Offense in high gear; Garden City blasts McCook

By Mike Pilosof

McCook, Neb-The Broncbuster offense started the 2020 campaign on a major high note.

McKayla Encinias and Megan Walz each collected three hits, Madison Biller struck out five in the circle, and Garden City steamrolled McCook 10-2 in their season opener Saturday afternoon at Jaycees Sports Complex.

And it didn't take long for Garden City to start cooking.

They scored their first run in the first when Encinias tripled and stole home. After McCook tied the game in the bottom half, Walz doubled home a run in the top of the second to put Garden City up 2-1. Three batters later. Gaby Hernandez ripped a two-run double, stretching the lead to 4-1.

Then Garden City broke it open in the fourth.

Vivian Lopez and Encinias stroked back-to-back singles to begin the frame. Then, with one out, Audrey Graf and Biller each collected RBI base hits, Kenzie Moore walked with the bases loaded, and Walz knocked in two more to make it 9-1. After McCook got a run back in the fifth, the Broncbusters put the game away in the sixth with Walz's RBI groundout. In the bottom half, Biller worked around a one-out hit by pitch to get a force out and pop out to end the game.

Biller picked up the win, allowing two runs on six hits in six innings for Garden City. Six Broncbusters had multi-hit games with every player collecting at least one. Walz drove in four runs.

Anna Wilcox took the loss for the Indians, surrendering 10 runs on 17 hits in six innings.