Indians explode for 52 runs in Saturday sweep
TRINIDAD, Colo. – The McCook Community College baseball team took advantage of a strong wind Saturday clubbing eight home runs in a sweep over Trinidad State College. MCC won 34-5 in five innings in Game 1 and won the series finale 18-2 in seven innings to complete the four-game sweep and move into a first-place tie in the Region IX standings.
In addition to the winds, rain interrupted the second game for about 90 minutes, but the Indians were able to push their winning streak to seven games and record their 32nd win of the year.
“It started today with our preparation,” said MCC Coach Jon Olsen. “I thought our pregame batting practice today was as good as it has been all year, and it seemed like we just couldn’t miss a barrel today when we were hitting.”
The Indians scored at least three runs in every inning of Game 1, banging out 29 hits and six home runs in five innings. Sophomore Tyler Reyburn (Frederick, Colo.) hit a pair of home runs and had 10 RBIs. His Mead High School teammate Dalton Berg went five-for-five with a homer and three RBIs and sophomore Hunter Southey (Auckland, New Zealand) went three-for-four with five runs scored, a homer and four RBIs.
Freshman Owen Weales (Bowmanville, Ontario) and Jakoby Hamer (Edmonton, Alberta) wielded the big bats in Game 2 as Weales hit a grand slam and drove in six runs and Hamer went three-for-five with a homer and four RBIs. Berg went three-for-five with two runs driven in.
The Indian offense had 42 hits over 12 innings Saturday, 12 extra-base hits including eight home runs.
“I also thought we pitched it really good all weekend,” said Olsen.
Trinidad State falls to 11-32 overall and 4-12 in the region.
MCC improves to 32-9 and moves into a first-place tie in the Region IX standings at 13-3, tied with Northeastern Junior College.
The Indians will begin a six-game home stand with a 3 p.m. game Tuesday against Colby. On Friday MCC welcomes Luna Community College to the Jaycees Sports Complex for the first of back-to-back doubleheaders. First pitch both days will be at noon.
“We have three more league weekends left and need to keep the momentum going,” said Olsen.
GAME 1 – McCook CC 34, Trinidad State 5 (5 innings): Owen Weales hit the first pitch of the game over the left field fence to set the stage for an offensive showcase for MCC. Hunter Southey drove in a run with a single and sophomore Chase Williams (Brampton, Ontario) singled in a run to put MCC up 3-0.
The Indians shelled TSJC for 13 runs in the second inning sending 16 hitters to the plate. It began with back-to-back walks to start the inning, and Tyler Reyburn hit a three-run home run to put MCC up 6-0. It was Reyburn’s first homer of the year. After one out, the next 11 MCC hitters reached base starting with six straight singles, followed by a hit batter, a single, a walk, a double and a three-run homer by Southey (his ninth) to make it a 16-0 MCC lead.
The Trojans scored three runs in the bottom of the second and MCC came back with four in their next at bat in the third inning, keyed by a three-run double off the bat of Jacoby Hamer to put MCC up 20-3.
The saturation bombing continued in the fourth inning as MCC sent 13 batters to the plate, scored nine more runs which included a grand slam by Reyburn and a two-run homer by Dalton Berg (his 13th) on the way to a 29-4 lead.
Freshman Lucas Munns (Toronto, Ontario) launched the final salvo with a three-run bomb in the fifth inning to cap a five-run inning to put the Indians up 34-4. The game ended after five innings because of the run rule.
The Indians offensive explosion included 29 hits with 21 singles, two doubles, six homers. MCC also drew nine walks and got hit twice by pitched balls.
Reyburn and Berg both had nine total bases. Reyburn drove in 10 runs with his first two homers of the year included among his three hits. Berg had five hits and three RBIs, Southey had three hits and four RBIs. Williams went three-for-four with two walks, three runs and three RBIs and freshman Kon Yoshimura (Nagasaki, Japan) went three-for-four.
Sophomore Tait Anderson (Auckland, New Zealand) pitched four innings to improve to 7-1 on the season. He allowed four earned runs and seven hits on one walk and six strikeouts. Sophomore Kaden Noble (Orillia, Ontario) pitched the fifth inning, allowing one run on two hits, a walk and two strikeouts.
“It was tough for Tait today because he had to sit so long through our long innings, but I thought he did a good of pounding the strike zone,” said Olsen.
GAME 2 – McCook CC 18, Trinidad State 2 (7 innings): Jakoby Hamer hit a solo homer in the first inning to ignite the second round of offensive fireworks.
The Indians sent 12 batters to the plate in the second inning scoring eight runs to lead 9-0. Owen Weales hit a grand slam in the inning (his sixth homer of the year), Dalton Berg had an RBI-double and freshman Kieren Cutler (Paradise, Newfoundland and Labrador) singled in a run.
After the MCC offense was retired in order in the third and fourth innings, the Indians scored twice in the fifth on a bases-loaded walk with Weales at the plate and an RBI-single by Tyler Reyburn to put MCC ahead 11-2.
Eleven more MCC players batted in a six-run sixth inning as the Indians scored on a sacrifice fly by Cutler, back-to-back bases loaded walks by Weales and Reyburn, a three-run double by Hamer and an RBI-single by Berg to make it an 18-2 game.
Freshman Mikah Targett (Sydney, New South Wales Australia) limited Trinidad to two runs on four hits, and three walks in four innings. He struck out five Trojans. Sophomore Tobey Cassino (Arvada, Colo.) pitched the final three innings, allowing no runs or hits with one walk and five strikeouts.
“Mikah had to sit through the rain delay but had such an efficient first and wanted to go back out, he did a good job of giving us three more innings,” said Olsen. “Then Tobey came in and had really good stuff.”
MCC had 13 hits and drew nine walks in the game. Weales had six RBI’s with his grand slam and two bases-loaded walks. Hamer went three-for-five with four RBIs and his 13th homer of the year. and Berg went three-for-five with two RBIs.
Up-to-date information about MCC baseball including up-to-date schedule and changes, livestream links for home games, rosters, photos, statistics and more can be found on the MCC Athletics website, www.mccindians.com