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Morgan Winter
MCC was on the road Friday in Wabasso to take on the Rabbits in a non-conference softball matchup. The Rabbits are a very well schooled team that was coming off a 15-1 win over Minnesota Valley Lutheran on Thursday. The Rabbits have a very balanced offense where they can hit with some power and mix in the bunt and run game. In this game, the Rabbits would use the bunt and run game with some terrific defense.
The Rebels faced a much tougher team on Friday than they did on Thursday and the Rabbits would say the same thing about the Rebels. Each team won in blowout fashion on Thursday. Friday, the Rebels would get more hits than the Rabbits but Wabasso was able to turn baserunners into runs by using their speed. Wabasso scored two runs in the third inning with single runs in the 5th and 6th. The Rabbits only collected three hits in the game and they were all in the first four innings. What the Rabbits did really well is run, turning walks into runs by stealing bases. When you hold a team to 3 hits and you walk 5 you hope it will get you a win. The Rabbits 4 runs would prove to be enough.
The Rebels at the plate had their chances to score but they had some tough luck. The Rebels three hardest hit balls of the day ended up being caught by the Rabbits. With runners on base, Morgan Winter got a base hit down the third base line which would have scored a run, but it hit the base and bounced up in the air staying on the infield. If the ball bounces over or past third base the runner at second scores. The Rebels stranded two base runners on base in the first and third innings. They also left runners in scoring position in the fifth and the sixth innings. A timely hit in any of those innings could have changed the Rebels fortunes, but instead, the Rebels take a 4-1 loss.
Thea Schneider took the loss for the Rebels, pitching 6 innings, allowing no earned runs. She also led the Rebels with 3 hits in the game. The Rebels defensive highlights include a couple of plays at the plate with Abby Loosbrock tagging out two runners, one on a wild pitch and the other on a great throw from left field by Ava Deacon. Emmi Peltola had a strong game in right field with three fly ball catches. The Rebels will be busy this week, weather permitting, with their first home game Tuesday against RRC/ WWG, Thursday on the road at Mountain Lake Area Comfrey, and Friday a double header in Cottonwood against Lakeview.
