Historic season for MCC softball ends with loss to Wallace State

YUMA, Ariz. – The McCook Community College softball team's historic run in the National Junior College Athletic Association Division 1 World Series came to an end Thursday with a 10-2 loss in five innings to Wallace State Community College.

"What an amazing run for these girls," said MCC Coach Mike Mendenhall. "I couldn't be more happy with the way they came out and competed against some of the best teams in the country."

Thursday's loss came in the "Elite Eight" of the 20-team tournament. MCC ends the season at 51-11 and a 3-2 mark in its first-ever trip to the D1 College World Series.

The week began for the 16th seeded Lady Indians with an opening-round 40-2 loss to No. 17 Crowder Community College (Neosho, Mo.) On Tuesday night MCC upset No. 2 McLennan Community College (Waco, Texas) 11-6. On Wednesday topped10th seeded Trinity Valley (Athens, Texas) 8-3 to open the day, then won 6-3 Wednesday night over No. 8 Butler Community College (El Dorado, Kan.).

"This week proves that we belong right up there with any of the top teams in the country," said Mendenhall.

MCC took a quick lead Thursday as freshman Paige Warren (Victoria, British Columbia) led off the game for the Lady Indians with a single, then stole second base (her 52nd steal of the season) and scored on a one-out double by freshman Payton Kinsley (Didsbury, Alberta). It was Kinsley's 86th RBI of the season and sixth of the tournament.

Starting pitcher Sadie Kahl (sophomore, Calgary, Alberta) shut down the Lions on one hit in the bottom of the first but the team from Hanceville, Ala., responded in the second to score twice on a leadoff walk, a single, a sacrifice fly, a stolen base and a two-run single to right field.

WSCC added three more in the third with a one out single, an MCC error, a walk and a steal of home on a double steal with the runner at first tagged out. Then the Lions hit a two-run homer to take a 5-1 lead.

Kahl was relieved after the home run, responsible for five runs on five hits, two walks and no strikeouts. Freshman Kaliyah St. Amand (Duncan, British Columbia) took over in the pitching circle. The Lions added a run in the fourth to lead 6-1.

The Lady Indians got a one-out solo home run by freshman Audrey Reeves (Sterling, Colo.) in the fourth (her third of the season) but it would be the final hit of the game for MCC.

Wallace State scored four runs in the fifth with one out on a pair of singles, a double and a three-run home run to end the game on the eight-run rule.

St. Amand allowed five runs on five hits, two walks and a strikeout in 1.2 innings pitched.

Wallace State improved to 50-14 and will play No. 12 Chipola (the loser of the first championship bracket game)
at 8 p.m.

"I would like to thank everyone that supported us throughout the season and so many people who have stepped up in the past couple weeks in a lot of ways to help us out make this trip to Arizona," said Mendenhall.

This was the final game for nine sophomores: Laila Gutierrez (Seminole, Texas): Kendree Kern (LaSalle, Colo.); Kaylee Smith (Calgary, Alberta); Angela Banzet (Surrey, British Columbia); Rocio Mascorro (Brownsville, Texas); Anna Elliott (Calgary, Alberta); Lexi Knapp (Berthoud, Colo.); Sadie Kahl (Calgary, Alberta. Ayana Goodwin (Broomfield, Colo.), was unable to travel with the team because of a death in her family.

"I want thank all of the sophomores who bought into the program and lived up to the expectations," said Mendenhall. "This is a tremendous group of young ladies that are going to be very successful in life."