The Western Nebraska Community College baseball team used dramatic seventh innings to keep its playoff hopes alive with two thrilling victories over Trinidad State Junior College Friday at Cleveland Field.
Jake Montoya had a 3-run double in the bottom of the seventh to lift the Cougars to a 6-5 come-from-behind victory. The second game was just as intense as the Cougars thwarted Trinidad from scoring the tying run on a passed ball in the seventh inning to record the 3-2 win.
The doubleheader pushes the Cougars into fourth place in the Empire Conference standings and a game ahead of McCook Community College for the final playoff spot. Montoya said these two wins are huge confidence boosters for the team as they fight for a berth in the playoffs.
“These two wins are really big. They are big confidence builders going into the weekend since we knew McCook had lost one [on Wednesday] to NJC, so we knew we had a chance,” the sophomore from Wheatland, Wyo., said. “Winning these first two off the bat solidifies us and we move up into fourth right know and now it depends on what other teams do.” The two wins weren’t pretty, but the Cougars found a way to come out on top. WNCC trailed 5-3 heading into their final at bat of the opening game. Jake Peltz started the comeback with a one-out infield single. Then, Reimer Alambarry slapped a single to right field. Camilo Baldelomar then reached base on an error to load the bases.
Montoya then stepped to the plate with two outs and everything rested on his shoulders. Montoya, who struck out in his two previous plate appearances, came through in the clutch. He said he went up to the plate with confidence.
“I had a couple tough at bats earlier in the game,” he said. “I was walking up there and I had a lot of confidence that I could put something into play. I got that 2-0 count and I knew that fast ball was coming. I just put it into play.”
Montoya took a fastball and drove it to right field and the diving attempt resulted in all three baserunners crossing home plate as Montoya had a stand up double. Montoya said he did see the winning run cross the plate, but the next thing he saw was him being mobbed by his teammates as if they just won the Region IX tournament. Montoya did see Baldelomar cross home to win the game
“I did see the winning run cross home plate. I ran to second base and thought about going to third, but I didn’t want to risk anything so I stopped on second base to watch them score. At that point I saw the team running out at me.”
WNCC had many heroes in the opening game offensively and defensively. Alamberry went 1-for-1 in the contest as he had two runs scored and three walks. Peltz went 1-for 3 with two runs scored, while Montoya had the only extra base hit, the game-winning double.
Carlos Palomo picked up the win on the mound, tossing a complete game. Palomo allowed five runs but scattered six hits. The Gering graduate struck out a season high eight Trojan batters.
WNCC rode that win into the second game and quickly took a 2-0 lead on Trinidad with two runs in the second inning on three hits. The big hit was a 2-run single by Paul Singh to score Montoya and Nelzon Quintero.
Trinidad came back to tie the game in the fifth on a home run by Gavis Purvis. The Trojans scored their second run as Jacen Davis doubled and scored on a Adam Anderon single to knot the score.
WNCC came right back in the bottom of the fifth with a single run. Benly Ramos started things by reaching on an error. Pinch runner Trevor Kriesel then scored the go ahead run on a Baldelomar single for the 3-2 lead.
Trinidad tried a seventh inning comeback as they had a runner on third base with two outs. A couple pitches later, Trinidad tried to score on a passed ball but Montoya delivered the ball to relief pitcher Terry McNabb to tag out tying run at the plate.
WNCC received another superior pitching performance as Carlos Luzon pitched six strong innings to get the win. Luzon allowed just two runs on six hits. The sophomore also struck out struck out two and two. Terry McNabb picked up the save, tossing the seventh in walking one and striking out one.
Baldelomar led the team from the plate, going 2-for-2 with a RBI. Singh also had two RBIs in the contest.
The same two squads will be back in action Saturday for another doubleheader beginning at 1 p.m.. Montoya said they will hope to carry the momentum into the rest of the games this weekend.
“We are going to enjoy these two wins for now and then tomorrow [Saturday] get back to work,” he said. “We are going to try to keep it going. If we can win two on Saturday, we will be sitting in really good position heading into Sunday against Lamar.”
First Game
Trinidad 002 300 0 – 5 6 1
WNCC 002 010 3 – 6 5 1
WP – Carlos Palomo, LP – Rhys Nitt; 2B – WNCC (Jake Montoya).
Second Game
Trinidad (34-20) 000 020 0 – 2 6 1
WNCC (17-29) 020 010 x – 3 6 0
WP – Carlos Luzon, LP – Kevin Hand, S – Terry McNabb; 2B – Trinidad (Jacen Davis); 3B – Trinidad (Wade Beauvais); HR – Trinidad (Beauvais).
Region IX Standings
Team Conf. Overall
Lamar 24-4 41-14
Trinidad 17-11 34-20
Otero 14-12 31-19
WNCC 10-16 17-29
McCook 9-17 23-26
NE Colorado 8-22 20-34
Friday’s Games
WNCC 6, Trinidad 5
WNCC 3, Trinidad 2
Lamar 6, NE Colorado 3
Lamar 15, NE Colorado 4
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