Lady Indian Softball looking to take another step forward
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The season begins this weekend in Oklahoma as the McCook Community College softball team take on Northern Oklahoma College-Tonkawa in Enid, Okla. Friday and against Northern Oklahoma-Tonkawa on Saturday. MCC’s home-opener is scheduled for March 16 against Northeastern Junior College.
MCC returns nine sophomores from a team that went 33-19 in the regular season, went 13-11 in region and gained the No. 3 seed in the post-season tournament where they lost a best-of-three game series against Otero College 2-1.
The team, under third-year coach Mike Mendenhall, adds 10 freshmen and is looking to take the next step and reclaim the Region IX title, which MCC last won in 2022. Mendenhall and assistant Rachel Conroy have guided the Lady Indians to 30-win seasons in both of the previous seasons finishing 31-28 in 2023 and 34-21 last season. Freshman Lainey Schmidt, McCook takes over as student manager.
MCC will play 24 games on the road before the first home game on March 16 against Northeastern Junior College. That starts an eight-game home stand than runs through the end of March.
ALL-REGION, ALL JUCO RETURNERS
MCC returns two players who were named to the all-Region IX 9 team. Anna Elliott was named first team outfielder and Lexi Knapp received honorable mention as a pitcher-outfielder.
Elliott, Calgary, Alberta, batted .370 with 12 doubles, four triples, nine home runs, 15 stolen bases and 49 RBIs in 51 games. She had a .417 on-base average and slugged .660.
“We’re expecting another all-region type of year from Anna, she had a really solid year offensively as a freshman and is very good defensively and a great leader in outfield,” said Mendenhall.
Knapp, Berthoud, Colo., topped the Lady Indians offensively with a .472 batting average and .525 on-base average. She hit 11 home runs and was co-leader in RBIs with 69. She was third on the team in innings pitched, appearing in 15 games with a 5-4 record. Knapp struck out 53 hitters in 52 innings of work.
“With that offensive firepower she had last year, posting one of the biggest offensive years in our history, we’re hoping to add to her role in the pitching circle, she’s had a few injuries but we’re expecting pretty big numbers out of her playing first base,” said Mendenhall.
Elliott and Knapp were also named to the Omaha World-Herald's all JUCO Midlands team along with pitcher Sadie Kahl, catcher Laila Gutierrez.
Kahl, 5-11 pitcher from Calgary, Alberta, started 22 games as a freshman going 14-7 with a 4.43 E.R.A. She struck out 109 hitters in 120 innings. At the plate, she batted .466 with a .510 on-base average.
“Sadi Kahl, really worked hard since last season and has gained 4 mph on her velocity,” said Mendenhall. “She’s a self-made player, and it has opened up the doors for her to continue her career – I’m getting emails from colleges left and right about her – so we’re expecting big year out of her offensively and pitching, because I think she’s worked herself into better shape and has focused on improving her endurance too.”
Gutierrez (Seminole, Texas) began the season as an infielder but became the team’s primary catcher with injuries. She batted .384 and slugged .605 and led the team with 20 doubles and 47 stolen bases.
“She is a spark plug with a big personality and a great leader. She had a heck of a year,” said Mendenhall. “We lost Graci (Nelson) early so Laila ended up catching most every game after that and put up good offensive numbers so she’s back at shortstop this year and will lead our defense and we’re excited for her.”
OTHER RETURNERS
Ayana Goodwin, (Broomfield, Colo.) played in 46 games last season, mostly at second base. At the plate she hit .405 with 19 steals.
“She came close to being named all-region, and played the entire year and only struck out 10 times. She had a great year, played solid defensively and can run – which is nice about this team because we have a bunch of speed,” said Mendenhall.
Anglea Banzett (Surrey, British Columbia) took over in centerfield as a freshman, and was the only player who started all 55 games. She hit .374 with a .484 on-base average and was second on the team with 25 stolen bases.
“She is an incredible defensive player and will lead the outfield again, she’s a slapper with a high on-base percentage, draws a lot of walks, can run the bases, communicates well on defense and overall is a great teammate and great person,” said Mendenhall.
Infielder Rocio Mascorro, (Brownsville, Texas) hit 407 in 86 at bats as a freshman and slugged .709 with 17 extra-base hits.
“If she’s hitting, she’ll be in the lineup,” said Mendenhall. “She lacked confidence last year and put in some work at first base and we’re expecting a lot from her and excited for her to have a good season.”
Kaylee Smith (Calgary, Alberta) appeared in 18 games at third base and outfield and hit .366 in 41 at bats with a .480 on-base average.
“For now we put her back to third base and she has gotten significantly better since her freshman year and will get her looks at third base,” said Mendenhall.
Kendree Kern (LaSalle, Colo.) appeared in 19 games last season and batted .410 playing the infield.
“She has had injuries her entire softball life and has gotten through some adversity which hindered her movement, but she is a worker and will find time at third base,” said Mendenhall.
FRESHMEN CATCHERS
Of the 10 incoming freshmen, three are catchers and four are pitchers.
Three freshmen could see time behind the plate in Payton Kinsley (Didsbury, Alberta), Cassidy Fenske (Gibbons, Alberta), and Peytann Weiland (Aurora, Colo.).
“Payton Kinsley will do a large chunk of catching, she has a lot of pop in her bat and we’re looking at her in the cleanup spot to start the season,” said Mendenhall.
The coach said Wieland competing at catcher and a utility spot has done a nice job with and brings a positive attitude in practice.
“She is always willing to help pitchers who want extra work,” said Mendenhall. “She is constantly improving and asks a lot of questions and working on the mental aspect of the game and will find time behind plate.”
Finke is an “under-the radar player” according to her coach who calls her one of top hitters during the fall.
“She will have the chance to play if she can keep hitting, but right now she may have her best opportunity in the outfield,” said Mendenhall. “She does a nice job of catching, she had arm issues early but is back healthier now and working hard to move up the depth chart.”
NEW PITCHERS
Four freshmen bring pitching experience to the Lady Indians: Kaliyah St. Amand (Duncan, British Columbia); Olivia Moorhead (Hershey); Olivia Pollon (Tisdale, Saskatchewan) and Paige Warren (Victoria, British Columbia).
“Kaliyah has been doing a lot of pitching for us and has become a workhorse – No. 2 or 3 on depth chart – she compliments Sadie very well and I like that contrast to keep hitters off balance,” said Mendenhall. “She’s one of the better pitchers, also plays outfield and might see time at both positions.”
Moorhead, the lone Nebraska player on the roster, pitches and plays first base but is likely to see more time in the circle.
“This year, I see her pitching more than playing in field,” said Mendenhall. “She does a great job at first base, but it is highly congested there and she has done a good job as a lefty pitcher, with a different look, a slower pace, she can keep hitters off balance and tends to throw a lot of strikes.”
Like Moorhead, Holland finds herself in a crowded first base competition, but Mendenhall thinks she’ll have an early role as a reliever.
“I see her coming in later in games. She is a hard worker and a great person who works as hard as anybody and continues to get better every day,” said Mendenhall.
Warren is a player with a lot of tools in her toolbox, according to Mendenhall.
“She can throw hard and will see time at third base and as pitcher, but she will hit in the top of the lineup as a lefty hitter who can slap, has a great first step yet has a lot of pop in her swing,” said Mendenhall.
FRESHMEN FIELDERS
Two newcomers are familiar to Mendenhall in his time coaching and teaching in Sterling, Colo. Haley Emmerson joins MCC as an outfielder competing for time and Audrey Reeves will compete at second base and as a utility player.
“Hayley is a speedster and slapper and is vying for time in outfield. I’ve known her for many years, and she is probably one of fastest players in region, and will steal a lot of bases,” said Mendenhall. “And Andrey has all the tools to be a great player, has very raw talent, is fast with a great arm, she just needs to refine her work at the plate, but she has a great attitude.”
Kashlin Beck (Claflin, Kan.) is a left-handed hitting and throwing outfielder who is very strong.
“When gets a hold on one it goes a long way, but as we refine her swing and her approach at the plate, she’ll have an opportunity to play a good amount,” said Mendenhall.
THE SCHEDULE
After a grueling 24-game stretch of road games to start the season MCC begins Region IX play March 14 with a doubleheader at Sterling, Colo., against Northeastern Junior College then the two teams meet in McCook March 16 for the Lady Indians home opener. That homestand also includes a four-game set with Luna Community College March 22-23. The other Region IX homestand will be April 18-19 against Trinidad and a home-and-home series with Western Nebraska, April 25 at McCook and April 27 at Scottsbluff.
The top four seeds will qualify for the Region IX post-season with the top two team hosting the third and fourth-seeded teams in a best-of-three game series starting the first weekend in May.
This will be the final year of the Nebraska Community College Athletic Conference which includes North Platte, Central Community College and Southeast Community College. MCC will open NCCAC play at North Platte Feb. 19 and two days later at Columbus when the play CCC and a March 9 doubleheader at Beatrice against SECC. MCC will host North Platte March 27, CCC on April 2 and SECC April 9.
Up-to-date information about MCC softball including livestream links, schedule, statistics, rosters, photos and more can be found on the MCC Athletics website, www.mccindians.com
MCC Softball Lexi Knapp
MCC Softball Sadie Kahl
MCC Softball Mike Mendenhall