GIRLS START SOFTBALL SEASON WITH BUSY WEEK

MCC VS. RRC-WWG

The softball season got underway for the MCC Rebels last Thursday. The Rebels return an experienced team with some players having as much as three years of experience at the varsity level. The Rebels were looking to get the season off to a good start at home against Red Rock Conference foe, Red Rock Central Westbrook Walnut Grove.

Thea Schneider made the start for the Rebels and the junior got off to a great start. Schneider allowed just one run which came in the first inning. The Falcons would score on a strikeout by Addison Jenniges that was dropped and she reached first base. The Falcons followed it up with a single and walk. A passed ball would allow Jenniges to score for the only run of the game for RRC/ WWG. Schneider settled into the game, striking out 11 batters while walking just one. The Rebel’s defense was solid as the Falcons couldn’t get anything going over the final six innings of the game.

The Rebel offense got started in the first inning with a walk to Ava Deacon and a double to center field by Thea Schneider. Elyse Paulzine singled to right field, driving in Schneider to give the Rebels the lead 2-1. The Rebels would add another two runs in the second inning when Ava Deacon and Abby Loosbrock both reached base on walks and Thea Schneider doubled for the second time in the game, scoring both Rebel baserunners. In the 3rd inning, the Rebels would add to their lead with a Falcon error, a walk, and a double by Emmi Peltola to plate both runners and put the Rebels ahead 6-1. The Rebels blew things open in the sixth inning with three runs. A base hit by Peltola started the inning, followed by a couple of walks. Errors and a double by Elyse Paulzine would get the Rebels their final three runs, as MCC picked up the win 9-1.

The Rebels opened the season with a solid win and though things didn’t go exactly like they would want, it was a solid first game. Schneider did a great job on the mound and after the first inning the Rebel defense settled down. Schneider led the offense with 2 doubles and 3 RBIs. Emmi Peltola had a pair of hits including a double and two RBIs. Elyse Paulzine had two hits as the Rebels picked up a win. MCC would wrap up the week with a home game against the Panthers of TMB.

MCC VS. TMB

The MCC Rebels played game two of the softball season against the TMB Panthers on Friday afternoon. The Rebels and the Panthers have ended each others seasons the past two seasons with TMB beating the Rebels two years ago, while last year the Rebels ended the Panthers season. This non-conference matchup could be a key game for seedings down the road. The Rebels had a new lineup on Friday and it would pay off in an exciting win.

The Rebels, for the second straight game, fell behind in the first inning, when the Panthers took the lead on a walk to Brianna Duscher, double by Melaina Ankrum followed by a single by Braelynn Kirk. The Panthers came out to take a 2-0 lead. The Panthers lead wouldn’t last long, as MCC would strike back in the bottom of the first. With two outs in the inning, Thea Schneider tripled and then scored on an Abby Loosbrock single. Loosbrock would steal second base before Atalie Rosenbrook reached base on an error, and the Rebels would tie the game at 2-2.

The Rebels took the lead for the first time in the bottom of the fifth inning. Calleigh Doeden singled to center field, then stole second base a pitch later and scored on the Peyton DeGreeff single to left field. De-Greeff would run all the way to third base after the single rolled through the left fielder. Kate Blankenship extended the lead with a seeing eye ground ball up the middle for a hit. MCC led 4-2. The Rebels would score another run in the bottom of the 6th inning. An error in the 6th, put Elyse Paulzine on first base and she would be retired on a fielder’s choice at second base. Peyton DeGreeff singled to put runners at 1st and 2nd. Ava Deacon reached base on an error, plating Doeden, as the Rebels went to the final inning leading 5-1.

The Panthers would rally back in the top of the 7th, as Thea Schneider walked the first two batters before recording the first out of the inning with a strikeout. Jordyn Hanson doubled in a run to make the score 5-3 and Melaine Ankrum singled in two runners to tie the game at 5-5. The Rebels would need to win it in the 7th to avoid extra innings. The inning didn’t start well for the Rebels, with an error by the Panthers sandwiched by a strikeout and a popout. Calleigh Doeden then singled off the third base bag to put runners at 1st and 3rd. Doeden was allowed to steal second base to put runners at 2nd and 3rd. Peyton DeGreeff, who was having a good day in her first start of the season, hit a hard ground ball to shortstop and it wasn’t handled cleanly by the Panthers. The Rebels would score the game winning run 6-5.

The Rebels’ Thea Schneider picked up the win, pitching 7 innings, striking out 13 while walking 4. She allowed 6 hits and 5 runs. The Rebels took advantage of 6 Panther errors, combining them with 9 hits. The key to the Rebels win was the hitting of the bottom of the order, where the Rebels bottom three hitters in the lineup had 5 hits combined. Abby Loosbrock, Calleigh Doeden, and Peyton DeGreeff each had 2 hits in the game. The Rebels are now 2-0 on the season and have a big week coming up with a road game at Edgerton followed by home games against Adrian/Ellsworth and LQPV.

The MCC Rebels faced their toughest test of the season on Tuesday when they played in Edgerton against the Edgerton Southwest Minnesota Christian Flying Dutchmen the defending state champions. The Rebels played their first of three games during the week after starting the season 2 and 0. The Rebels would find out what they have to improve on after playing EDG/SWC.

The Rebels offense would get runners on base in this game. The Rebels collected 7 hits and 5 walks while getting one base runner on via error. What the Rebels struggled to do was drive in runs. MCC had one hit that would drive in a run but the Rebels would leave 11 runners on base. When you are playing a good team you need to come up with big hits to drive in runs and the Rebels didn’t do that. Calliegh Doeden had the lone RBI for the Rebels.

The Flying Dutchmen have an offense that puts pressure on the defense whether it’s a good eye at the plate or slap hitters that can utilize speed or hit the ball hard when the defense is in tight they make you make plays. EDG/SWC oddly started the game as the Rebels turned a first-inning double play that was negated by a catcher interference call that put two base runners on. The interference plus an error by the Rebels would lead to a five-run inning. The Rebels would allow eight hits in the game but would commit 7 errors. After the big first inning, the Flying Dutchmen would add single runs in the 4th, 5th, and 6th innings. Edgerton Southwest Christian would get the win 8-1.

Thea Schneider would take the loss for MCC in the circle. She pitched 6 innings striking out 4 and walking 6. She would allow 3 earned runs but 5 unearned runs would also score. The Rebels had 3 players collect two hits with Thea Schneider leading the way with a double and a single. Calleigh Doeden would have a double and a single with an RBI. Elize Paulzine would have a pair of singles. The Rebels will be back in action on Thursday and Friday against Adrian Ellsworth and then LQPV.