Surging MCM softball establishes status as state tournament contender in Class B

May 8—SALEM, S.D. — McCook Central/Montrose is on the rise in the Class B softball standings.

It's been a steady climb for the Fighting Cougars, who are now in their third year as a program and own the best win percentage of any Class B squad with an 11-2 start to the season.

MCM's progress was tested Thursday with a road game at Hanson, another top team in Class B. Though the Fighting Cougars fell behind 10-5 entering the sixth inning, a massive rally catapulted them to a 17-10 victory.

It was the first time in the program's brief history that MCM beat Hanson, having lost each of the first two seasons by a combined score of 27-8. The result also vaulted MCM into the No. 2 slot in the Class B seed-point standings, behind only perennial power Castlewood.

"This is an amazing win for us, and it gives us a lot of confidence going forward," said senior infielder Ashtyn DeKnikker. "This whole season so far has been very rewarding."

"Winning that game was huge for us, especially coming from behind," added coach Nick Morrison. "We're moving up (the standings), and that's a good thing. We've been trying to make the leap, so hopefully we can take this and go forward. It's a confidence builder, 100%."

MCM didn't field a team in 2022-23, the first year the South Dakota High School Activities Association offered softball under its purview. A year behind many of their peer programs to start, the Fighting Cougars went 6-9 during their first season in 2023-24, then improved to 13-10 last year.

Clearly making another huge stride, their only setbacks so far this season came by one run each, first against Baltic in the season opener and more recently against a Sioux Valley squad that is 13-3 and No. 4 in Class A.

"Coming from where we started two years ago to now is crazy," said senior pitcher/outfielder Zaidee Huls. "It just feels great."

Key to the program's rapid growth has been a high degree of roster continuity. MCM had four seniors during its first season as a program, but last year the Fighting Cougars didn't have a single one. All but one player from the 2025 varsity roster is back in the fold for 2026, including six upperclassmen. Those circumstances have created a strong bond between the Fighting Cougars, one that they feel shows up on game days.

"We're always having fun, but then when it's time to get ready and play, we're serious about it," Huls said. "We just need to keep with what we're doing right now, staying consistent and always being there for each other, even when we're down."

Leaning on their experience, the Fighting Cougars are solid in all phases. Offensively, they score 12.6 runs per game, the second-most in Class B. On Thursday against the Beavers, MCM racked up 16 hits during its 17-run outburst. Meanwhile, MCM limits opponents to a class-low 3.4 runs per game. Six times this season, the Fighting Cougars have allowed two or fewer runs.

"We just want to go out and play, have some fun and focus on helping each other out," Morrison said.