Story by Daniel Stinman - Mid-Plains Community College Marketing and Public Information
North Platte, Neb. – The North Platte Community College softball team scored six runs in the sixth inning to rally past Southeast Community College on Sunday afternoon.
"We played our hearts out today," said head coach Janelle Higgins. "I am very proud of these young ladies for not giving up when it got tough."
In the top of the first inning, the Knights had to work out of a jam as Southeast put their first two batters on the base paths. Nevaeh Ramirez went back to work in the circle and calmly struck out the next three batters. In the bottom half of the frame, Zoey Bredleau-Beehler put the Knights on the board as she connected on a 2-2 pitch and sent it over the fence to give North Platte a 1-0 lead.
Southeast responded in the top of the second inning, with a three-run shot to left field to take the lead as the momentum began switch in the favor of the Storm. North Platte cut into the two-run deficit in the bottom of the inning, as a single by Morganne Brown gave the Knights an early baserunner. Kirsten Greenwalt stepped to the plate and on a 1-0 count, doubled to center field to put two Knights in scoring position with no one down.
Jenny Singer stepped into the box and on a 0-2 count, hit a fly ball to score Brown from third to cut the deficit back to one, 3-2. Greenwalt held at second on the throw from the Southeast outfielder and was stranded as the Storm pitcher captured the final two outs of the inning.
In the top of the third inning, the Storm added two more runs to expand their lead to 5-2. North Platte went back to work and once again had an early baserunner, as Ashlyn Wheeling hit an infield single. Madisyn Hamar took the next pitch and grounded into a fielder's choice, which cut down Wheeling advancing to second.
Southeast added the second out of the inning on a fly ball, which could not advance Hamar from first base. Essence McRae entered the box and on the first pitch of her at bat, doubled to center field to bring Hamar around from first. The North Platte rally was cut short as Southeast managed to record the final out of the inning, leaving McRae stranded on second.
The Storm added one more run in the top of the fourth inning to push their lead back to three. North Platte attempted to cut into the deficit over the next two innings, but strong defense by Southeast held the Knights from getting any baserunners to cross the plate.
In the bottom of the sixth inning, the Knights offense came alive with a six-run rally to reclaim the lead. Brown singled to open the bottom half of the inning but would be cut down as Greenwalt hit into a fielder's choice. Singer stepped into the box and singled to right field and advanced Greenwalt to second. Jayden Horner loaded the bases for the Knights on a catcher's interference call.
On a 2-2 count, Young hit into a fielder's choice which scored Greenwalt from third. The momentum began to shift, as Wheeling singled to left field and scored Singer and Horner to tie the game at 6-6.
Hamar continued the offensive attack by loading the bases once again on an error by the Southeast first baseman. Wheeling advanced the final sixty feet on an error in the Knights next at bat, and a McRae double brought Hamar and Bredleau-Beehler around to score, 9-6. Southeast finally recorded the final out of the inning, but the damage had been done and a six run sixth inning propelled the Knights to victory in a winner take all third game.
Ramirez started in the circle and pitched 3.1 innings and allowed five earned runs on eight hits and six strikeouts. Kyleigh Sullivan came on in relief and pitched 3.2 innings and only allowed one earned run on no hits and four strikeouts.
North Platte (13-26) advances to the Region IX Championship against Central Community College. First pitch of the doubleheader will take place on Saturday, May 8 at 12 p.m. at the Raider Softball Complex in Columbus, Neb.