Rebels throw three shutouts en route to title

McCOOK, Neb. — There was no masking the Firecracker Tournament’s most impressive softball team in McCook last weekend.

From their opening 21-run blast to pitching three consecutive shutouts, McCook’s Rebels Black 14-and-under were sensational throughout four wins for their home fans at the Jaycees Complex.

“Yes, they played very well,” coach Denise Gillen said about the champion team of soon to be McCook Junior High eighth graders. “It was a lot of fun watching them.”

The Rebels rumbled around bases to 54 runs starting with a 21-3 trouncing of Gothenburg’s Angels — who recovered to place second among all 14-and-under teams.

They led 15-0 before one inning was even completed.

Yet these McCook girls also promoted strong social distancing on basepaths for their next three tournament foes.

The Rebels pitched a no-hitter, one-hitter and two-hitter en route to three consecutive shutouts.

Danika Havileck and Briley Morgan actually teamed to pitch one perfect game against Northeastern (Colo.) Gold.

Havlicek worked 2 2/3 innings, not walking a single batter while striking out four in McCook’s 16-0 victory.

A 13-0 blanking of Brush (Colo.) Beetdiggers featured Havlicek and Lacyn Keller allowing just one base hit.

Morgan threw all four innings during a 4-0 win over North Platte Bandits which was easily the Rebels’ closest tournament game.

Morgan walked two Bandits but also struck out six. Both she and Havlicek drilled doubles to highlight the Rebels’ four-run second inning.

The late Robert “Scott” Wacker would be proud as he helped create McCook’s first Rebels fastpitch softball teams in 1997.

McCook native Wacker died last Tuesday at Lincoln’s Bryan East Hospital with his wife, Bonnie, and three children nearby.

All three Rebels teams took a moment of silence together to honor Wacker during the Firecracker tourney.

The leading Rebels Black hitters from each Firecracker triumph:

McCook 21,

Gothenburg 3

Sydney Hodgson’s three-for-three ignited the Rebels domination all weekend. She drove in two runs and scored another.

Malia Hilker put down a bunt single to score Brooklynn Gillen with the Rebels’ first run of this tournament.

Following two walks, Morgan’s bases-clearing single made it 4-0 and McCook never looked back all weekend.

Hilker, Dani Johnson (three runs, three RBIs), and Paige Bortner (three runs, RBI) delivered two hits apiece.

The RBIs were even more prolific. Besides three from Morgan and Johnson, these Rebels each tallied two: Hilker, Havlicek, Hodgson, Roslyn Weimers, Lacyn Keller and Bailee Fawver.

Gillen, Johnson and Bortner scored three runs each.

McCook 16,

Northeastern 0

What? The Rebels tallied only 10 runs in the first inning?

Still not bad as Hilker singled and doubled during that opening explosion.

Gillen began a t hreee-for-three hitting performance (two RBIs, run) with Hilker (three RBIs, run) and Havlicek (two runs, two RBIs) two hits each.Morgan, Havileck, Hodgson, Weimers and Megan Miller scored two runs each.

McCook 4,

N.P. Bandits 0

Morgan’s double started the decisive four-run second inning besides pitching her two-hit shutout.

Havlicek promptly singled before walks and Bandit errors set up the remaining Rebels rally.

Morgan, Havlicek, Wiemers and Fawver all scored runs. Weimers delivered the only RBI.

Another highlight was the Rebels playing error-less defense through all three shutouts.

McCook 13,

Brush 0

The Rebels never lost intensity, unleashing 12 hits in Sunday’s finale including one triple from Gillen and Weimers’ double.

They also built a 10-0 lead through just one inning.

Hodgson (two RBIs, run) and Johnson (run, RBI) each totaled two hits along with Gillen (two runs).

Morgan and Havlicek scored two runs apiece.

The Rebels improved their overall season record to 9-2. Watch for more results.