REBELS FINISH BUSY WEEK WITH TOURNEY IN JACKSON

The MCC Rebels traveled to take on three strong opponents on Saturday (May 14) at their annual tournament in Jackson. The Rebels would face three strong opponents in JCC, Worthington, and New York Mills. The Rebels were missing much of their bench and a pair of starters due to a school trip. The Rebels infield would feature a new 3rd basemen and a new second basemen play the Rebels would have to throw their second and third pitchers. The Rebels would have some moments of good play but they would struggle with the tough pitching they saw early which would lead to a strong final effort against New York Mills.

The Rebels began with Jackson County Central who put the word small into the term small ball. The Huskies used their speed and unrelenting running style to the field and the Rebels struggled to adjust when Mary Lou McNab was not getting strikeouts. The Huskies had one really hard hit in the game and that was late in the contest but they took advantage of the Rebels’ inexperienced infield who had three players who had played less than ten innings this season at their positions. The Rebels struggled at the plate and though they made some hard contact throughout the game they managed just one hit in the game. The Rebels would lose 17-0.

Game number two would feature Hailey Grimmius an Augustana-bound pitcher for the Worthington Trojans. She would start the game off with the longest home run I have seen hit in a high school softball game. The take of the tape put the solo shot at between 320 to 250 feet. She would drive in another two runs with a double in the fifth inning and would finish the game going three for four a triple shy of the cycle. That would be plenty of offense as the Trojan senior would strike out 12 batters in five innings while allowing 3 hits. The Rebels would fall 11-0 in another run shortened game.

The final game of the day was the best game of the day for the Rebels. Mary Lou McNab made her second start of the day and she would face a tough New York Mills team. After holding the Eagles scoreless in the first inning they would break out with a five-run second inning four runs coming on a Grand Slam to center field by the ninth batter in the lineup. The Rebels would have to fight from behind and they would. The Rebels would get a single run in the third inning and would trail 6 to 2 after four innings. The Rebels would get within 1 in the fifth inning. Mary Lou McNab would get on via an error. She would score on a Jayda Hellewell hit two batters later. With Zoey Iverson stealing two bases with two outs and Morgan Winter walking, the Rebels brought freshman Taylor Larson to the plate and she would come through with a base hit to right field to drive in Iverson. Bridgette Herrig would pinch hit and she would deliver a line drive to right field for an RBI single that would plate Winter and move Larson to third. Alyssa Boerboom would re-enter the game in time to sprint home on an Abby Loosbrock double to leftfield to get the Rebels within one 8-7. The Rebels would tie the game at 9 8th inning on a line drive up the middle that McNab couldn’t bring in off her glove. The Rebels’ best chance to score in the 8th came when McNab led off with a bomb to centerfield which would have been a home run if not for the Eagle centerfielder bringing the ball in at the fence.

The Rebels’ record dropped to 8-8 with the three losses on Saturday, That said the Rebels have an opportunity to grow from their performances. Mary Lou McNab and Taylor Larson pitched for the Rebels and both had moments but also showed where they have to improve. The inexperienced infield did show for the Rebels but it also showed some promise with plays that were made. MCC finished the day strong, coming up just short against a top team. The Rebels will finish the regular season on Thursday against Adrian Ellsworth and then its off to the playoffs where the Rebels will likely play TMB for a second time.