Rebels go 5-1 in coach's final tourney, 35-9 for season

The McCook Rebels 18-and-under softball team shows their emotions while honoring retiring coach Lance Gillen during their annual Firecreackers Tournament Saturday night. Rebels players above from left were Megan Miller, Dani Johnson, Malia HIlker, Roslyn Wiemers, Briley Morgan, Danika Havlicek, Paige Bortner and Brooklynn Gillen. Most had played for the Rebels with Gillen coaching since 8 years old-and-under. Lance shares a hug (below with assistant coach and former McCook softball star Kelsey Gillen.

Maryann Kassner/McCook Gazette

McCOOK, Neb. — The McCook Rebels outscored six foes, 60-6, while sending coach Lance Gillen to happy retirement with a strong 5-1 Firecracker Classic fast-pitch performance last weekend.

These 18-and-under girls posted a 35-9 record overall this season, winning multiple tournaments and placing fourth overall among Class B teams at state last month.

The Rebels delivered four shutouts during Firecracker play as they won their first four contests by a 45-0 total.

Maryann Kassner/McCook Gazette

They broke the Broken Bow Spirit, 14-2, in Sunday’s semifinal before losing a 4-1 title game to Sensations from North Platte.

The Sensations — which include Cambridge High 2024 grad Bailee Ahlmeyer — gaveMcCook three of its nine defeats this season.

Here are quick recaps from all the Rebels’ Firecracker contests:

Younger McCook Rebels in the 14-and-under and 12-under divisions (above, below) competed in the Firecracker Classic.

Maryann Kassner/McCook Gazette

Rebels 10,

Brush (Colo.) 0

Lacyn Keller pitched a one-hitter with four strikeouts and plunked three Brush batters to make sure everyone was awake Saturday morning.

Maryann Kassner/McCook Gazette

The Rebels needed just four hits because nine walks helped plate their 10 runs.

Dani Johnson doubled and Malia Hilker scored two runs. Paige Bortner, Sydney Hodgson and Bailee Fawver each drove home one RBI.

Rebels 6,

Broken Bow 0

McCook scored two, two and two runs again through the first three frames to decide Saturday’s second pool-play game.

The Rebels doubled their hit total from game one as seven players teamed for eight.

Johnson doubled, singled and scored one run.

Danika Havlicek also hit a double while driving in two runs.

Meanwhile, Briley Morgan made her own eight in the strikeout column. She matched Keller’s one-hitter though did walk six.

Rebels 16,

Alliance 0

The only Alliance Aftershock was not managing a single hit against Keller Saturday evening.

She retired nine of 10 batters, fanning five and just one walk from a perfect game.

Meanwhile, the Rebels unleashed an awesome 14 hits highlighted by Hodgson’s three-for-three with five RBIs.

Hodgson tripled besides two singles. Bortner also went three-for-three, drilling two doubles and scoring three times besides two RBI. Keller added two more hits and Fawver batted in three Rebels.

Rebels 13,

McCook Prodigy 0

Byanka Tyan singled for the Prodigy’s hit while Hilker and Morgan both mashed triples.

It was Hilker going three-for-three, scoring three runs and three RBIs. Keller clobbered a double and plated two.

Brooklynn Gillen scored three runs after reaching base and Bortner touched home twice. Havlicek pitched two innings of the one-hitter.

Rebels 14,

Broken Bow 2

McCook’s five extra-base hits offset the first opposing runs allowed all tournament.

Brooklynn Gillen went three-for-three, joining Wiemers and Havlicek who doubled. Wiemers totaled five RBIs.

Morgan tripled again as did Bortner. Keller collected two more hits.

Sensations 4,

Rebels 1

Morgan and Havlicek only allowed two hits, but three Rebels errors proved costly. They totaled five hits vs. pitcher Hannah Devlin. Gillen and Hilker both had two.