Lucky 13-0 for Bison softball

HASTINGS -- The McCook High School Bison softball team used timely hitting to score the only two runs of the game while just scratching out four hits in a 2-0 victory at Hastings Tuesday.

The McCook varsity improved to 13-0.

"We actually hit the ball better than the four hits we got," said McCook coach Dale Lortz. "We hit several balls hard tonight, but they seemed to be right at the Hastings defensive players. We did come through with hits when we had runners in scoring position."

The fourth inning is when the Bison earned their first run.

With out out Michelle McKenna and Jessica Einspahr worked the Hastings pitcher for walks to put runners on first and second.

Andrea Soden hit a ground ball to third and Sarah Craw, running for McKenna, was forced out at third base. Einspahr then scored from secnd when Kirstie Hiatt got a base hit to left field and the throw was late to the plate.

In the seventh inning, McCook scored its second run when Soden led off the inning with a double between the left and center fielders.

She advanced to third on a fly ball by Hiatt to the center fielder and scored on a base hit by Marissa Wallace.

"Once again we got good pitching and very solid defense from our kids," Lortz said. "We had some very nice defensive plays tonight."

Taryn Placzek threw a complete game shutout. She allowed just one hit, which came in the bottom of the seventh inning. She also struck out five Hastings batters. "Taryn actually battled pretty hard for not really having the best command of her pitches," Lortz said. "Our defense really was a factor tonight with Jillian Bryant making two catches on line drives and Cody Korus making several plays."

The Bison are back in action on Saturday at the North Platte tournament. Play begins at noon with McCook taking on Lincoln North Star.

Bison JV 13,

Hastings 0

The McCook Bison junior varsity softball team remained undefeated with a 13-0 victory over Hastings Tuesday in a four-inning game that ended on the run rule.

The Bison JV is now 5-0.

The Bison JV pounded out 10 hits, with Hailee Koetter and Bailey Lauer getting two hits apiece.

Bailey's hits were both doubles and Danae McCorkle also added a double.

McCook scored two runs in the first inning, one in the second, six in the third and five in the fourth.

Marissa Wallace pitched four innings and struck out 10 of the 13 batters she faced. Hastings had only one batter reach first base.

"We all seemed to put the ball in play tonight against pitching which was not as good as we have seen," said McCook JV coach Dan Hilton. "Sometimes against that type of pitching we have a tendency to not focus well on the ball, but we did a nice job at the plate.

"Marissa did a nice job on the mound tonight and I couldn't tell if we played well in the field because we did not get many chances to make any plays."

The Bison JV travel to Chase County on Thursday for a 4 p.m. MT doubleheader.