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Rebels' awesome week leads from OKC to district victories
NORTH PLATTE, Neb. — All gas and endless amounts of diamond fuel have driven the McCook Rebels through an amazing road-trip week.
First, these 16-and-under softball girls ventured into Oklahoma City where the nation’s greatest eight NCAA teams were playing the College World Series.
The Rebels observed two CWS contests, but they were far busier in a 550-team OKC “Road To The Show” fastpitch tournament.
They zoomed into pool play and — oh no! — top teams like Centex Buzz, Texas, and the Oklahoma Athletics were ready.
“We were maybe a little rusty,” coach Lance Gillen said about the Rebels’ 1-3 record during pool play Saturday-Sunday.
Yet these McCook Rebels are returning Nebraska 14-and-under Class C state champions.
They’ve battled through adversity before and nobody in OKC could keep these Rebels down for long.
They dropped the Rocky Mountain Altitude, 9-2, in a pool play finale as Danika Havlicek ripped two hits, scored twice and drove home two more runs.
Malia Hilker also went two-for-two while Briley Morgan smacked two singles with two RBIs. They advanced into the 40-team Silver tourney bracket and quickly silenced Pueblo (Colo.) Azteca, 10-0.
Morgan pitched three no-hit innings before Brooklyn Gillen’s big hit — a HOME RUN — capped the mercy-rule conquest.
Gillen batted in three runs to go with scoring three. Dani Johnson added two more RBIs.
Now New Mexico Impact felt the tremors of a Rebels team starting to make contact.
“Our hitting is getting better,” coach Gillen said.
Indeed. They drilled nine hits during an 8-0 triumph which secured a Silver bracket championship shot.
Sydney Hodgson knocked around New Mexico pitches for two hits, two RBIs.
Brooklyn Gillen singled, doubled and scored another run.
Havlicek didn’t allow the Impact to round any bases. She threw four shutout innings, scattering two hits and four walks.
Perhaps a more powerful number? The Impact floundered with five errors to no Rebel defensive flubs.
“The key is always to not give any free bases,” coach Gillen said. “Our pitchers did a good job of throwing strikes and letting our defense play.”
The Rebels dropped that Silver title game, 10-6, to nearby Nebraska Echoes.
McCook nearly erased a late 10-2 deficit as Lacyn Keller tripled and drove home three Rebel runs.
Hilker totaled two hits to help the Rebels match that Echo total at 7-7.
The Echoes held on but were certainly impressed with these Rebels from southwest Nebraska.
Both teams posed for a group photo after their title game in OKC.
“Huge shout out to the McCook Rebels!,” an Echoes Twitter post proclaimed. “Classy coaches, players and fans! Both teams represented Nebraska well in Oklahoma.”
The Rebels returned home — but only for one night.
On Wednesday, they motored north to North Platte where a district/state-qualifying tournament awaited.
They didn’t start strong against the Cozad Classics, who held a 3-0 lead with only three outs to go in this opener.
Roslyn Wiemers roped a line-drive hit into left and Havlicek then put down one perfect bunt single.
Rally time! Or maybe not? The next two Rebels struck out.
No problem. Brooklyn Gillen found another way to cause havoc when she was hit by a pitch.
With bases now loaded, Hilker faced two strikes as she fouled-fouled-fouled and fouled off four potential game-ending strikes.
The classic moment now belonged to McCook because — BOOM! — Hilker crushed a bases-clearing three-RBI triple.
Hodgson didn’t give Cozad a chance to recover. She doubled into left field and Hilker scored for a 4-3 victory.
“We just never quit,” coach Gillen said.
The Rebels even played a second game Wednesday and blanked North Platte’s Belles, 9-0.
Hodgson homered while Gillen and Hilker both doubled for seven of McCook’s nine RBIs.
Morgan allowed only three N.P. hits in four innings.
The Rebels returned Thursday where a brief rain delay led to losing 5-2 against those same host Belles.
However, they responded brilliantly again during Thursday’s ultimate district finale.
Morgan pitched five no-hit innings and the defense didn’t commit one error.
The Rebels also put 4-2-3 spots on that scoreboard in three consecutive frames.
Havlicek singled, doubled and drove in three.
Johnson delivered two hits which scored another two Rebel runs.
Wiemers and Gillen both went two-for-three while teaming to score three.
More than enough for the Rebels to clinch a state tournament spot next month thanks to this second 9-0 district win over the host Belles.
Megan Miller and Bailee Fawver were two other key contributors on this district champion squad.
Yet the Rebels aren’t even finished this week.
They’ll travel to Kearney next for Cornhusker State Games softball play on Saturday and Sunday. The Rebels are scheduled to play four more games.