McCook softball team earns host site for Monday's subdistrict

McCook senior Brooklynn Gillen (left) and first-base coach Amanda Einspahr high five after an early-season hit, but it could also represent the Bison reaching their goal today of hosting Monday's Class B subdistrict tournament.

R.B. Headley/McCook Gazette

McCOOK, Neb. — McCook High activities director Darin Nichols just made this announcement as Class B softball playoffs begin next week:

"Congratulations to the McCook Softball Team on hosting the NSAA Sub District Tournament on Monday. Games will begin at 2 p.m. with McCook vs Alliance, 4 p.m. with Gering vs Scottsbluff and the championship game 6 p.m. at McCook's Jaycees Complex.

NSAA Sub-District Admission Prices: The sub-district tournament is an NSAA-sponsored event. Therefore, every person is to be charged an admission fee. NSAA sub-district admission prices are $6 for adults, $5 for students. Only those individuals with NSAA courtesy passes or media credentials are to be admitted free.

The NSAA sub-district tournament will be a SINGLE-elimination format."

Subdistrict champions advance to best-of-three district showdowns where the eight Class B state tournament teams will be determined. The softball state tourneys are set for Hastings starting on Wednesday, Oct. 16.

The McCook Bison own a 22-6 record and are No. 9 among Class B power points.

Scottsbluff was the closest contender to host Monday's tourney. The Bearcats are currently 12th in Class B with a 19-9 record.

McCook beat the Bearcats, 9-1, on Thursday in Ogallala.

Gering owns a 19-10, No. 16 power ranking and is the subdistrict third seed.

Alliance has struggled at 7-22 and 38th among 40 Class B softball teams.

The Bison play one more game at Class C No. 1 St. Cecilia (23-2) Thursday night in Hastings — but that contest has no impact on these subdistrict pairings.

Besides the 9-1 beating of Scottsbluff, McCook has scored 12-0 and 18-3 victories over Alliance this season.

McCook blanked Gering, 8-0, for the Bison Invitational championship on Sept. 6.

The Bison will likely be traveling for district championship play if they win Monday's subdistrict.

Class B teams currently ahead of McCook are No. 1 Northwest (23-1 record), No. 2 Beatrice (22-4), No. 3 Blair (24-7), No. 4 Hastings (22-7), No. 5 Omaha Skutt (21-5), No. 6 Nebraska City (23-4), No. 7 Crete (19-7) and No. 8 Gretna East (15-12).