McCook tests Norris Titans, but Beatrice rocks

McCook Bison outfielders Carley Peters (left) and Savannah Donovan while be tracking softballs while having fun again at the Holdrege Invitational on Saturday.

R.B. Headley/McCook Gazette

HASTINGS, Neb. — McCook shook off a 15-run Beatrice first inning to play Norris much tougher Thursday afternoon, but the Bison dropped both Class B early-season tests.

“We didn’t show up for the first game,” coach Jason Cochran said about Beatrice’s 17-1 win.

The Orangemen ripped 16 hits with Reganne Henning homering and driving in a team-high five runs.

While ranked highly, Beatrice lost 13-3 to Hastings and 10-2 vs. Northwest on Saturday.

Senior Ashley Miller and junoir Tesa Nelson smashed doubles for the Bison (1-2 record) — but they only totaled three hits during that contest.

Nelson drove in senior Savannah Donovan — who singled — for McCook’s lone run.

Beatrice later shut out North Platte, 3-0, to even its season record at 3-3 on Monday.

Meanwhile, McCook recovered to tie the Norris Titans at 2-2 through two-and-a-half innings.

Senior Emma Kehler and junior Graci Nelson singled home the Bison runs.

Yet the Norris Titans (3-1 record) quickly delivered a seven-run third to take control.

The Titans held on for a 9-6 victory over MHS.

“We got up off the ground and started fighting back,” Cochran explained. “We see that we can compete with teams from the east — if we compete on every pitch.”

McCook closed within 9-4 when Donovan’s single sent both Tesa Nelson and Graci Nelson across home plate.

Sophomore Kennedy Walter clobbered a double which became the fifth Bison run thanks to Abbie Johnson’s RBI-single.

They delivered one more last-inning highlight with senior Natalie Roberts launching the first Bison HOME RUN of 2020. They play next at Holdrege on Saturday.