and TMB.

The day would develop into a frustrating one for the Rebels, but they played a great game against EDG/SWC. The Rebels allowed two runs in the top of the first inning before Thea Schneider and the Rebel defense held the Dutchmen to just one run over the final six innings. Schneider was throwing strikes and the Rebels were making plays, from Kate Blankenship at third base to Reese Wajer at second. Ava Deacon and Emmi Peltola threw out baserunners in the game as MCC kept it close. The Rebels struggled to group their hits and scored just one run. Morgan Winter led the Rebels with two hits and Abby Loosbrock had a ringing shot to left field for a base hit but MCC would manage just one run, losing 3 to 1.

The second game of the day, the Rebels took on Redwood Valley. The Cardinals have struggled this season, but early on, the Rebels looked solid. The defense continued it’s strong play and Kate Blankenship made her first start of the season and was throwing well. MCC built a 7 to 2 lead heading to the sixth inning. MCC recorded the first two outs of the inning on three pitches and then a couple of seeing-eye ground balls and an infield hit would open up a big inning. Before the dust settled, the Cardinals had five runs and had taken the lead. MCC scored a run in the sixth inning but the Rebels failed to tie the game up and MCC took the loss 7 to 6. The Rebels had 11 hits in the game, led by Abby Loosbrock, Thea Schneider, Atalie Rosenbrook, and Kate Blankenship, but costly base running mistakes prevented the win.

The Rebels wrapped up the day against the TMB Panthers, a team they beat earlier this season in Slayton. The Rebels once again hit the ball well, collecting 11 hits in the game, but the Panthers made some key plays to limit runs and the Panthers walked only a single batter in the game. The Rebels led six to four heading to the bottom of the fourth inning. That is when the Rebel defense, that had been so strong all day, began to fall apart. The Panthers put the ball in play and the Rebels struggled to make on-target throws. The Rebels committed five errors in the game, which would aid the Panthers in scoring half their runs. The game was tied at 7-7 heading to the sixth inning and the Rebels failed to score in the top half of the inning after a single and a walk with one out. The Panthers scored two in the home half of the sixth inning, on two singles, followed by a fielder’s choice and an error. The Panthers got the win, 9 to 7.

The Rebels entered the day on a seven-game winning streak and finished the day on a three-game losing streak. The Rebels found they can play some really good defense but they also showed they need to stay focused in every situation. There is never such a thing as too many runs and base running errors, even those that don’t result in outs, can be very costly. The Rebels will wrap up the season this week with four games beginning on Monday in Cottonwood against Lakeview. The Rebels will host the RTR Knights for a doubleheader on Thursday and finish the regular season Friday in Ellsworth against Adrian Area.

Monday, May 13 Lakeview at MCC MCC 10 Lakeview 3

The MCC Rebel softball team was back in action on Monday as they traveled to Cottonwood to play the Lakers in a makeup game from earlier this season. The Rebels and the Lakers were playing the third game of the day in Cottonwood, as Minneota/ Canby and KMS were also playing catchup due to postponed games during the year. The Rebels were playing their first night game in several years. MCC was looking to break the three-game losing streak that began in Wabasso this past weekend. The Rebels got a win they desperately needed.

The Rebels did not play their best game this year, but they did score early and often and they built a lead that the Lakers never threatened after the fourth inning. Lakeview scored a run in the first inning on a couple of missed plays by the Rebels and then the Lakers scored two runs, with two outs in the second inning, on another two Rebel errors. MCC committed 5 errors in the game, 3 in the first two innings. Thea Schneider settled into a rhythm and dominated the final five innings, allowing just 2 hits and striking out six. The Lakers didn’t score the final five innings.

The Rebel’s bats were alive early, as the team scored 3 runs in the first and second innings. MCC opened the game with doubles by Ava Deacon and Emmi Peltola. Thea Schneider reached base on an error, as two runners crossed the plate and her run later scored on a Morgan Winter single to left field. The Rebels scored three more runs in the second inning. Kate Blankenship would reach base on a single and Ava Deacon walked. Blankenship scored on a passed ball. Thea Schneider came to the plate with two outs and hit a line drive to center field for a base hit, but the ball rolled past the centerfielder to the fence and Schneider would go all the way around the bases to make the score 6-3. Schneider also doubled later in the game, for an RBI, as the Rebels got the win, 10 to 3.

Thea Schneider had a huge game for the Rebels, first, at the plate going 2 for 4 with a double and 3 RBIs. Kate Blankenship went 2 for 3 at the plate with an RBI and a run scored. MCC combined for 9 hits as a team, with 10 runs scored. Schneider pitched all 7 innings, giving up 0 earned runs, while striking out 11, walking one and hitting one. She allowed 4 hits and 3 unearned runs. The Rebels needed the win and would get two days to prepare for a double header with the RTR Knights.