News
Rough Riders split series with McCook
Luna Community College pitcher Logan Wilson limited McCook to three hits while striking out six in a 2-0 shutout of visiting McCook this past Sunday (March 28), highlighting an even split of the teams’ four-game series at Brandt Park.
The Rough Riders improved to 6-12 overall this season under head coach T.C. Nusser. McCook (Nebraska) won the openers both Sunday and Monday, but Luna responded each time by winning the nightcaps Sunday’s scores were 16-3 McCook, 2-0 Luna; Monday it was 11-7 McCook, and 14-4 Luna.
Wilson, a freshman right-hander from Pepeekeo, Hawaii, earned recognition as Region IX Pitcher of the Week for March 22-28 as a result of his work on the mound in game two of the series. (See accompanying story.)
In the series opener, the visitors put up a pair of five-run innings – including the opening frame – to pull away 16-3. But Wilson and the Luna defense proved exceptionally stingy in game two, logging a 2-0 shutout. Shortstop Rogelio Gonzales, the home team’s leadoff batter, went 2 for 3, and David Amaya and Ross Panlasigui drove in runs by Milo Behrens and Dusty Sipe.
On Monday, McCook’s bats awakened after two scoreless innings. Zack Beatty hit a two-run homer, and Kade Wroot’s two-out grand slam in the top of the sixth made it 11-2. The Rough Riders cut the margin in half with a surge in the sixth; a balk, a wild pitch and an RBI single by Panlasigui got Luna within 11-6. Then Sipe scored off a James Cardenas double in the bottom of the seventh. But down to their final out, the Riders couldn’t complete the comeback and lost 11-7.
Luna finished on an up note, however, showing up on both sides of the plate to write a 14-4 exclamation point in the series finale. David Amaya led Luna with three hits in as many at-bats, and Brandon Zwiener hit a home run as the Riders combined for 14 RBI – with three apiece credited to Ochoa, Zwiener and Matthew Gelwick. Starting pitcher Tony Limon and closer K.T. Geralds held McCook to two earned runs apiece.
Luna’s baseball team is scheduled to play a four-game set at Northeastern Junior College this coming weekend in Sterling, Colo. Doubleheaders are set for both Friday and Saturday, starting at noon each day.
Meanwhile, the Luna softball team is slated to visit Northeastern Nebraska Junior College Thursday and Friday in Sterling, Neb.