Gering's Romey signs with WNCC softball

                Gering's Kayla Romey won't be changing coaches when she enrolls at WNCC next fall as her high school coach, Molly Bonuchi, also serves as WNCC's assistant coach.

               "I decided to go here because I was offered a scholarship and they carry my degree," the graphic design major said. It will also be good [to be with Molly]. She has helped me a lot and even the next two years she will be good support for myself."

               Romey, who was a Star-Herald first team selection infield, said she was looking at Chadron State College first, but then decided that WNCC was a better fit for her.

               "It is very exciting [to play for a top program]," she said. "I am very excited to play for the Cougars."

               WNCC coach Maria Winn-Ratliff said that Romey will fit in well to the Cougar program.

               "Kayla is a unique young woman. She runs well. She can play the infield. She can play the outfield. She has been coached the last couple of years by Molly. That has been nice for me because she was my assistant coach. The things she has done in the high school program, we have done at WNCC.

               "Having local talent is always a plus, but the other attributes that she brings off the field is a plus. Not only is she a great softball player, but she will give us to have a great person in the program academically and continue the tradition of success at WNCC."

               Romey helped the Bulldogs to a 16-13 record last fall. The senior said that she made the switch from third to shortstop this season with ease. At the college level, she is projected to be an outfielder as well as a left-handed slap hitter.

               It was a big change going from third to shortstop. There was a lot more to learn and lots more to keep heads up about, she said. "

               Romey, who earned Western Conference first-team honors, said one of her biggest memories came on senior night against Scottsbluff.

               "This year, the most memorable game was senior night and I had a double play at shortstop to end the game," she said. "Last year, it was the wins at the Western Conference tournament."

               Romey said that she has learned a lot in her two years under Gering coach Bonunci and is anxious to continue getting better at softball in college.

               "I think Molly has helped the Gering softball program greatly," Romey said. "She has taught a lot of new things to the girls and they are always continually learning."
               Romey is the 11th player that Winn-Ratliff has signed for next season. The other players inking letter of intents to play softball include Kasey Cash of Wellington, Colo.; Shalese Connory of Neola, Utah; Bianca Duran of Westminster, Colo.; Sasha Duran-Fong of Erie, Colo.; Nora Murphy and Danielle Hearn of Las Vegas, Nev.; Haley Paxton and KImberly Widick of Greeley, Colo.; Melanie Rowson of Surrey, British Colombia; and Mariah Shepherd of Grantsville, Utah.