Indians close out home slate with win over Colby

The McCook Community College Baseball team concluded the regular season home schedule Tuesday with a 10-8 win over Colby Community College. The Indians went 16-6 this season at the Jaycees Sports Complex.

"It was good to go out on a win in our last game at home this year," said MCC Coach Jon Olsen. "I'm happy for our sophomores that got to finish it off, they have had a good run."

 Five sophomores shared pitching duties and sophomores had eight of the nine hits including a three-hit, five-RBI game from Luke Bies (La Vista).

"I thought we got great performances on the mound from Zack Lane, Dylan Huddle, Jackson Finder and Ethan Badcock, and Luke had a big day for us at the plate," said Olsen.

The Indians scored four runs in the first inning with sophomore Bies delivering a three-run double.

Colby got a run back in the second against sophomore starter Zack Lane (Phoenix, Ariz.) who pitched the first two innings, allowing two hits, one walk, one run and two strikeouts.

Blake Benallo (sophomore, Thornton, Colo.) came on for the third but left after one-third of an inning. He faced seven batters but Colby scored five times to lead 6-4.

Bies drove in a run in the third on fielder's choice but the Trojans got that run back in the fourth on a sacrifice fly to lead 7-5.

MCC tied the game in the fourth on a double by Michael Quick (sophomore, Oshawa, Ontario), an RBI-single by sophomore Blake Dale (Riverton, Wyo.) and the tying run scored on a double-play ball.

Indian reliever Dylan Huddle (Arvada, Colo.) pitched 3.2 innings and held Colby to two hits and two walks and just one run while striking out five.

Colby took an 8-7 lead in the seventh inning with a run off Jackson Finder (Lincoln Pius HS) but MCC scored three runs in the bottom of the inning with a solo home run by Bies to tie the game and a two-out double by Jake Quinlivan (sophomore, Sydney, Australia) and a bases-loaded walk to Will Edwards (sophomore, Sydney, Australia).

Finder allowed one unearned run in two innings on one hit, a walk and a strikeout.

Sophomore Ethan Badcock (Adelaide, Australia) closed out the game in the ninth and picked up the save allowing one hit and striking out one. It was his league-leading sixth save of the season.

Bies fueled the MCC offense with three hits and five RBIs, Edwards also had a two-hit game.

"I told our guys it's fun to enjoy that one but we have so much more in front of us that our goals are, they are all right in front of us the next few weeks and now we've got to get ready to go for the weekend," said Olsen.

MCC is 18-6 in the Empire League and 28-22 overall. The Indians are in second place in the Region IX standings. Southeast Community College leads Region IX at 21-3 and the Bobcats host MCC this weekend with doubleheaders Friday and Saturday.

Otero is 17-7, just a game back of MCC and Western Nebraska is in fourth place at 14-10. Only the top six of eight Region IX teams will advance to the post season tournament and the top two seeds will get a first-round by in the single-game, double elimination tournament which starts May 9 in Colorado Springs.

All the latest information for MCC baseball including up-to-date schedule and changes as well as statistics, rosters and photos can be found on the MCC Athletics website, www.mccindians.com

REGION IX (Empire League) STANDINGS
                                   W-L    OVERALL
Southeast CC              21-3      34-16
McCook                      18-6      28-21
Otero JC                    17-7       28-16
Western Nebraska     14-10      23-28
Northeastern JC        10-14      24-24
Lamar                        9-15      19-31
Trinidad State             6-18      14-35
Luna CC                     1-23       3-45

THURSDAY GAMES
Otero at Lamar, 1 game
Western Nebraska at NJC, 1 game

FRIDAY GAMES
MCC at Southeast, 2 games (1, 4 p.m.)
Trinidad State at Luna, 2 games
NJC at Western Nebraska, 2 games
Lamar at Otero, 2 games

SATURDAY GAMES
MCC at Southeast, 2 games (noon, 3 p.m.)
Trinidad State at Luna, 2 games
Western Nebraska at NJC, 1 game
Otero at Lamar, 1 game

REGION IX TOURNAMENT
May 9-12
At Colorado Springs, Colo.
Top 6 teams play in a single game/double-elimination tournament. The top two teams receive a first round bye, No. 3 seed plays No. 6 with the winner to play the No. 2 seed. No. 4 plays No. five with the winner to face the top seed.