WNCC wins opening round game at regionals

The first day of the Region IX Softball Tournament is in the books despite windy, cold conditions at Volunteer Field Thursday.

And, it was the No. 19 Western Nebraska Community College softball team that scattered 14 hits, including five extra base hits to post a 10-2 five-inning win against Dawson Community College.

The win keeps the Cougars in the winner’s bracket and a date with the winner of the Trinidad State and Otero Junior College game at 6 p.m. today.

Other first round contests say Dawson defeat Lamar Community College 6-2, Trinidad State topple McCook Community College 8-7 in the bottom of the seventh, and Otero Junior College stopping North Platte Community College 8-4.

Today’s contests kick off at 10 a.m. with McCook battling North Platte in an elimination game, followed by Trinidad and Otero at noon, Dawson facing the winner of McCook/North Platte at 2 p.m., Lamar meeting the loser of the Trinidad/Otero game at 4 p.m., followed by the WNCC game at 6 p.m.

WNCC’s opening round victory was the result of clutch hitting as the Cougars scored five runs in the first and fifth inning to call the contest. The team, however, left 11 runners on base in the contest.

Still, Maria Winn-Ratliff said this team continues to find ways to win.

“We came out really well in the first inning and did some really good things,” she said “Then what a way to finish. With two outs, we put a couple of hits together. We couldn’t ask for anything more. The kids are extremely excited, and a win is a win.”

The Cougars wasted little time in getting on top Dawson with five runs on five hits in the first inning. Lauren Mills, who leads the team in home runs, got things started quickly as she reached base on a bunt single. After a sacrifice bunt by Amanda Hensley, the flood gates opened with three straight singles, including run-scoring hits by Jessie McNabb and Lauren Bourdon.

Mandy Pounds and Mills followed with the final two runs of the inning as Pounds recorded a run-scoring single and Mills pushed in a walk by drawing a free pass.

Dawson made a dent in the lead with two runs in the fourth inning on two hits. Danielle Biere led off with a double. Then, with two outs, Kaila Anderson earned a free pass, followed by a two-RBI double by Amanda Hall, cutting the lead to 5-2.

WNCC put the game away in the fifth inning, all with two outs. McNabb started things by drawing a walk. Bourdon then blasted a two-run home run to right field to push the score to 7-2. Ryman and Torimaru followed with back-to-back doubles. Kayli Allen followed with a run-scoring, pinch-hit single, followed by Whittany Foster ending the game on a run-scoring double to right field.

Garner, who was named NJCAA pitcher of the week, picked up the win in the circle, scattering five hits and striking out six. She also walked one and hit a batter.

Ryman led the Cougars from the plate with a 4-for-4 game, including two doubles and two runs scored. Bourdon, Mills and Pounds also collected multiple hits. Mills was 2-for-3 with a run scored, RBI and a walk; Bourdon was 2-for-4 with a home run, two runs scored and three RBIs, and Pounds was 2-for-2 with a RBI.

“The weather will dictate a lot of it,” Winn-Ratliff said. “If we get the weather they are calling for, that will hinder some of the things that we will do. Trinidad swings the ball really well and have a couple of girls that can hit it out and they proved that today. Same with Otero, that anyone in their lineup can hit it out of the park. Both teams can put runs on the board, we just have to contain them from having a big inning. That is all we can ask for.”

Dawson 000 20 – 2 5 0
WNCC (52-8) 500 05 – 10 14 0
WP – Garner, LP – Brittany Fedler; 2B – WNCC (Ryman 2, Torimaru, Foster), Dawson (Biere, Hall); HR – WNCC (Bourdon).

Dawson 6, Lamar 2
The Dawson Community College Buccaneers used a strong defensive effort and a strong pitching performance from Meghan Dewer in registering an opening game 6-2 win over Lamar Community College at the Region IX Tournament in Scottsbluff.

The Bucs managed nine hits in the game, but used timely hitting to scratch across six runs. Dawson opened things in the first inning as Amanda Morris scored on a Danielle Biere single to right field for a 1-0 lead.

Dawson was led in hitting by Burdette, who went 2-for-4 with two RBIs. Biiere also collected two hits, including a double and an RBI, while Morris was 2-for-3 with two runs scored.

Lamar was led by Bruner with a 3-for-4 day, including a runs scored and a RBI. Ashley Duffy and Chelsey Lueders also collected two hits for the Lopes.

Dawson 102 030 1 -- 6 9 1
Lamar 000 110 0 -- 2 10 1
WP -- Dewar; LP -- Emily Huhta; 2B -- Lamar (Duffy), Dawson (Biere).

Trinidad 8, McCook 7
It was a battle throughout, but the Trinidad State Junior College Trojans battled back from two deficits, to record a seventh-inning comeback to take care of McCook Community College 8-7 in the first round of the Region IX Tournament in Scottsbluff.

The Trojans trailed 6-1 to McCook after 3 ½ innings, but battled back to tie game in the sixth inning on a clutch double by Yadira Garcia.

McCook came back and went ahead in the seventh. Jennifer Deal started things with a one-out single, followed by Courtney Nevarez reaching base on an error. Lead off hitter Jessica Martinez then hit a double to put McCook up 7-6.

Trinidad won the game in the seventh as Julia Diehl led off the inning with a home run. Nicole Morgan followed with a single. Trinidad loaded the bases and scored the winning run on a groundout to first base by Crystal Miller.

Rachel Brug picked up the win in the circle, while Erin Kinzey took the loss for McCook.

Trinidad was paced by Diehl with a 3-for-4 day, including two home runs, seven RBIs and two runs scored. Aylse Billick also had a home run in the game, as she went 2-for-4.

McCook was led by Tiffany Lokken, who went 4-for-5 with a double, single, home run, two runs scored and four RBIs.

McCook 003 300 1 – 7 9 2

Trinidad 100 122 2 – 8 11 2

WP – Brug, LP – Kinzey; 2B – Trinidad (Jacquez), McCook (Lokken, Jessica Adler); HR – Trindad (Diehl 2, Billick), McCook (Lokken).

Otero 8, North Platte 4
The Otero Junior College hit three home runs, including two from Carrie Henry, to move into a winner's bracket game against Trinidad State on Friday.

Otero scored eight runs in the first three innings and then held off furious North Platte come backs to get the 8-4 win.

Henry's jacks came in the first on a solo shot, which followed a 3-run home run by Noel Wees for a 4-0 lead. Henry's second jack came in the third inning on a 2-run home run for an 8-2 lead.

Tawnee Sheridan picked up the win for Otero, striking out five and scattering 10 hits. Amanda Brown took the loss for North Platte.

Otero finished the game with 11 hits. Henry finished the game going 2-for-3 with two home runs, two runs scored and three RBIs. Becca Diede also had a good game, going 2-for-3 with a double, RBI and single; while Noel Wees went 2-for-4 with a home run, two runs scord and three RBIs.

North Platte was led by Tara Tobiasson with a 3-for-3 game, including a home run. Desi Irish also went 3-for-4 with a double.

North Platte 101 110 0 – 4 11 0
Otero JC 422 000 x – 8 11 0
WP – Sheridan, LP – Brown; 2B – Otero (Diede), NPCC (Ali Hillman, Lizzette Medina, Irish); HR – Otero (Henry 2, Wees), NPCC (Tobiasson).