Grizzlies prepare to take on Indians for chance to make return trip to Yuma

The Butler Grizzly softball team travels to McCook, Nebraska for the Plains District Championship against the McCook Indians in a best of three series with a trip to the NJCAA National Tournament in Yuma, Arizona next week on the line. The Grizzlies will look to take their sixth consecutive trip to the National Tournament after sweeping the Region VI tournament last weekend in Dodge City. The Grizzlies have won the past six Plains District titles, the last of which coming at home against Trinidad (CO) last season.

The Indians come into the series with a 42-19 record, with a 21-9 record in conference play. McCook clinched their first ever Region IX tournament last week with a win over Northeastern Junior College on Sunday. They enter the game on a six game winning streak and have amassed a 20-4 record at home this season. The Indians have played one other team from the KJCCC this season, when they opened the season by splitting a two game series against the Colby Trojans. 

McCook is led by sophomores Avery O'Neil, Ashland Baca, and Alexis Cortez who all earned Region IX postseason honors. In addition, Indians head coach Kevin Kaalberg was named Region IX Coach of the Year, guiding his team to the Plains District Championship for the first time in program history.

The Grizzlies will come into Nebraska on a hot streak, winners of their last 21 games, and holding a 46-2 record. Butler was ranked sixth in the nation in the latest NJCAA poll after their Region VI title win, and the Grizzlies have won 34 of their 46 games in run rule fashion. The Grizzlies had 10 players awarded All Conference Honors, with Sophomore Madi Young winning the Most Valuable Player award and Head Coach Doug Chance winning Coach of the Year for the sixth straight year. 

The Grizzlies and the Indians will meet at the Jaycees Sports Complex in McCook for game one on Friday at 3 PM. Game two will be held on Saturday at 12, and if the series is tied, the two teams will play a game three immediately after for the right to play in Yuma in two weeks time.