WNCC falls to McCook 6-4 in baseball action

                Defensive miscues hurt the Western Nebraska Community College baseball team in an Empire Conference game Wednesday afternoon at Cleveland.

               The Cougars couldn't hold an early 3-0 lead in falling to McCook Community College 6-4. The loss drops the Cougars to 2-5 in Region IX play with only they top four teams advancing to Region IX playoffs.

               WNCC coach Mike Jones said they have to figure it out quickly because it seemed as if they couldn't do anything correctly Wednesday afternoon.

               "We made a lot of defensive mistakes and we didn't play that well all the way around, really," he said. "Pitching was a little sloppy. Defense was lazy. Offensively, we are not motivated. We are lacking confidence right know and lacking a lot of attitude.

               "We have to figure it out,". It is an entire team thing. Coaching staff and players are all in it together. We have to get it figured out."
               WNCC started the contest off well, running to a 3-0 lead after the first inning and staring pitcher Jacob Stutzman mowed down the first six batters. WNCC even played strong defensively in get a huge out off a bunt to throw out a runner at third base.

               WNCC's opening inning runs came after Paul Singh and Kevin Sanford earned free passes to the bases. Reimer Alamberry followed with a single to load the bases. Rainer Tiel came through with a run-single single and then Sanford came around to score on a hit by Jake Vore. Alamberry scored the final run of the inning on a passed ball for the 3-0 lead.

               The lead stayed that way until the third inning when McCook came back to tie the game at 3-3 on four hits and an error. The big hit in for the Indians were a run-scoring double by Eric Montes and a run-scoring bunt single by Kyle Gamble.

               McCook grabbed their first lead of the game in the fifth. Montes led off with a single and came around to score on a 2-out double by David DeCarlo for the 4-3 lead.

               The Cougars came back in the bottom of the frame with a run of their own. Camilo Baldelomar led off with a single and scored on a hit by Tiel. WNCC, however, left runners in scoring position to end the inning.

               McCook plated another run in the sixth. Brandon Pacheco led off with a 2-out single and two batters and an error later, scored on a double by Montes. The Indians added an insurance run in the eighth after the lead-off batter earned a walk and scored on a 2-out error.

               Stutzman picked up the loss, going six innings and allowing nine hits Stutzman struck out two and walked just one. Carlos Luzon, John Bravard and Terry McNabb finished off the game for the Cougars.

               Matt Stachura earned the win on the mound for McCook, going six inning and allowing four runs, six hits and striking out four. Brandon Monahan earned the save in finishing the last three innings in allowing just one hit and striking out three.

               McCouk outhit WNCC 10-7. Montes paced the Indians with a 3-for-5 game, including two doubles, two runs scored and two RBIs. DeCarlo also collected two hits for McCook, including a double and a RBI.

               WNCC was led by Baldelomar with a 2-for-4 day, including a sacrifice bunt and a run scored. Sanford and Tiel also reached base three times each. Sanford collected a single and also was walked and by a pitch, while Tiel had a single and reached on two errors.

               The errors, Jones said, was the difference in the contest.

               "Right know we have a hard time overcoming any mistakes," he said. "Mistakes are a part of baseball and they will happen. But, we have a hard time overcoming them."

               WNCC, 9-17, will have little time in correcting their mistakes ahs they host Trinidad State in key conference games on Saturday and Sunday beginning at 1 p.m. at Cleveland Field.

McCook (12-10)                003 011 010 -- 6 10 2

WNCC (9-17)                     300 010 000 -- 4 7 3

WP -- Matt Stachura, LP Jacob Stutzman; S -- Brandon Monahan; 2B -- McCook (Eric Montes 2, Brandon Pacheco).

Conference Standings

                              Conf.     Overall

Lamar C.C.          6-1         22-10

Trinidad               6-0         20-9

McCook               4-3         12-10

Otero J.C.            4-6         21-12    

WNCC                  2-5         9-17

NE Colorado       1-7         11-16

Monday's Results

Otero 13, Garden City 3

Wednesday Results

McCook 6, WNCC 4

Otero 4, Lamar 3

Luna at Trinidad

Colby at NE Colorado