REBEL SOFTBALL TEAM ENDS SEASON LOSING TO BOLD

The Murray County Central Rebel Softball season came to an end on Thursday in the Section 3A playoffs. The Rebels played in Edgerton against the BOLD Warriors in the opening round of the tournament. The Rebels won nine of their first ten games this season, but struggled over the final two weeks, losing seven of their last eight games by two runs or less. Thursday, the Rebels played another thrilling game that came down to the final batter of the game, but the Rebels would lose 5 to 4.

Thea Schneider got the start for the Rebels in the circle and the Junior pitched a solid game, but didn’t have her best location. The BOLD Warriors drew five walks and connected on seven hits in the game. Schneider struck out five, but with the Rebels committing 5 errors, the Warriors scored three earned runs and two unearned. Emma Flann, the Warriors catcher had a great day, connecting on one hit and two walks. She scored three runs in the game and drove in another. The Warriors scored five runs, enough for the win.

The offense for the Rebels this season has been up and down. The Rebels have plenty of girls who can hit the ball. MCC has struggled to start quickly and change their approach from game to game. On Thursday, the Rebels had as many hits as the Warriors, with seven. Four of those hits were extra base hits, with two doubles and two triples. The problem for MCC was, they didn’t draw a single walk during the game and they struck out a total of 8 times. The Rebels trailed 5 to 2 heading to the bottom of the seventh inning and they attempted to rally. Atalie Rosenbrook doubled to open the inning and Calleigh Doeden doubled with one out to score her. Kate Blankenship singled to score Doeden and the Rebels were down by one. Ava Deacon and Emmi Peltola would reach base on the only two errors committed by BOLD in the game. The bases were loaded with Thea Schneider and Morgan Winter due up and just one out. Schneider hit a ground ball back to the pitcher who threw to home plate for the force out. With two outs, Morgan Winter, who already had two hits in the game, ground out back to the pitcher and the Rebels fell, 5 to 4.

The Rebels were led at the plate by Morgan Winter and Kate Blankenship who each had two hits. Winter had a triple and scored a run in the game. Blankenship scored a run and drove in a run for the Rebels. Atalie Rosenbrook and Calleigh Doeden each had doubles for the Rebels, while Ava Deacon had a triple and an RBI. The Rebels finish the season at 10-8 and a third place finish in the Red Rock Conference. MCC had so many opportunities to win close games over the final two weeks, but just couldn’t come through with the big hit at the plate or a big play in the field to stop a run from scoring. The Rebels will lose four seniors to graduation: Abby Loosbrock, Atalie Rosenbrook, Grace Buesing, and Morgan Winter. The Rebels do return six key starters and a chance to build on this past season.

Kate Blankenship