The McCook Central/Montrose softball team is making serious noise in Class B, and the rest of the state is starting to take notice. Now in just their third season as a program, the Fighting Cougars are off to a blistering 11-2 start—the best win percentage in their class.
Their biggest test came Thursday on the road against Hanson, another Class B powerhouse. Trailing 10-5 heading into the sixth inning, MCM mounted a stunning rally to win 17-10. It was the program's first-ever victory over Hanson, after losing the previous two meetings by a combined 27-8 score.
The win vaulted MCM to No. 2 in the Class B seed-point standings, trailing only perennial favorite Castlewood. For a team that didn't even exist when the South Dakota High School Activities Association first sanctioned softball in 2022-23, that's a meteoric rise.
"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."
Head coach Nick Morrison echoed that sentiment. "Winning that game was huge for us, especially coming from behind. We're moving up, 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%."
The Fighting Cougars went 6-9 in their debut season and improved to 13-10 last year. This season, their only two losses have been by one run each—a season-opening defeat to Baltic and a recent setback against Sioux Valley, a 13-3 Class A contender.
"Coming from where we started two years ago to now is crazy," said senior pitcher/outfielder Zaidee Huls. "It just feels great."
What's driving this rapid turnaround? Roster continuity. MCM had four seniors in its first season but zero last year, and nearly every player from the 2025 varsity squad is back for 2026—including six upperclassmen. That stability has built a tight-knit group that thrives under pressure.
"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."
With that chemistry and a growing reputation, the Fighting Cougars are proving they belong among Class B's elite.