CORK STRONG AGAIN AS HAWKS CLINCH SPOT IN REGION 11 TOURNAMENT WITH VICTORY

NORFOLK, Neb. – The Northeast Community College baseball team hosted No. 14 Iowa Central Community College Wednesday in a single game at Norfolk Veterans Memorial Baseball Field in Norfolk. The Hawks were victorious by a final score of 11-9 to officially clinch a spot in the Region 11 Tournament.

Northeast (29-24, 15-15 ICCAC) needed a win and a loss from North Iowa Area Community College against Indian Hills Community College Wednesday to clinch a spot in the Region 11 Tournament next week and both of those results went the way of the Hawks over the course of the afternoon.

The offense got rolling for Northeast as Brady Fitzpatrick (Bellevue, Neb.) and Hayden Parrish (Omaha, Neb.) both homered and had two RBIs each. Carter Noakes (Dannebrog, Neb.) and Jack Borgmann (Norfolk, Neb.) also had two RBIs themselves while Braden Cork (Omaha, Neb.) was excellent in relief again as he tossed 2.2 innings, allowed just one hit, didn't allow a run to cross the plate, struck out five batters and picked up the victory.

The Hawks will honor sophomores Noakes, Borgmann, Tristen Beyer (North Platte, Neb.), Trenton Barry (Wahoo, Neb.), Ian Shaw (Ogallala, Neb.), Kale Jensen (Central City, Neb.), Haiden Magnussen (Pierce, Neb.), Oakland Flodell (Saskatoon, Saskatchewan), Caleb Lanphear (Gretna, Neb.), JT Roy (Elkhorn, Neb.), Cooper Tessendorf (Columbus, Neb.), Greysen Strauss (Lexington, Neb.) and Braden Cork (Omaha, Neb.) between games Saturday as part of Sophomore Day.

STAT SHEET:

Hayden Parrish (Omaha, Neb.): 4-5, 2B, 3 R, 3 RBI, BB

Brady Fitzpatrick (Bellevue, Neb.): 3-5, 2B, 2 RBI

Braden Cork (W) (Omaha, Neb.): 2.2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 5 K

HEAR FROM THE HAWKS COACH:

Head Baseball Coach Marcus Clapp on the showdown with Southeastern:

"I thought Max Denson threw well," Clapp said. "I also thought Braden Cork threw well. We gave up five runs there late, which has kind of been our crutch all year, but to see the guys bounce back and score there to take the lead was great. Cork did a great job at the end of the game."

Clapp on how it felt to win the tight contest:

"That game right there is literally going to be the conference tournament. Back and forth. Up and down. Highs and lows. I thought that was a good test for us. It was finally good to be on that side of it. We've had a lot of games where that's been the other way around, so it was good to finally get a win."

Clapp on clinching a spot in the Region 11 Tournament:

"It makes it nice that this weekend I can set up my pitching a little bit," Clapp said. "In this conference, it doesn't matter what seed you are, so to get in is always a goal. We're in and we can take this weekend to get ourselves ready for next week."

UP NEXT:

The Hawks will begin their final series of the regular season at 1 p.m. Saturday in a doubleheader against North Iowa Area Community College at Norfolk Veterans Memorial Field in Norfolk.

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