Kearney Runza bakes up big win over MNB

Logan Barenberg (left) covers first base while McCook National Bank teammate James Mockery hustles to assist if needed during Wednesday's Legion baseball game against the Kearney Runza Seniors in Kearney. Tanner Johnson (right) and Kearney captured a 13-0 home victory.

Courtesy Photo

KEARNEY, Neb. — What does that say when a pitcher loses 13-0 but actually lowers his earned-run average?

The short-handed McCook National Bank Seniors left their best fielding skills at home Wednesday afternoon.

Consider MNB nearly committed six errors which nearly matched Runza’s seven total hits.

Though Kearney crushed some laser shots late, all 13 runs were still officially unearned in this 13-0 home win.

“The first three innings, I thought he (James Mockry) was real good,” Kearney assistant coach Chris Pocock said during a KGFW post-game interview. “He started throwing more fastballs in the zone because he was tiring a bit, and we started smacking it around a bit.”

MNB suffered only its second defeat in nine games (7-2) while Kearney Runza (11-4) recovered from two losses on Sunday against Omaha-area foes.

The MNB boys were missing leadoff batter/center fielder Cameryn Berry, who’s preparing to play in Saturday’s Nebraska Shrine Bowl All-Star football game at Kearney.

Yet they still brought some spicy onions like Mockry (.483 average, 11 RBIs), Konor Rakes (.476, nine runs scored) and Logan Barenberg (.381, nine runs, eight RBIs).

Only Barenberg delivered a single after Kearney pitchers retired those first 13 MNB batters.

Runza’s three pitchers didn’t permit a walk while striking out six.

“A lot of strikes there. We did not pitch well enough or honestly hit well enough at Omaha on Sunday,” Pocock explained. “But today was really good. They were obviously shorthanded with just 10 guys, but McCook is very athletic and has been winning ballgames.”

MNB still stayed even with Kearney until a four-run Runza third inning featuring two McCook fielding errors.

Mason Casper’s clutch single turned 5-0 into 7-0 and Connor Clevenger later crushed another two-RBI hit to the outfield fence.

Joey Gonzales relieved on the mound and did retire Kearney’s last batter with one pitch.

MNB will regroup and get ready for a Tuesday doubleheader at Norton, Kan.

MNB cash box

McCOOK (7-2)

Lost to Kearney Runza 13-0

AB R H RBI

Mockry 2 0 0 0

Gonzales 2 0 0 0

Rakes 2 0 0 0

Chauncy 2 0 0 0

Barenberg 2 0 1 0

Stevens 1 0 0 0

Derauf 1 0 0 0

Bredvick 2 0 0 0

Armstrong 1 0 0 0

Jacobs 1 0 0 0

LP: Mockry (0-1).

James Mockry struck out six in 3 1/3 innings and all 13 Kearney Runza runs were unearned because of six MNB errors. Mockry, Joey Gonzales and Colton Stevens allowed seven Kearney hits at Memorial Field.