WNCC softball ready for regional tournament which begins Friday in Lamar

                 The Western Nebraska Community College softball team will take aim a repeating as Region IX champions when they head to the regional tournament this weekend in Lamar, Colo.

                The 20^th-ranked Cougars, 48-13, enter the tournament as the overall No. 1 seed and will open play Friday at 5 p.m. against the winner of the McCook Community College and Lamar Community College contest in the double elimination tournament.  If the Cougars win, they will play Saturday at 3 p.m.

                For the Cougars, they are playing some of their best softball after taking four from Luna Community College last weekend. WNCC ran through the conference slate with a 17-3 record. WNCC sophomore Megan Bourdon, who tied a school record for home runs in a season with her 17^th dinger on Sunday, said this team is ready for the tournament.

                “I think we are playing really good. Our hitting is definitely good. Our defense has been strong. Ashton [Hughes] and [Amanda] Jones has done a really good job on the mound. If our hitting is good this weekend, I think we will be fine.”

                At the same time, the Cougar players are entering the tournament with caution, realizing that every team will bring their A game.

                “I think a lot of our team thought people would hand us the win and those losses told us that these teams are there to play us knowing that we are the best team there,” Bourdon said. “These teams want to get us. We are the top team that they want to beat.”

                The Cougars have stumbled three times in conference play, falling to Trinidad State 4-3, Lamar Community College 2-1, and McCook 5-3. It is those losses that have awakened the team.

Since the McCook loss on April 6, the Cougars won their next six conference games, sweeping Trinidad State 6-0 and 3-2, dropping Otero Junior College 8-0 and 9-1, and topping Lamar 10-2 and 6-0.

                Bourdon said the key to the recent success was playing well together, including getting clutch hits.

                “All we have to do is play our game and have fun,” Bourdon said. “When we relax, that is when we play the best. If our hitting is like it has been, then we will be fine. I am not worried about any other team but our own.”

                WNCC has put up some huge numbers offensively this season. The team set a new school record in home runs with 74 hit so far this season.  Bourdon leads the team with 17 dingers this season, but right behind her are Jocelyn Stubbs with 16 and Jacqui Cappuccilli with 15. Bree Bitton, Mariah Faifer and Ashton Hughes all have five or more home runs on the season.

                Bourdan, who was named the NJCAA softball Player of the Week on Wednesday, said their power is what can scare teams as anyone can crank one at anytime.

                “Pretty much our whole team has hit at least one home run,” she said. “I just know if I go up to the plate and get on, I know someone will score me.”

                The Cougars definitely racked up the extra base hits this season with 217, with 120 doubles. Jordan Schoepflin leads the way with 21 doubles followed by Cappuccilli and Aria Agle with 16, and Stubbs and Bourdon with 15.

                “I think our hitting is what most people are scared of because when we are on, we are on,” she said. “Our hitting seems like it contagious. It seems like when one person gets a hit, the next person gets a hit. Hopefully we hope our bats are hot this weekend if they are we could be in.”

                The key to winning back-to-back Region IX titles will come down to defense and pitching.

                “If our pitchers have a good weekend, which I am sure they will, that will be a huge relief,” Bourdon said. “If we can go this weekend without getting runs scored on us, then will be a big thing.”

                In the circle, the Cougars have been led by Ashton Hughes and Amanda Jones all season. The two have delivered the one-two punch. Hughes has a 27-4 record with 186 innings pitched. The sophomore right hander has struck out 235 with an earned run average of 1.88. Jones has also has a 20-win season at 20-8. Jones, a freshman from Las Vegas, Nev., has thrown 162 innings, striking out 81, and posting a 2.72 ERA.

                Bourdon said they just need to put everything together to capture the berth to the national tournament May 19-21 in St. George, Utah. The championship is slated for Sunday afternoon.

                The softball tournament will be video broadcast online at www.lamartvcolorado.com.

Friday’s Schedule

1 p.m. – McCook vs. Lamar

3 p.m. – Otero vs. Dawson

5 p.m. – McCook/Lamar winner vs. WNCC

7 p.m. – Otero /Dawson winner vs. Trinidad