Thursday, April 30, 2009

Groves hopes to lead softball to regional title

Katie Groves can see a resemblance between her senior year in high school and her freshman year at Western Nebraska Community College.

And, for Groves and the WNCC softball team, that is a good thing heading into the Region IX tournament this weekend. WNCC, 40-16 and No. 16 in the NJCAA national polls, will look to defend their Region IX title from last year at Trinidad, Colo., Friday through Sunday. WNCC will open up with Otero Junior College at 4 p.m. Friday.

“We need to stay focused and come out ready to play and ready to win,” Groves, the freshman from Bluffdale, Utah, said. “We have to come out wanting to win. Sometimes we come out a little flat and if we do that, I don’t think we will do much. We have to be fired up and ready to go because other teams are aiming for us because the girls last year brought home a title, so we have the big X on our back this year.”

The other match-ups at the regional tournament include Trinidad State Junior College facing Dawson Community College Friday at 2 p.m., with the winner facing Lamar Community College at 6 p.m. The championship is slated for Sunday at noon. Groves said Lamar is the team to beat since the Runnin’ Lopes have beaten the Cougars 3 of 4 games.

“Their pitchers don’t throw a lot of pitches, but they are slow enough that sometimes they catch us off guard a little,” she said. “We’ve struggled with their pitching in the past, but I think we are more ready for them now. We have seen them four times and we are a little bit more determined to do what we need to do.”

Groves sees a resemblance from her senior year at Bingham High to her first at the collegiate level. In high school, her team won the state title with a squad that had a lot of youth. Groves also stepped up to the plate and helped deliver the state title for her high school, hitting eight home runs in eight games, including going 11-for-11 in the last three games at state with a grand slam and three home runs. This year’s team is very symbolic to that high school team.

“It was intense [winning that state championship] and a feeling that you can’t explain. We came out and did what we needed to do,” she said. “We weren’t expected to win it. We came out with a young pitcher and a young team, and all of a sudden, our seniors started producing and our young players started pushing our seniors and we got a state championship. I can’t really explain the feeling.”

Groves has definitely continued that hitting explosion at WNCC this past season where she tied a school record for home run with 15, and is the team leader in triples (3), runs scored (71), runs batted in (72), walks (29), while batting .517. She is also among the leaders in several national categories, including No. 8 in batting average, No. 7 in RBI leaders and 15th in home runs.

In fact, she is flabbergasted with the type of season that she is having.

“I am very competitive and it is surprising that I am doing this well,” she said. “I did not expect to come in here my freshman year and have the year that I had. I did not expect any of it. I did not expect our team to do what we have done so far. I didn’t expect myself to do what I have done, but I have worked hard and set goals and most of them have been accomplished.”

Groves’ remarkable season picked up in April when she was named the NJCAA player of the week a couple of weeks ago. She also had a big 7th inning solo home run against Otero Junior College that gave the Cougars a 3-2 win at Volunteer Field.

Last week against Southeast Community College, Groves had an unbelievable day when she went 11-for-11 in a doubleheader. What was different about that performance was in the opening game she was 6-for-6 with six singles. In the second game, she was 5-for-5 with three doubles and a home run.

“I guess I just got sick of going to first and needed more exercise on the day,” ,” Groves said about the 11-for-11 performance. “Singles and doubles scores runs either way.”

Groves actually doesn’t go up o the plate looking for a home run, it just naturally comes.

“I don’t know how I hit the home runs,” she said. “You could ask me what I do different in the swing and I couldn’t tell you. It is just how you connect with the ball and your timing. It just happens. You see it, you hit it, and somehow it goes.”

While Groves is having a break-out season, the team is enjoying plenty of success. After starting the season 1-5 after the opening tournament the end of January, the Cougars have 20 of 21 wins. The Cougars are now batting .348 as a team with 48 home runs, 98 doubles and 11 triples. And, it is just not one person that is providing the power. The last 10 games saw the power come from the Cougar’s three pitchers, Kelsey Garner, Casey Simpson and Stephanie Townsend. The three have combined for 17 home runs of the team’s 45 hit this season. Last week, the threesome had 11 home runs in 10 games.

Simpson hit five jacks, including two each in separate games, while Townsend had four home runs and Garner two. Garner leads the pitchers with home runs with eight. The team leader in home runs is Groves with 15, and Groves had three in the last 10 games. She also had a slugging percentage of 1,300 last week.

Nothing Groves does should surprise anyone. Groves was born with a glove on her hand, starting to play the sport when she was six years old on a 10-under team.\

“I think it is just the rush to play softball and it is hard to explain,” she said. “It is a game with girls that you become family with, and you get to spend time with them every day. The team, the players and the competitiveness makes the sport fun.

“I actually started playing because I wanted to be better than my sister (Kim] and she quit when I started playing. Honestly, I don’t know if I am better than her because she quit playing before she gave herself an honest chance.”

Softball is something she wants to continue as long as she can.

“I want to keep playing as far as they will let me take it,” she said. “I want to play past WNCC whether that it is DI or DII and whatever is best for me educationally. If they let me go past that, that would be cool. But you have to stay realistic at the same time.”

Groves is one of those players that will do anything and play everywhere to help the team. When she came here in the fall, she was expecting to play third base, but instead she started the season at shortstop and moved around the horn, playing second base and now is at first base.

“Since I came here and I will fill any roll that they need me to fill. It doesn’t matter. I am doing whatever I need to for the team. I like wherever they need me to play,” she said. “I just like to go out and focus on one job, one thing, get my job done and help the team.”

What would make for the perfect icing on a stellar season would be a trip to the national tournament in her home state May 14-16 in St. George, Utah.

“I would love to go to St. George and play [or the national title],” she said. “That would be awesome. I could see my entire family and have the people that can’t travel out here to come down there because it is three hours from where I live.”

WNCC baseball set to open playoffs at home Friday

Last year, the Cougars failed to make the Region IX playoffs. This year, they left little doubt in securing a spot in the 4-team regional playoffs.

In fact, WNCC earned the No. 2 seed and will host a first round contest against Northeastern Junior College in a best 2-out-3 series. Action begins at 3 p.m. Friday and continues Saturday. Tickets for the regional playoffs are $3 for adults and $1 for students. No passes will be accepted.

WNCC catcher Jason Sloan, who sat out Sunday’s contests with a bruised hand, said the team is looking forward to the regional tournament.

“We need honor, pride courage and commitment in order to win the tournament,” he said.

Cesar Castro says the key to winning is the amount of heart they put into the games.

WNCC earned the right to host NJC by winning once against Trinidad State Junior College, and that was enough to give them the No. 2 seed. The other first-round contest has Lamar Community College traveling to No. 1 Trinidad State Junior College. The two first-round winners will battle for the Region IX championship next weekend at the home of the higher seed.

WNCC earned the right by topping Trinidad 3-2 on Sunday and they got the win by receiving a complete game pitching performance from Victor Rubio. WNCC, later, fell 7-6 to Trinidad State on Sunday.

Still, the way the Cougars bounced back from Saturday’s pounding at the hands and split a pair of one-run ball games on Sunday had WNCC coach Mike Jones pleased.

“We had a much better day today. We got a great pitching performance out of Victor Rubio. He threw a real big ball game,” Jones said. “He was able to run the ball inside on them and mix it up with a breaking ball and change it up with a change-up. That was a big game for us because it allowed us to lock up that second place spot in conference play and gives us [first round] home field in the conference playoffs.”

Rubio will be one of the pictures that will get a start this weekend in the first-round. Starting on Friday will be freshman Tim Kupfner, of Superior, Colo. Kupfner is 4-4 on the season and picked up a big complete-game win against McCook Community College 7-5.

Rubio is scheduled to pitch game two, but could come in from the bullpen in game one if needed.

NJC is a hot team, winning nine straight before falling 7-5 to Lamar Community College on Sunday. They bounced back to register an 8-6 win over Lamar, taking three of four from the Runnin’ Lopes. What makes the Plainsmen dangerous is their bats, including they are scoring runs left and right, averaging about seven runs a game.

WNCC softball pitchers hitting home runs, team ready for regionals

Major league pitchers hit a home run once in a blue moon. Even junior college baseball pitchers seldom hit a home run or even get an at bat.

For the Western Nebraska Community College softball team, their pitching staff is not afraid to swing the bat and they have produced at the plate.

The Cougars will need plenty of hitting when they open the Region IX tournament Friday in Trinidad, Colo. The No. 16-ranked Cougars enter the tournament as the No. 2 seed and will face Otero Junior College at 4 p.m. Last year, WNCC won the regional title behind the pitching of sophomore Kelsey Garner.

Garner, who earned player of the year and freshman of the year last year in helping the Cougars to the regional tournament, knows that they have to be ready to play from the start.

“I am going to tell the team you have to play hard right from the very first inning all the way to the seventh,” she said. “Also, everyone comes to play and anyone can win on any given day.”

The one area that stands out for the 40-16 Cougars this season is they have plenty of offensive weapons, and the three pitchers, Garner, Casey Simpson and Stephanie Townsend have been on a home run mission as of late. The three have combined for 17 home runs of the team’s 45 hit this season. Last week, the threesome had 11t home runs in 10 games.

Simpson hit five jacks, including two each in separate games, while Townsend had four home runs and Garner two. Garner leads the pitchers with home runs with eight. The team leader in home runs is Katie Groves with 15.

“I think it is different for us to hit home runs because usually pitchers don’t hit,” Garner said. “But I think it is good to show people that our pitchers are just as good as everybody else at the plate.”

Definitely the three pitchers have produced from the plate this season. In the 10 games last week, the Cougars as a team hit .457 and had a slugging percentage of .740. Five players had a slugging percentage of 1,000 or better, three of which came from the pitching group.

The home run power isn’t a big surprise to the three hurlers; they have hit plenty of home runs before. But coming to college they don’t get a lot of at bats, so when they get that home run, it means something.

“I primarily was a batter before coming here, so coming here has been a big change for me,” Simpson said. “I haven’t been in the line up as much, so hitting a couple of home runs over the past few games has been really big for me because I have become more confident as a hitter.”

For Townsend, her home run power does come as a surprise as she was a power hitter, as well as the clean-up batter for her high school team.

“I am kind of surprised that I hit home runs last week,” she said. “I hit home runs in high school, and it is not surprising that I am hitting like this here, it is just surprising how she puts me in.”

A lot of times, Townsend or Simpson come up as pinch hitters. That says a lot of the confidence that WNCC coach Maria Winn-Ratliff has in her pitching staff as hitters.

“I get a little nervous [when called upon as a pinch hitter],” Townsend said. “But I just have to try to put the ball into play because she believes in me to put me in as a pinch hitter. “

For Simpson and Townsend, it will be their first regional tournament. They, however, know they have to be ready to go at any moment.

“I think we have to go in really focused,” Simpson said. “We have been playing really well against Otero and Trinidad and team likes that, but we struggle with teams like Lamar. It will be a matter of going out and being really focused and determined so we can come out with a win.”

Hitting will be one of the keys in bringing home back to back Region IX championships. But, like Garner said, it is not about getting home runs, they need to get hits to score runs.

“Hopefully, we can keep hitting like this at regionals and come out with, if not home runs, but runs right from the first inning,” she said.

Townsend is hoping the team continues hitting at the pace they have been the last two weeks of the season, especially last week, when they had 14 home runs, 11 of which came from the three pitchers.

“At first we went into a slump, so now we are starting to pull together,” she said. “We will have to play together and bring out the bats like we did last weekend.”

The pitchers all agree that a major reason for the home runs that the team has hit this season is because of head coach Maria Winn-Ratliff’s batting philosophy.

“I think it is the swing style that coach Winn teaches,” Garner said. “Everyone is starting to get more used to it and use it in games.”

That batting style is starting to pay off. In the last 10 games, the Cougar hitters have had 45 extra base hits, including 23 doubles and 20 home runs. On the season, they have 154 extra base hits, including 98 doubles.

Last season, the team finished with 215 extra base hits, including 134 doubles, 22 triples and 59 home runs on their way to a 54-10 season. Two years ago, the team had just 123 doubles and 41 home runs.

And for the Cougars to repeat as champions, they will need to come ready to play, no question about it.

“We can absolutely win regionals,” Simpson said. “I think we can as long as we come out focused. If we really want it, we can have it because we have a lot the talent that would work for us.”

WNCC baseball team to host NJC in first-round series beginning Friday

Submitted by Jeremy Woznick, Star-Herald Sports
For more coverage of Cougar sports, go to Starherald.com

After missing out on the Region IX playoffs a year ago for the first time in school history, the Western Nebraska Community College baseball team is back in the postseason where it belongs.

The Cougars, who posted an 8-8 record in their final 16 games of the regular season, managed to hang on to the No. 2 seed in the conference standings after earning a big win over Trinidad State Junior College on Sunday.

WNCC's reward for that is a first-round home playoff series against a streaking Northeastern Junior College ball club that ended the season winning eight of its final nine games. The first game of the best-of-three series will be held Friday at 3 p.m. at Cleveland Field in Scottsbluff.

"Right now NJC is hot. They are red hot," WNCC coach Mike Jones said. "They are playing their best baseball right now and peaking at the right time. We have to try and cool those guys off."

The series will continue with game two on Saturday at noon. A third and deciding game would also be played on Saturday if needed.

The winner will advance to the regional championship series against the winner of this weekend's other first-round series between Lamar Community College and Trinidad State Junior College. The title series will begin on May 8 at the higher seed.

For WNCC to have any chance of moving into the second week of the playoffs, the Cougars will have to come up with a way to slow down an NJC team that seems to have all the momentum in the world. One thing that looks to be in WNCC's favor is the success the Cougars enjoyed against the Plainsmen during the regular season. WNCC won four of the six contests, but dropped the most recent meeting just a week ago.

"They're a totally different team right now than they were in the middle of March," Jones said of NJC. "We beat them earlier in the year when they weren't playing so well. They've come a long way as a group since then. Baseball is a game of momentum and they have a lot of momentum in their favor right now."

WNCC will look to Tim Kupfner to try and slow down some of that momentum provided by the Plainsmen bats. Kupfner, who is 4-4 on the season, will get the start on the mound in Friday's opener. He pitched the Cougars to a big win over McCook Community College last week.

Jones' decided to start Kupfner in game one because of his ability to induce ground balls.
"When he's throwing the way he's capable of, he gets a lot of ground balls," Jones said. "That's what we're hoping he can do for us on Friday."

Victor Rubio, who pitched the Cougars to a 3-2 win over Trinidad State on Sunday to clinch the No. 2 seed in the playoffs, is scheduled to start game two. However, Jones said Rubio will be on call Friday if needed.

"We're just taking it one game at a time," Jones said. "We're going to try and do everything we can to win every single ball game. If you can win game one, you're going to be in the driver's seat. You'll put a lot of pressure on the other team to try and beat you twice the next day."

WNCC's last appearance in the postseason proved to be a thrilling one as the Cougars won the regional tournament in 2007. After being forced to win a number of games in a row in the span of just a couple days, the region's coaches voted to change the tournament from a double-elimination format to the current format that takes just the top four teams.

The new format also allows the regional winner a few extra days off before competing in the district-playoff round.

"The format is a little different than the last time we were in the playoffs," Jones said. "But after having so much success in the tournament in 2007, and then having the down year last year, it feels real good to get back in the playoffs and have an opportunity to play in the postseason."

WNCC has been hit hard with injuries the last couple weeks of the season. A number of regular starters have been in and out of the lineup with various injuries. Jones credits his ball club for battling through the adversity to finish second in the conference standings.

"We definitely didn't end like we wanted to. We wanted to be playing a little bit better toward the end of the season than what we have been," Jones said. "I do feel fortunate to be the No. 2 seed. We really had to scrap, battle and come from behind in some of those ball games to get that seed. It was one of the goals that we were trying to accomplish and we were able to get it accomplished. But it wasn't easy. It was a tough road down the stretch."

Trinidad State, the No. 1 seed in the playoff field, won last year's tournament. The Trojans didn't seem to lose a beat this season and are a heavy favorite to handle Lamar in their first-round series this weekend in Trinidad, Colo.

"Trinidad is definitely the favorite," Jones said. "They have a great lineup and a couple solid pitchers. They definitely earned the No. 1 seed."

Sunday, April 26, 2009

WNCC baseball splits with Trinidad, will host first-round playoff series against NJC

SCOTTSBLUFF – The Western Nebraska Community College baseball team put Saturday’s contests behind them and came out Sunday and put together two complete games to earn a split with TrinIdad State Junior College Sunday at Cleveland Field.

The Cougars, who lost to Trinidad State Junior College 15-0 and 13-0 on Saturday, turned the trick on the Empire Conference leading Trojans receiving a complete game pitching performance from Victor Rubio to earn a 3-2 win. The win guaranteed the Cougars the No. 2 seed and host of the first round regional playoff contest that begins Friday.

WNCC also played well in the second game as well, but came up short as a 7th-inning rally fell short and the Trojans upended the Cougars 7-6.

WNCC will open the regional playoffs on Friday against Northeastern Junior College in a best 2-out-of-3 series. The games are 9-inning. NJC split contests with Lamar Community College on Sunday, falling to Lamar 7-5 before topping the Lopes 5-4. Lamar will travel to Trinidad State in the other first round game. The winners of this weekend’s contests will play the following week at the higher seed.

WNCC coach Mike Jones said his team was relaxed today and showed a different brand of ball on the field then Saturday’s two shutouts losses.

“We had a much better day today. We got a great pitching performance out of Victor Rubio. He threw a real big ball game,” Jones said. “He was able to run the ball inside on them and mix it up with a breaking ball and change it up with a change-up. That was a big game for us because it allowed us to lock up that second place spot in conference play and gives us [first round] home field in the conference playoffs.”

Not only did they get a strong pitching performance, they also received some clutch hits as well as a stern defense.

“Getting Josh Parker back [at shortstop] makes our defense solid and it was nice to get him back in the lineup,” he said. “Then we played pretty good defense all day long.”

Jones said another reason for the turnaround between Saturday’s and Sunday’s games was playing relaxed and it showed in their offense.

“We hit the ball much better today because I thought we came out a little bit more relaxed,” he said. “We just settled in with our bats and we didn’t try to do so much. We play much better when we are relaxed because the playoffs will be intense. It will be a struggle for us to keep that even keel. We play pretty good under pressure so I am looking forward.”

Sunday’s contests had the playoff feel to it. The first game, Rubio and Trinidad pitcher Ryan Salt hooked up in a pitcher’s duel with Rubio getting the upper hand. Rubio, the sophomore from Miami, tossed a five-hitter, while striking out two and walking two. Salt allowed five hits and struck out eight in the loss.

Trinidad scored the first runs of the game in the fourth inning a single run on just two hits. WNCC, however, came right back in their half of the fourth with two runs on three hits. Shane Wade started things with a 2-out triple. Brady Sanchez followed with a run-scoring single followed by a run-scoring double by Jared Baros.

WNCC went up 3-1 with a single run in the fifth inning. Again, with two outs, Alex Arias was hit by a pitch and came around to score on a throwing error to first base off a hit by Scottsbluff’s Dallas Liptac.

Trinidad had opportunities to tie the game. In the sixth, they scored once and had the go-head run at third before the Cougars turned a double play. In the seventh, Trinidad had the tying run at second and Wade, the Cougar’s catcher, threw a strike to Trace Marsden at third base for a caught stealing.

Wade led the Cougars with a 2-for-3 performance, including a triple, run scored and a RBI. Marsden Baros each had a double in the game.

WNCC played well in the second game as well. Trinidad took a 1-0 lead after the opening frame, but WNCC answered with two runs in the second for a 2-1 lead. Ronald Miller and Oscar Rodriquez reached base via walks. Miller then scored on a Sanchez single and Rodriquez would race home on a passed ball.

Trinidad went up 4-2 in the top of the third, but the Cougars quickly answered in the bottom of the inning. Josh Parker delivered a one-out double and scored on a Miller single to slice the deficit to 4-3.

Trinidad scored once in the fourth inning on two hits for a 5-3 lead. WNCC, however, went up 6-5 with three runs in the fifth. All the runs were scored with two outs.

Parker led off the inning with single. Then, after two strikeouts, Liptac earned a walk. Rodriquez followed with a clutch 2-out single to score Parker. Sanchez earned a walk to put two players on and then Wade delivered a two RBI single to put WNCC up 6-5.

WNCC couldn’t hold the lead as Trinidad scored twice in the seventh inning on three hits for 7-6 lead. The Cougars, had the tying and go-ahead runners on before the Trojans’ centerfielder robbed Marsden of a tying single for the final out.

David Castle started the game and went four innings, giving up four runs on seven hits. Castle, a Gurnsey-Sunrise graduate, struck out two. Even Ljunghag, Cesar Perez and Ben Doran all pitched one inning, with Doren getting tagged with the loss.

WNCC finished with nine hits. Wade was 2-for-4 with a double, a stolen base and two RBIs. Parker finished the second game 2-for-4 with a double and two runs scored, while Rodriquez went 2-for-3 with two runs scored and a RBI.

WNCC, 25-27, will have four days to prepare for Northeastern Junior College for the first-round playoff games. Jones said they will use that time to get healthy.

“We now have to figure out who we are playing first and then we have to put together a pretty good scouting report and get our guys prepared during the week in practice for the game,” Jones said. “We also have to get healthy. We still have a bunch of guys still beat up and banged around and we have to get those guys healthy. From there we have to focus. We have some time off, now, and we need it. We will take our time and not force anything.”

First Game
Trinidad 000 101 0 – 2 6 1
WNCC 000 210 x – 3 5 1
WP – Rubio, LP – Salt; 2B – WNCC (Baros); 3B – WNCC (Wade).

Second Game
Trinidad (40-16) 102 110 2 – 7 12 2
WNCC (25-27) 021 030 0 – 6 9 2
WP – Joel Rodriquez, LP – Ben Doran; 2B – WNCC (Parker), TSJC (Zack Maes, Mick Wiggins); HR – TSJC (Vinnie Mattivi).

Baseball Region IX Standings
Team Conf. Overall
Trinidad State 24-6 40-16
WNCC 16-14 25-27
NE Colorado 15-15 21-24
Lamar 14-16 24-24
Otero 13-17 19-26
McCook 8-22 18-34

Saturday’s Games
Trinidad State 15, Western Nebraska 0
Trinidad State 13, Western Nebraska 0
NE Colorado 5, Lamar 4 (8 innings)
NE Colorado 7, Lamar 3

Sunday’s Games
Western Nebraska 3, Trinidad State 2
Trinidad State 7, Western Nebraska 6
Lamar 7, NE Colorado 5
NE Colorado 8, Lamar 6

Friday, Saturday Games
First round of Playoffs
No. 4 Lamar at No. 1 Trinidad

No. 3 NE Colorado at No. 2 Western Nebraska

Saturday, April 25, 2009

WNCC baseball falls toTrindad State twice

SCOTTSBLUFF -- The Trinidad State Junior College Trojans showed why they are the favorites entering the Region IX playoffs.

The Trojans, who have a 23-5 conference record, received two sterling pitching performances from Jordan Romine and Loran Carosella. Trinidad then watched their bats go wild in the cold conditions at Cleveland Field, lighting up the WNCC defense for a combined 28 runs and 22 hits.

In the opener, Romine allowed just two hits and struck out three in lifting the 39-15 Trojans to a 15-0 win. Carosella was even more dominating in the second game, tossing a 1-hitter while striking gout 10 in the 13-0 win.

Both teams will be back at Cleveland Field Sunday in a doubleheader beginning at noon. In fact, Sunday’s regular season finale games have put the Cougars in a must win situation in order to host the playoffs this week. WNCC is 15-13 in Empire Conference standings followed by Northeastern Colorado at 14-14, Lamar Community College at 13-15 and Otero Junior College at 13-17.

Northeastern Colorado swept Lamar Community College in contests on Saturday, earning a 5-4 8 inning win and then winning 7-3.

WNCC coach Mike Jones said they need to put these games behind them and concentrate on Sunday’s contests.

“Right now it is important for us to just put together a complete ball game. We haven’t played a complete ball game for a couple weeks now,” Jones said. “I think it is important for us to get back to some basic things that we need to focus on and stop worrying about wins and losses and back to playing the game a little bit better.”

Trinidad quickly took control of the contest, scoring twice n the first inning on two hits and could have had more, except for a diving snag by shortstop Trace Marsden that ended the inning and a 2-0 lead.

Trinidad put the game away in the second inning, scoring 13 runs on eight hits. WNCC’s defense didn’t help batters, as the pitchers issued three free passes and while the fielders had two clutch errors.

After that disastrous second inning, the Cougars settled down on defense. Still they couldn’t get the bat on the ball to generate any offense against Romine. WNCC’s only two hits came in the first inning from Jason Sloan and then the fourth inning from Alex Arias.

The second inning wasn’t much better, both ways for the Cougars. WNCC trailed 1-0 after one inning and then saw the deficit balloon to 6-0 after two innings and 10-0 after three. WNCC had just one hit in the contest, a fifth-inning single by Marsden.

WNCC, however, was playing banged up as starting shortstop Josh Parker couldn’t play after injury suffered in the McCook game on Friday. Sloan also left the second game after getting hit in the hand. Still, Jones said injuries are part of the game.

“We have a lot of injuries going on, but that is part of the game in a long college season,” he said. “We did not have an infielder out there today playing their regular position. That is part of It and we need to get through that. We need some time off, that is for sure. We will have to come back tomorrow [today] and battle for everything and give it all we got.”

Sam Diaz took the loss in the opening game, allowing 13 runs and striking out three. Armani Gonzalez came in relief and allowed two runs while striking out three. Rodil Martinez suffered the loss in game two, giving up 10 runs on four hits and striking out three. Marco Jiminiz finished off the game, going 2 1/3, while allowing three runs and striking out two.

Jones is hoping Sunday’s starters, Victor Rubio and David Castle, can produce the same results that the Trinidad starters had Saturday.

“He [Carosella] threw a great game,” he said. “He has a little bit of a cut on his fastball and he follows it up with a slider. We weren’t very aggressive with our approaches trying to go the other way. It will be important the next time we see him.”

First Game
Trinidad 2(13)0 00 – 15 10 1
WNCC 000 00 – 0 2 2
WP – Ronine, LP – Diaz; 3B – Trinidad (David Fox).

Second Game
Trinidad (39-15) 154 03 – 13 12 0
WNCC (24-26) 000 00 – 0 1 1
WP – Carosella; 2B – Trnidad (Jason Veyna, Zack Mees, David Fox, Joe Manders).

Baseball Region IX Standings
Team Conf. Overall
Trinidad State 23-5 39-15
WNCC 15-13 24-26
NE Colorado 14-14 20-23
Lamar 13-15 23-23
Otero 13-17 19-26
McCook 8-22 18-34

Saturday’s Games
Trinidad State 15, Western Nebraska 0
Trinidad State 13, Western Nebraska 0
NE Colorado 5, Lamar 4 (8 innings)
NE Colorado 7, Lamar 3

Sunday’s Games
Trinidad State at Western Nebraska, noon
Lamar at Northeastern Colorado, noon

Friday, April 24, 2009

WNCC baseball drops McCook at Cleveland Field, host Trinidad State Saturday and Sunday

The Western Nebraska Community College baseball team scored four eighth inning runs to come back to topple McCook Community College in an Empire Conference contest Friday at Cleveland Field.

The win was huge entering the final weekend of the season as the Cougars are battling to host a first-round playoff game on May 1. With the win, WNCC still holds a 2-game advantage over Lamar Community College for the No. 2 seed. The top two seeds host first-round games in the regional playoffs.

WNCC is 15-11 in conference play, while lamar is 13-13. Northeastern Colorado is 11-14 and has an outside shot of hosting a playoff spot. The Cougars will host conference-leading Trinidad State Junior College in action Saturday and Sunday, while Lamar Community College travels to Northeastern Junior College this weekend. Saturday contests begin at 1 p.m., while Sunday’s cames are at noon.

“This win is real big, especially coming up on region games and preparing us for Trinidad,” the freshman from Miami, Fla., said. “This is a big week for us, especially since now we are going to face the No. 1 seed. We need to win those games so we can have some home games in conference. We just came up big today and that is what we have to do all the time.”

Arias was one of the heros on the day, finishing with two RBIs and a big eighth-inning home run that jumpstarted the Cougars offensive attack. Arias said he stay focused at the plate, hitting his second home run in two games.

“I got a fastball away and a fastball inside and I just connected on the pitch,” he said.

The way the Cougars came back, in the late innings, is something the Cougars are accustomed to.

“We just know what we have to do when we come up short in the first couple innings,” Arias said. “We know we have to step up late in the game. The bats, lately, have not been so good, but we are picking up pace and hopefully everybody is getting out of their slump.”

WNCC won the game with a lot of clutch hits from a variety of people. That is something that will help the team down the stretch, said Arias.

“We need those kind of hits,” he said. “Those two out hits are the ones that win the games.”

The eighth inning proved huge for the Cougars. WNCC trailed early 4-2 and then sliced the lead to one, 4-3 in the seventh. Trace Marsden led off with a double and scored on a Shane Wade had a run-scoring single.

McCook came right back in the eighth with a solo home run by Matt Raabe. WNCC didn’t fold, coming right back. Arias started things with a one-out solo home run. Then Ron Miller reached on an error followed by Anthony Paniagua walked. Pinch-hitter Elvis Garcia then was plucked by a pitch to load the bases.

Jared Baros scored two runs with a single to right field to put the Cougars up 6-5. Josh Parked added an insurance run, scoring pinch runner Brady Sanchez from third with a single to left field.

WNCC’s Tim Kupfner threw an excellent game, going eight innings while yielding five runs, four of which came in the second inning. Kupfner allowed 11 hits. Kupfner struck out two. He was also helped with some strong defensive play behind him as the Cougars turned two two double plays.

Victor Rubio picked up the save, throwing the ninth inning and striking out one.

WNCC stranded seven batters in the contest, four of which were in scoring position. McCook left eight on base, with two in scoring position.

WNCC finished with 11 hits in the game with four players get multiple hits. Parker was 3-for-4 with a runs scored, double and a RBI, while Arias was 2-for-4 with a home runs, run scored and two RBIs. Baros went 2-for-3 with two singles and two RBIs, while Marsden went 2-for-4 with a double and run scored.

McCook 040 000 010 – 5 12 1
WNCC 101 000 14x – 7 11 1
WP – Kupfner, LP – Austin Parker; Save – Rubio; 2B – WNCC (Parker, Marsden), RBI – WNCC (Arias), McCook (Raabe).

WNCC hits eight home runs, Groves ties season record for dingers

BEATRICE – The Western Nebraska Community College softball team hit eight home runs and 13 doubles in sweeping a doubleheader from Southeast Community College 22-0 and 16-4 to register their 40th win of the season Friday in Beatrice.

WNCC’s Katie Groves was the offensive weapon on the day, finishing the doubleheader going a perfect 11-for-11, including tying the school record for season home runs with 15. Groves hit the tying home run in the first inning of the second game.

Groves finished the first game going 6-for-6 with two RBIs and six singles, and then went 5-for-5 in the nightcap with three runs scored, three RBIs and three doubles.

The freshman from Bluffdale, Utah, led off the second game with a double and then nine batters later, hit a 2-run home run to help the Cougars to an 8-0 lead in the first inning. After Southeast cut the lead to 8-3 after three innings, WNCC added five runs in the third and three more in the fifth for the win.

The Cougars finished the second game with 20 hits and 16 runs, including three home runs. Besides Groves season-tying blast, Brittany Chacon had a solo shot in the third inning and then Kelsey Garner had a solo shot in the fifth inning.

Garner and Alyssa Hickey each went 3-for-4. Garner had three runs scored, four RBIs a double and a home run, while Hickey had three runs scored, a RBI and three singles.

Also for WNCC, Megan Burditt was 2-for-2 with two singles; Stephanie Townsend was 2-for-4 with two runs scored and a double; Casey Simpson was 2-for-2 with a run scored, a RBI and two singles; and Lauryn Smith was 2-for-4 with two runs scored, three RBIs and a double.

Townsend picked up the win from the circle, throwing five innings, four runs, eight hits and striking out four.

In the opening game, Garner sizzled from the circle, throwing a no-hitter, while striking out 12 to get the win.

Offensively, the Cougars had nine players record multiple hits. WNCC also had five home runs in the opener, including two each from Casey Simpson and Townend. Simpson had a solo blast in the second inning and then had a 2-run shot in the fifth. Townsend had a 3-run shot in the first and then had a solo home run in the second.

The other home run came off the bat of Hickey as she had a solo shot in the fifth.

Besides Groves’ 6-for-6 performance, Adena Hagen went 3-for-6 with a run scored, a RBI, a single and two doubles; and Tonya Atencio went 3-for-5 with three runs scored and three singles.

Also, Megan Burditt went 2-for-4 with a run scored, a RBI, and two singles; Townsend went 2-for-4 with two runs scored, four RBIs and two home runs; Kelly Pearson went 2-for-5 with two runs scored, a RBI and a double; Hickey went 2-for-5 with five runs scored, a RBI and a home run; Ganer went 2-for-5 with three runs scored, three RBIs and a double; and Simpson went 2-for-5 with three runs scored, 6t RBIs and two home runs.

WNCC, 40-16, will finish off the regular season Saturday when they travel to face the University of Wyoming in Laramie. The Cougars will then compete in the Region IX tournament may 1-3 with their first game scheduled for Friday against Otero Junior College at 4 p.m. Regionals will be played in Trinidad, Colo.

First game
WNCC 646 33 – 22 24
Southeast 000 00 – 0 0
WP – Garner; 2B – WNCC (Adena 2, Pearson, Garner); HR – WNCC (Simpson 2, Townsend 2, Hickey).

Second Game
WNCC (40-16) 805 03 – 16 20
Southeast 030 01 – 4 8
WP – Townsend; 2B – WNCC (Groves 3, Townsend, Garner, Smith); HR – WNCC (Groves, Garner, Chacon).

WNCC volleyball finishes recruiting by getting four more players

Western Nebraska Community College volleyball coach Giovana Melo is pleased with her first recruiting class, describing next year’s team as a fun group to watch.

“We will be very talented and fun,” Melo said. “They [the recruits] fit perfectly with our returners.”

Melo finished off her recruiting by getting four more players to join the program, including all-state performer from Louisiana Kathryn Stock, a 6-foot hitter from Thibodaux, La. Melo also inked Tania Delgado, a 6-1 middle/rightside hitter from Camuy, Puerto Rico, as well as 5-5 setter/libero Kulleialohamiaikalani (Kuulei) Kabalis of Hilo, Hawaii. Kuulei is the younger sister of current volleyball player Kalaini Kabalis.

Scottsbluff’s Mackenzie Westphal will also join the Cougar program next year after spending a year away from the game. Westphal, a 5-10 outside hitter who earned Star-Herald volleyball player of the year honors in 2007, originally inked with Wagner College after her senior year. She was one of the Bearcats leading hitters as a senior, leading them to the state tournament in 2005 and 2006.

Melo said the latest recruits will be good additions to the program.

“They are very promising athletes,” she said. “They will be a big addition for our team next year as well as all the other incoming freshmen. Mackenzie Westphal has also decided to come back and play for us.”

Stock, who was being recruited by a number of nationally-recognized programs such as Salt Lake Community College, Hillsborough Community College, Casper College, North Idaho College, Spartanburg Methodist, University of Lousiana-Lafayette and Nicholis State, earned all-state honors all four years of her high school career.

Stock finished her senior season with 321 kills, 125 aces, 324 digs and 111 blocks in 28 matches. She was named the MVP of the state championship team, MVP of the all-star game, and a Gatorade Player of the Year in volleyball for Lousiana.

Stock said she sent Melo an email about playing at WNCC.

“I choose WNCC because of the quality of education and the volleyball program,” Stock said. “The coaches and the team members attracted me to the college, plus the history of the program.

Stock not only shined on the volleyball court, but she excelled in the classroom, where she had a 4.0 grade point average and earned first place at the Academic Fair the past two seasons. She is hoping to continue excelling on both fronts at WNCC.

“I want to win a national championship, make new friends, share the gospel and get a good education,” she said.

Delgado also had the same playing and academic credentials as Stock, where she graduated with honors from Colegio San Felipe High School. She learned about WNCC from current volleyball Paloma Alvarez, who attended the same high school as she did.

“I choose WNCC because it is a good opportunity to improve my English,” she said. “I like the fact that there are a lot of international students there. I will also be able to improve my game and be with a very good team with good coaches.”

Delgado also participated in basketball and weighlifting San Felipe High. She was on the national honor society, was an honor program student and nominated to represent her high school in the “El Nuevo Educador” competition. She hopes to get an associate degree in biology and continue on to get a doctorate in surgery with a specialty in pediatric cardiology.

These four join three earlier volleyball players signing to play for Melo. They include Gering’s Sierra Schmidt, Kearney Catholic’s Emily Hoehn, and Woodland Park, Colo.’s Ariel Austin.

“As of right now, we will have 13 players overall,” Melo said. “We have seven freshmen and six sophomores, which is a pretty good balance.”

WNCC will open the season Aug. 28 and 29 at a tournament in Council Bluffs, Iowa.

Thursday, April 23, 2009

WNCC softball hits five home runs, sweeps CCC-Columbus on the road

COLUMBUS – The Western Nebraska Community College softball team had five home runs, three of which came from the pitchers, as they swept a doubleheader from Central Community College-Columbus Thursday at Columbus.

WNCC trailed early in game one and then scored six times in the sixth inning to register a 9-3 win. The Cougars scored eight times in the nightcap to register a 14-1 win to push the Cougars to 38-16 on the season. WNCC will continue its eastern Nebraska road swing with contests against Southeast Community College in Beatrice Friday at 3 and 5 p.m.

“I thought in game one we came out a little flat and they [central] did a nice job of putting the ball in play,” WNCC coach Maria Winn-Ratliff said. “Then Alyssa Hickey hit the home run and tied the came up and we came back with six runs in the sixth inning to get the win.

“We continued that momentum in the game two where we played really well. We played much better. They strung a few hits together, but that was it. Also, all three of our pitchers [Casey Simpson, Stephanie Townsend and Kelsey Garner] had home runs today.”

WNCC trailed early in game one 3-2 after one inning. Hickey then had a solo home run in the third inning to tie the game.

The Cougars opened the contest up in the sixth inning as Simpson and Garner led off with back-to-back home runs. Tonya Atencio and Lauryn Smith followed by reaching base on a single and a walk. Katie Groves hit both in with a triple to make the score 7-3.

Garner picked up the win, allowing three runs, 10 hits and striking out 10.

Megan Burditt went 3-for-5 with three singles and two runs scored, while Groves went 2-for-3 with two runs scored, two RBIs, a triple and two walks. Hickey went 1-for-2 with two RBIs and a home run.

WNCC made quick work in game two, scoring eight times in the first inning. Groves went 3-for-4 in the game, including having two hits, two RBIs and two runs scored in the first inning along. She also hit her 14th home run of the season, a 2-run shot in the first inning.

Townsend went 3-for-4 with three runs scored, two RBIs, a double and a home run. Townsend’s home run was a 2-run shot in the third inning.’

Also for the Cougars, Kelly Pearson went 3-for-4 with two runs scored, two RBIs and three singles, Hickey went 3-for-4 with two runs scored, two RBIs and three singles; and Smith went 2-for-4 with two runs scored and two singles.

Townsend picked up the win, going three innings, scattering three hits and striking out one. Simpson started, going two innings in allowing a run, two hits and striking out one.

Game One
WNCC 201 006 0 – 9 10
CCC-Columbus 300 000 0 – 3 10
WP – Garner; 3B – WNCC (Groves); HR – WNCC (Simpson, Garner, Hickey).

Game Two
WNCC (38-16) 812 12 – 14 16
CCC-Columbus 010 00 – 1 5
WP – Townsend; 2B – WNCC (Townsend); HR – WNCC (Groves, Townsend).

Wednesday, April 22, 2009

Baseball team falls to Northeastern Colorado, still in second place in conference race

Submitted by Jeremy Woznick, Star-Herald Sports Reporter

STERLING, Colo. - A slow start doomed the Western Nebraska Community College baseball team in its trip south to face Northeastern Junior College in Sterling, Colo., on Wednesday afternoon.

The Cougars spotted the Plainsmen a 7-0 lead through three innings of play and never recovered in dropping an 8-4 decision.

Despite the setback, WNCC still clings to second place in the Empire Conference standings just in front of Lamar Community College. The Cougars have already locked up a playoff spot in the regional tournament. The top two teams in the regional standings at the end of the regular season will host a first-round playoff series in the tournament beginning on May 1.

Trinidad State Junior College has already wrapped up the regular-season title and the tournament's top seed.

On Wednesday against the Plainsmen, WNCC found itself in a hole early as NJC erupted for five runs in the first inning, including a grand slam.

Trailing 7-0, the Cougars plated one run in the fourth on Alex Arias lead-off solo home run, one in the eighth and added two more in the ninth.

"We struggled right from the get-go by giving them five runs without even getting an out," WNCC coach Mike Jones said. "We didn't start the game very well and we had a hard time overcoming it throughout the day. We just need to get off to a better start. Our starting pitchers have to go out and control the game a lot better than that."

Gustavo Sanchez took the loss on the mound for the Cougars. Sanchez (3-3) lasted just one inning. Ben Doran relieved Sanchez and struck out two in seven innings of work out of the bullpen.

NJC out-hit WNCC 13-11 in the game.

The Cougars were led offensively by Arias, who went 3-for-5 with a double, a home run, and a run batted in. Anthony Paniagua went 2-for-4 with a pair of singles, while Oscar Rodriquez and Ronald Miller both had doubles and a run batted in. Josh Parker also drove in a run for the Cougars.

WNCC will close out its regular-season with five straight home games. The Cougars will open the home stand on Friday at 3 p.m. against McCook Community College before hosting Trinidad State in a pair of doubleheaders on Saturday and Sunday.

"We're in the playoffs. Now, it's just a matter of seeing where we're going to be seeded," Jones said. "We have an opportunity to hold onto the No. 2 seed and host some playoff games here at home. I definitely prefer to be at home and our guys prefer to be at home."

WNCC (23-24) 000 100 012 - 4 11 1
NJC (18-23) 502 100 00x - 8 13 4
WP - Huggens; LP - Gustavo Sanchez (3-3).
2B - Alex Arias, Ronald Miller; HR -- Alex Arias

WNCC softball team turns triple play, drops Hastings College J.V.

HASTINGS – The No. 18 Western Nebraska Community College softball team played stellar defense, including turning a triple play, in posting a doubleheader sweep over Hastings College junior varsity Wednesday afternoon at Hastings.

Casey Simpson picked up the in game one, striking out seven in powering the Cougars to an 8-0 win. The second game was highlighted by a first-inning triple play as the Cougars pounded out 15 hits in taking a 13-4 win. The wins push the Cougars’ record to 36-16 on the season.

WNCC controlled game one from the get-go, scoring eight runs on 11 hits. Seven different players recorded at least one hit. WNCC raced to a 3-0 lead after three innings and then scored four times in the sixth inning to end the game via the 8-run rule.

Alyssa Hickey went 2-for-2 with two singles and a run scored, while Megan Burditt went 2-for-3 with three runs scored and Stephanie Townsend went 2-for-4 with a run scored and an RBI.

The second game was highlighted by a first-inning triple play. WNCC was up 4-1 and Hastings had the bases loaded with no outs. The Hastings batter into an infield fly and then the Cougars caught two Hastings’ batters off the base to get out of the jam.

Hastings sliced the lead to 4-3 after two inning, only to see WNCC rack up nine runs in the third, fourth and fifth inning to end the game by the 8-run rule. WNCC scored six times in the fifth inning.

WNCC had five players with two or more hits in the contest. Sophomore Alec Voci led the way with a 3-for-4 performance, including three RBIs and a double.

Adena Hagen went 2-for-2 with a RBI and two singles; Kelly Pearson went 2-for-4 with a run scored and RBI; Katie Groves went 2-for-3 with two runs scored, an RBI and two singles; and Burditt went 2-for-4 with two runs scored and two singles. Tonya Atencio went 1-for-2 with two runs scored as well.

Townsend started in the second and went 1 1/3 inning giving up three runs and four hits. Simpson came in relief to get the win, allowing just two hits and striking out five in 3 2/3 innings of work.

WNCC will next be in action Thursday when they face Central Community College-Columbus at 5 and 7 p.m. WNCC will then face Southeast Community College in Beatrice on Friday, before finishing the regular season Saturday at the University of Wyoming in Laramie.

First Game
WNCC 012 014 – 8 11
Hastings 000 000 – 0 4
WP – Simpson.

Second Game
WNCC (34-16) 402 16 – 13 15
Hastings 120 10 – 4 6
WP – Simpson, 2B – WNCC (Voci).

Tuesday, April 21, 2009

Drexler signs with Division I San Francisco

Tawny Drexler couldn’t hold back the tears after signing a letter of intent to continue her playing career at the University of San Francisco on Friday.

Drexler, who was the starter for the Western Nebraska Community College women’s basketball team, said attending WNCC for two seasons definitely helped her achieve playing at the Division I level.

“I feel like I have succeeded more here than I could have anywhere,” an emotional Drexler said. “I have had the best time playing basketball here and have enjoyed it more than any time in my whole life. Coach [Dave Harnish] always believed in me in whatever it was. I knew that coming in every day to practice and knowing that you had someone there to tell you how do it right and what you need to do, was what I liked.”

WNCC women’s coach Dave Harnish said Drexler is the type of person that will succeed in whatever she does.

“From the emotion that you see [from Drexler], she has done a lot for us. She not only has been a very good player for us, but you see the passion she has had for Western Nebraska and that is hard to find. She brought so much to our program both on and off the floor. That is what we are going to miss most about her leaving and moving on.

“The reason she came here is she wanted to go Division I and it was certainly her dream. That is what our program is all about and we are excited in having her go and playing at San Francisco. If there is any kid that worked harder and proven herself in the 21 years I have been here, it has been Tawny. There has not been a kid that has worked harder and proven herself more to get where she wants to go and succeeding then her. That is a huge accomplishment of what she has done and it means a lot to me of what she has done the last two years. I wish her a lot of luck and she will do well if she works hard.”

Drexler, who also was considering Seattle University, is excited for the opportunity to live her dream of playing Division I basketball.

“It has always been my dream to play Division I,” the 6-foot post player from Golden, Colo., said. “I am very excited to play at that level.”

Drexler averaged 8.89 points a game and 6 rebounds a game. She also shot nearly 50 percent from the field. What makes Drexler stand out the most, though, is her work ethic on the court, where she is not afraid to get battered and bruised in getting a ball. She finished with 48 steals this season and committed just 35 turnovers.

Drexler is anticipating in bringing that physical-style of play to San Francisco.

“I will always go after every ball that I possibly can,” she said. “I like playing down low, but it will be a lot more difficult at that level.”

Drexler capped off her season at WNCC in fine shape, having one of the best final month of the season. Drexler recorded three double-doubles in that seven-game stretch, including a 16-point, 12 rebounds performance against Eastern Wyoming. Drexler also had a season-high 22 points against Colby Community College.

Drexler was named to the Region IX all-tournament team as well as being an All-Region performer.

As a freshman, Drexler helped lead the Cougars to the national tournament, while averaging nine points and seven rebounds per. Drexler is hoping to lead the Dons to the national tournament.

“I hope so,” she said. “Of course, I feel like if we have a team that has the drive and passion, we have all the chance in the world to do it.”

San Francisco head coach Tanya Haave is excited to get someone of Drexler’s passion for basketball.

“Tawny is exactly what we need," said Haave of the 6-0, forward. "She brings with her the size, physical attributes, work ethic and attitude that we need for our program. Our staff and team are excited to have her join the Green and Gold family."

Drexler will still play the post position at San Francisco, but will also more outside a little bit more. Not only will the position change be different, she will also be further away from home.

“It will be a lot different. I definitely will miss my winters and the snow, but I can get used to it,”

San Francisco will be different from Colorado or even western Nebraska. But the biggest change will not having her family at her games.

“Definitely I will miss my family,” Drexler said while looking over at her mom with a tear starting to come from her eye. “That will be very difficult for me because my family has always been my biggest fans of course. It will be really hard, but I will succeed.”

Monday, April 20, 2009

WNCC baseball splits with Lamar, still in second place in conference race

LAMAR, Colo. -- The Western Nebraska Community College baseball team’s seventh inning magic fell short Monday in the final two games of a four-game series with Lamar Community College that was played Sunday and Monday in Lamar, Colo.

In Monday’s opener, the Cougars scored four times in the seventh inning to register a come-from-behind 4-3 win. In the second game of a doubleheader, WNCC trailed 7-2 entering the final frame and came up one run short, falling 7-6.

The Cougars also split a pair of games on Sunday, falling 7-0 in game one before rallying with a fourth inning, four run output to register a 5-3 win.

WNCC is still in second place in the Empire Conference standings after the split, just two games ahead of Lamar Community College for that second spot. The top two teams will host first-round playoff games starting May 1.

The Cougars are 14-10 in conference standings, while Lamar is 13-12. Trinidad State leads the conference with a 20-5 mark. Northeastern Colorado is fourth at 9-14 after taking two from Otero on Monday. Otero and McCook are in fifth and sixth place with 13-15 and 8-21 marks. Only the top four squads make the regional playoffs.

WNCC coach Mike Jones said they played well, especially making comebacks. They just fell short, he said.

“We played alright. We rallied in both games,” he said. “Their pitcher did a good job of holding us down early. We came up with some clutch at bats in both games. In the first game, especially, we had some quality at bats and came out with the win.”

Monday’s first game definitely had a lot of drama. Lamar was shutting out the Cougars through six innings, holding a 3-0 lead. In the seventh inning, Scottsbluff’s Trace Marsden started things with a double, his second 2-bagger of the game. Vince Rouse followed with a single and then Josh Parker was walked to load the bases with no outs.

Jason Sloan then delivered a single to score Marsden to keep the bases loaded. Aurelio Monteagudo walked to force in the second run. Elvis Garcia then hit into a fielder’s choice that allowed two runs score on an error.

That was all WNCC needed as Cougar freshman Rodil Martinez shut down the Lopes’ bats in the seventh for the win. Martinez threw seven innings, allowing six hits and striking out two.

Three Cougars finished the game with two hits. Marsden and Alex Arias each went 2-for-4, while Sloan went 2-for-3. Marsden had two doubles in the contest.

The second game had drama as well. Unfortunately for WNCC, its seventh-inning comeback fell short.

WNCC was trailing 7-1 entering the sixth inning. That is when WNCC started their comeback. First, Monteagudo had a solo home run to cut the deficit to 7-2 after six innings.

The Cougars didn’t quit as they scored four times in the seventh. Lamar was its worst enemy in that inning as they loaded the bases. The Lopes, however, turned a double play allowing one run to score.

Sloan followed by reaching on an error that allowed another run to score for a 7-4 deficit. Monteagudo followed with a run-scoring double and then Garcia had a run-scoring single, but that was as close as they could get.

Victor Rubio picked up the loss on the mound, going five innings and striking out six.

Sunday’s games had just as much drama. After the Cougars dropped the first game 7-0, WNCC rebounded with a 4-run fourth inning to register a 5-3 win.

In the win, WNCC and Lamar were scoreless through three innings. Then Garcia changed the complexion of the game with a 3-run home run that scored slain and Monteagudo to give WNCC a 4-0 lead. The Cougars added a single run in the fifth.

Lamar fought back, scoring three times in the sixth, but it wasn’t enough.

Sam Diaz picked up the win for WNCC. Sloan paced the team with a 3-for-4 performance, including a double.

WNCC will be back in action Wednesday when they travel to Sterling, Colo., for one 9-inning contest. WNCC will then finish out the Empire Conference race with a 9-inning game Friday against McCook Community College beginning at 3 p.m., followed by a four-game series Saturday and Sunday against Trinidad State Junior College.

Sunday’s Games
WNCC 000 000 0 – 0
Lamar xxx xxx x – 7
LP – Kupfner.

WNCC 000 410 0 – 5 6 0
Lamar 000 003 0 – 3 4 3
WP – Diaz; 2B – WNCC (Sloan); HR – WNCC (Garcia).

Monday’s Games
WNCC 000 000 4 – 4 7 1
Lamar 200 010 0 – 3 6 1
WP – Martinez; 2B – WNCC (Marsden 2).

WNCC (23-23) 100 001 4 – 6 5 3
Lamar (23-20) 012 130 0 – 7 9 1
LP – Rubio; 2B – WNCC (Monteagudo); HR – WNCC (Monteagudo).

WNCC softball sweeps Colby in doubleheader action

COLBY, Kan. – The Western Nebraska Community College softball team picked up two more wins by sweeping Colby Community College on Monday.

WNCC received a sixth-inning 2-run home run by Katie Groves to register a 6-5 first-game win. Kelsey Garner tossed a 3-hitter in powering the Cougars to a 3-0 win over Colby in the second game. It was the fourth straight time WNCC has defeated Colby, after topping the Trojans 11-0 and 14-0 on Sunday.

In the opener, WNCC scored a run in five of the seven innings, holding a 4-0 through five innings. Colby added two runs in the bottom of the fifth and three runs in the sixth inning. WNCC’s two sixth inning runs proved crucial.

Brittany Chacon led off the inning by drawing a walk. Then, Groves delivered her 13th home run of the season as she took the first pitch over the fence. The blast proved to be the game-winner.

Casey Simpson picked up the win, going five innings, allowing two runs, four hits and striking out one. Kelsey Garner earned the save, throwing two innings while striking out three.

Groves paced the team with a 3-for-4 performance with two runs scored, two RBIs, two doubles and a home run. Kelly Pearson also went 3-for-4 with three singles, a run scored and a RBI.

Also for WNCC, Sofia Gomez was 2-for-4 with a double and a run scored, while Megan Burditt had the other hit.

The second game was a little closer. WNCC scored three early runs and then rode the strong-arm pitching of Garner to pick up their 34th win of the season. Garner struck out six and allowed just three hits in the contest.

WNCC opened the scoring early, scoring two first-inning runs. Groves led off with a single and later scored on an error. Adena Hagen followed with a double and scored on a Pearson single.

The Cougar’s lone run in the third inning started as Burditt reached on an error. Hagen then singled. Burditt then scored on a fielder’s choice hit by Pearson.

WNCC managed seven hits in the game. Hagen was the only Cougar with multiple hits. She was 3-for-4 with a runs scored, two singles and a double.

WNCC (34-16) will be back in action Wednesday when they face Hastings College junior varsity, followed by contests with Central Community College-Columbus on Thursday, Southeast Nebraska on Friday and then two to four games against a to-be-announced opponent on Saturday or Sunday.

First Game
WNCC 011 112 0 – 6 9
Colby 000 023 0 – 5 6
WP – Simpson, Save – Garner; 2B – WNCC (Groves 2, Gomez; HR – WNCC (Groves).

Second Game
WNCC (34-16) 201 000 0 – 3 7
Colby 000 000 0 – 0 3

WP – Garner; 2B – WNCC (Hagen).

Sunday, April 19, 2009

WNCC baseball team splits with Lamar

The Western Nebraska Community College baseball team is still in the driver’s seat in hosting a first-round Region IX tournament game after splitting with Lamar Community College Sunday afternoon.

The Cougar men fell 7-0 in the first game, but came back to register a 5-3 win in game two to split the doubleheader. WNCC is now 13-9 in Empire Conference action, while Lamar Community College is 12-11. Trinidad State Junior College leads the conference race with an 18-5 mark. Otero is 13-13, while Northeastern Colorado is 7-14 and McCook is 8-19.

The top four teams make the playoffs, which begin May 2 with the top two teams hosting the No. 3 and 4 seeds.

That is why it was important for the Cougars to get at least a sweep over the Runnin’ Lopes on Sunday. The two squads will have another doubleheader Monday afternoon.

In the first game, Lamar shut down the Cougar offense by registering the 7-0 win.

The second game was a different story as Sam Diaz picked up the win for the Cougars. The big blow, though, was freshman Elvis Garcia, who had a 3-run home run to help the Cougars to the win.

In other Region IX scores over the weekend, Trinidad won two of three from McCook. Trinidad won 4-1 on Saturday. Then, on Sunday, the two squads split with Trinidad winning the first game 7-5 before falling 7-5 in the second game.

Team Conf. Overall
Trinidad State 18-5 34-15
WNCC 13-9 22-22
Lamar 12-11 22-19
Otero 13-13 19-24
NE Colorado 7-14 15-23
McCook C.C. 8-19 17-30

WNCC softball pounds out six home runs, blanks Colby in doubleheader

The Western Nebraska Community College softball team pounded out 22 hits and had six home runs in taking a doubleheader from Colby Community College Sunday in Colby, Kan.The two wins was the team's 31st and 32nd wins of the season.

The No. 20 Cougars scored five times in the first inning in registering an 11-0 win in the first game. The second game saw the Cougars pound out five home runs, including two dingers each from sophomore Alec Voci and freshman Casey Simpson in registering the 14-0 win.

WNCC coach Maria Winn-Ratliff said the team came to play and really hit the ball. The also got some nice pitching performances from the circle.

In the opener, Casey Simpson picked up the win, going four innings and allowing three hits and striking out three.

Offensively, WNCC finished with seven hits, scoring in all five innings that they played. The big hit was Stephanie Townsend 2-run home run in the fourth inning the pushed the score to 9-0. Townsend, who pitched two innings as well, went 2-for-4 with two runs scored, four RBIs, a double and a home run.

Kelly Pearson also collected multiple hits, going 2-for-3 with a double and three RBIs. Also for WNCC, Brittany Chacon went 1-for-3 with a double, and Katie Groves went 0-1 with three runs scored and three walks.

WNCC kept the offensive going in the second game, pounding out 15 hits, including nine extra base hits.

Groves got the offense started in the second inning with a 3-run home run, her 12th of the year to put WNCC up 4-3. Groves finished the contest 4-for-4 with two runs scored, four RBIs, two singles, a double and a home run.

After Groves home run, Voci and Simpson took over the hitting. Simpson had two 2-run shots in the game. The first home run coming in the third inning, while her second one coming in the fourth inning. Simpson finished the game 3-for-4 with three runs scored, four RBIs and two home runs.

Voci had a solo shot in the fourth inning and then launched a 2-run home run in the fifth inning. Voci went 2-for-2 with two runs scored, three RBIs and two home runs.

Also for WNCC, Pearson went 2-for-3 with a double and two runs scored, Lauryn Smith went 1-for-1 with a double and RBI, and Tiffany Lookabill went 1-for-2 with a runs scored and a double.

Kelsey Garner and Townsend combined on a one hitter. Garner got the win, going three innings, while striking out three. Garner allowed the only hit, a second-inning single.

WNCC (32-16) will face Colby in another doubleheader Monday.

First Game
WNCC 511 22 – 11 7
Colby CC 000 00 – 0 3
WP – Simpson; 2B – WNCC (Pearson, Townsend, Chacon); HR – WNCC (Townsend).

Second Game
WNCC (32-16) 043 34 – 14 15
Colby CC 000 00 – 0 1
WP – Garner; 2B – WNCC (Groves, Smith, Pearson, Lookabill); HR – WNCC (Voci 2, Simpson 2, Groves).

Friday, April 17, 2009

WNCC softball wins 30th game of the year

The Western Nebraska Community College softball team picked up its 30th win of the season, but at the same time saw its nine-game winning streak snapped Saturday to Butler County Community College.

The No. 20 Grizzlies topped the No. 20 Cougars 3-2 in game one, limiting WNCC’s bats to just five hits. In the nightcap, the Cougars scored four late runs to earn a 5-1 win, their 30th of the year, and earned a split with Butler County on Friday in El Dorado, Kan.

The Cougars swept a doubleheader from Friends College junior varsity on Thursday, winning the first game 1-0 and then taking the second contest 8-6 in nine innings.

Friday’s action featured two evenly-matched, nationally-ranked teams. WNCC scored first as Katie Groves singled and scored on a Sofia Gomez single for a 1-0 lead. Butler came back with a run in the bottom of the inning to tie the game.

Both teams then scored a single run in the fourth inning. The Cougars run saw Gomez get a single followed by Kelly Pearson rapping out a double. Gomez then scored on a Alyssa Hickey sacrifice fly for the 2-1 lead. Butler came back with a single run in the fourth and then the winning run in the fifth.

Kelsey Garner picked up the loss, scattering 10 hits, striking out six.

Gomez paced the Cougars with a 2-for-3 performance, including a run scored and an RBI. Groves, Garner and Pearson had the other hits for WNCC.

Both teams were in another dogfight in game two. Butler scored once in the first only to see WNCC tie the game in the second as Gomez singled and scored on a Tonya Atencio single.

WNCC added two more in the fourth and seventh inning. In the fourth, Atencio walked and Stephanie Townsend reached base on an error. Both runners scored on a Groves single. The Cougars scored the two seventh-inning runs on two hits as Adena Hagen and Gomez each had singles.

Casey Simpson picked up the win, allowing just three hits, while striking out five and walking five.

Gomez finished the game going 3-for-4 with a run scored and a RBI, while Atencio went 1-for-1 with a run scored, a RBI and two walks.

In Thursday’s contests against Friends College junior varsity, WNCC scored the only run they needed in the first inning. Groves reached base on an error, stole second base and then scurried home on a Gomez single.

The Cougars managed just four hits against a stiff wind that was blowing in. Gomez went 2-for-3 with a RBI. The other two hits came from Hickey and Atencio.

Garner picked up the win allowing just one hit, while striking out nine.

The second contest was a barn-burner as the Cougars won the contest in the ninth inning. WNCC trailed 5-4 entering the seventh inning. WNCC scored the tying run in that inning to force extra innings. After each team scored once in the eighth, WNCC added two runs in the ninth in dramatic fashion.

Brittany Chacon started things off after she was placed at second via the international tie-breaker rule. Groves sacrificed her to third and then Chacon scored on a Burditt triple. Burditt came around to score on a Pearson single.

Garner picked up the win, pitching the final two innings. Garner allowed one hit, a run and struck out five. Stephanie Townsend started and went three innings, giving up four hits, three runs and striking out two. Simpson followed by going four innings, allowing three hits, two runs and striking out five.

WNCC pounded out 10 hits in the win. Burditt went 2-for-3 with a triple, RBI and run scored, while Townsend went 2-for-4 with two doubles and a RBI. Garner also had an extra base hit, a double, in her 1-for-3 performance, while Chacon went 1-for-3 with two runs scored and an RBI.

WNCC is slated to play the Sterling College junior varsity Saturday, depending on the status of Sterling’s contest outcome Friday. The Cougars (30-16) will then play Garden City Community College and Colby Community College on Sunday, before playing Colby in a double dip on Monday.

Thursday’s Games
WNCC 100 000 0 – 1 4
Friends JV 000 000 0 – 0 1
WP – Garner.

WNCC 021 100 112 – 8 10
Friends JV 003 200 010 – 6 8
WP – Garner; 2B – WNCC (Townsend 2, Garner); 3B – WNCC (Burditt).

Friday’s Games
WNCC 100 100 0 – 2 5
Butler County 100 110 x – 3 10
LP – Garner; 2B – WNCC (Pearson).

WNCC (30-16) 010 200 2 – 5 7
Butler (24-14) 100 000 0 – 1 3
WP – Simpson.

Wednesday, April 15, 2009

WNCC's Groves named NJCAA player of the week

Western Nebraska Community College's Katie Groves compiled a .684 batting average in six games last week in helping the Cougars run their winning streak to seven games and, thus, was named the NJCAA player of the week.

Groves, a freshman infielder from Bluffdale, Utah, capitalized on her recent move to the lead-off hitter position last week as the first baseman had 13 hits of 19 at bats, including two triples and a game-tying first-pitch solo home run against Otero Junior College. Groves also scored 11 runs, drove in 11 RBIs, walked six times and stole two based to help the Cougars to a 27-15 record.

Groves' home run against Otero in the bottom of the seventh inning helped the Cougars win 3-2. It also was her 11th home run of the season, the team leader. She is also batting .476 for the year and leads the team with 51 runs scored, 54 RBIs and 20 walks.

Audrey Workman of Tavapai was named the NJCAA Pitcher of the week for throwing her second no-hitter of the year against Central Arizona College.