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MCC rallies late to top Kansas squad
Oh my, Yogi Berra would have a field day with the McCook Community College baseball team.
It definitely ain't over 'till it's over with the 2010 Indians. MCC scored six runs in the bottom of the eighth inning Tuesday, April 27, to pull out a 10-9 win over Colby (Kansas) Community College. The non-conference, nine-inning contest was played at the Jaycees Sports Complex.
Colby scored three runs in the top of the seventh inning, and two more in the eighth to build a comfortable 9-4 lead.
Not so fast.
The Indians had two outs when Kody Crescentini walked and Andrew Behan followed with a line-drive single to center field. The Colby defender bobbled the ball, and Crescentini raced to third and Behan scooted to second. Blake Vaughn walked to load the bases, and Nick Bertron followed with a walk to drive in a run. Behan then scored on a passed ball with Eric Montes at the plate. Montes then drove a single to left field, knocking in two runs as Bertron barely beat the throw to home plate to pull MCC within 9-8.
Brandon Pacheco hit a single to center field, and the McCook runners advanced to second and third when the Colby fielder bobbled the ball. Kyle Gamble gave the Indians the lead with a two-run single.
Hebert saves
Colby put the tying run aboard in the top of the ninth. Mike Hebert came on to pitch as MCC head coach Jon Olsen went through his pitching staff in the contest. Hebert recorded two strikeouts, then induced a ground ball for a force out at second base to preserve the comeback victory.
"We've been doing it all year," Coach Olsen said of the comebacks. "Sometimes we don't get the big hit to finish it off. It always seems like were always a run or two short. We had some young guys there that really came through with some big hits. It was great job by them. It was a lot of fun today. It was a good win.
"I think we had four or five hits in that last inning, scored six runs. We took advantage of a couple of free passes (walks). We just kept plugging away and kept doing what we needed to do, and finally got it done.
"We've got that attitude now, it's a lot different than it was earlier in the season, now we don't think we can lose a game -- and we can, don't get me wrong, we can -- but our mentality is we're not going to lose no matter what situation we're in. Again, I'm proud of the guys, they really battled and did a good job."
Speaking of comebacks, the Indians have won 24 of their last 34 games after an 0-14 start.
Colby scored four runs in the top of the fourth inning. McCook answered with single runs in the fourth, fifth and sixth frames to pull within 4-3.
Gamble drove in a run with a single in the fourth inning. Tommy Barnes dropped a bloop single behind the Colby first baseman in the fifth to drive in Vaughn. Matt Rohrig doubled in MCC's run in the sixth.
Colby scored three runs in the top of the seventh, thanks to McCook mishandling consecutive bunts, a bases-loaded hit by pitch, an infield error and a base hit. McCook added a run in the bottom of the inning to pull within 7-4 on a leadoff home run by Barnes. Colby came back with two runs in the eighth, with a two-out, two-run double, before MCC's six-run outburst in the bottom of the inning.
Seven MCC pitchers
Coach Olsen used seven pitchers in Tuesday's marathon. Alex Sharp picked up the win with just one inning of work, and Hebert recorded the save. Jesse Zeller, Tyler Peery, Jordan Krenik, Barnes and Tyler Vessey also saw pitching duty for the Indians.
Kyle Gamble led McCook with 3 hits, including a pair of doubles, with 3 runs batted in. Barnes had a triple and homer with 2 RBI. Montes also drove in 2 runs with 2 hits, including a double. Brandon Pacheco and Matt Rohrig each had 2 hits and an RBI.
The Indians are scheduled to conclude the Empire Conference portion of the regular-season schedule Wednesday at Northeastern Junior College in Sterling, Colorado. The single nine-inning contest is set to open at 3 p.m. CDT.
"Hopefully we can go out on top, and go from there," Coach Olsen said.
Region IX playoffs ahead
MCC, 14-15 in league play, has clinched one of four Region IX playoff berths. The Indians, 24-24 overall, could move up to the third seed in the playoffs with a win Wednesday and consecutive losses by Western Nebraska C.C. or Trinidad State (Colorado) Junior College.
WNCC (15-13) and Trinidad (14-13) are scheduled to meet Wednesday in a double-header Friday at Scottsbluff. Trinidad also has to play Otero (Colorado) J.C. Wednesday in a single nine-inning contest.
McCook has six more non-league road games scheduled this weekend as the Indians try to make up postponed contests.
MCC is scheduled to visit the Doane College junior varsity Thursday, April 29, for a double-header starting at 3 p.m. in Crete. The Indians will visit Southeast C.C. in Beatrice Friday, April 30, for two games (1 p.m. start), with a trip to Dodge City (Kansas) C.C. Saturday, May 1, for a double-header also starting at 1 p.m.
The best-of-three Region IX first-round playoff series are set to begin May 7. McCook will be on the road as either the third or fourth seed. The first-round playoff series winners advance to the playoff finals for another best-of-three series starting May 14.