McCook girls take down Standing Bear with Bison alum

HASTINGS, Neb. — McCook’s top four hitters teamed for eight hits, eight runs and nine RBI in a 10-3 varsity softball win over Lincoln Standing Bear Thursday.

The Bison also achieved extra bases on six of their 10 hits against McCook High grad Megan Ruppert’s second-year Standing Bear program.

Standing Bear is unofficially 2-6 this season, according to maxpreps. com. The Grizzlies lost 16-13 to North Platte Thursday evening.

Senior Brooklynn Gillen homered again as did the hot-corner hitting machine in senior third baseman Paige Bortner.

Bortner, seniors Malia Hilker and Lacyn Keller all drove doubles past Grizzlies’ grasps.

Senior Danika Havlicek mixed in an always entertaining triple — meaning six of the 10 McCook hits turned into extra bases.

The Grizzlies would have enjoyed half that many hits total against Bison No. 1 pitcher Briley Morgan.

Morgan followed her three-hit shutout on Tuesday by permitting two hits Thursday. Only one Standing Bear was earned because the Bison defense was charged with three errors.

Morgan struck out eight after fanning 13 Haymakers Tuesday evening.

Gillen, Keller, Bortner and senior Malia Hilker each totaled two hits to top that potent McCook lineup.

It was Hilker’s first-inning, two-run single that spotted the Bison an early 3-0 advantage.

Standing Bear closed within 3-2, but Morgan pitched a 1-2-3 third before Bortner lined her solo home run over the center-field fence.

Again, the Grizzlies clawed within 4-3 through 3 1/2 frames.

Yet Havlicek’s triple ignited the huge five-run Bison fourth inning.

She scored thanks to Morgan’s RBI-rond ball.

With two outs, No. 9 batter Sydney Hodgson lined a single into left.

Gillen singled to set up Keller’s crushing two-RBI double which made it Bison 7, Grizzlies 3.

Bortner and Hilker both promptly drilled their own doubles for three in a row as the margin reached 9-3.

Gillen homered to plate the 10th and final Bison tally.

Bortner added a pair of stolen bases.

The Bison now are set to host Saturday’s home invitational at McCook’s Jaycees Complex (9 a.m. start). A full schedule appeared on Thursday.