Baseball sweeps McCook, keeps playoff hopes alive

                [April 27] MCCOOK -- The Western Nebraska Community College baseball team kept their playoff hopes alive after combining for 21 runs and 30 hits in sweeping McCook Community College 11-5 and 10-2 in Empire Conference action Saturday in McCook.

                In the opener, the Cougars pounded out 14 hits and received four RBIs and two doubles from Nick Vanthillo in earning the win.

                WNCC also got an outstanding pitching performance from Challis Wright, who scattered eight hits and allowed two runs in six innings of work.

                The Cougars started the offensive output early, scoring three runs in the first inning as Anthony Delgado and JT Core singled before Ozzy Gonzalez delivered a 3-run home run.

                McCook would slice the lead to 3-2, but WNCC punched the lead back to 11-2 with a single run in the fourth, four runs in the sixth, and three runs in the seventh. The fourth inning saw Alex Michaud start things with a double and then score on a Pablo Garcia double.

                WNCC continued the hit parade in the sixth with five hits. Vanthillo had a 2-run double to get things going followed by run-scoring singles by Delgado and Cameron Snyder.

                The Cougars had four players finish with multiple hits. Garcia led the way with a 2-for-3 game with a double, run scored, and RBI. Vanthillo went 2-for-4 with two doubles, two runs scored and four RBIs. Delgado and Gonzalez each had two hits. Gonzalez had three RBIS and a home run, while Delgado had two singles, two runs scored and a RBI.

                WNCC opened up the offense even more in the second game, pounding out 16 hits, including seven extra base hits. Cameron Snyder and Delgado had the hot bats as each pounded out four hits and three RBIs. Delgado had a double and home run, while Snyder had three doubles.

                WNCC scored  in every inning by the seventh. The Cougars scored one in the first as Snyder singled in Delgado. The second inning saw Keeton Krause score on a Vanthillo single, while in the third Snyder doubled in Delgado and Gonzalez for a 4-0 lead.

                WNCC continued it's offensive output with one in the fourth, two in the fifth, and three in the sixth. The fourth saw Zach Ostergard triple to right field and score on a Delgado double. The fifth saw Michaud single in Snyder before Krause scored Michaud.

                The sixth inning saw Delgado get a 2-run home run followed by back-to-back doubles by Snyder and Ryan Bender..

                Grant Piccolli picked up the win with five strong innings in scattering just two hits and giving up no runs. Piccolli struck out eight in his time on the mound. Felix Ojeda-Sanchez tossed the final two innings, allowing two hits and two runs.

                WNCC and McCook will play another doubleheader Sunday. The Cougars need to win both games to keep their playoff hopes alive. After Sunday, the Cougars will host Northeastern Junior College in a doubleheader on Monday.

First Game

WNCC                   300 104 3 -- 11 14 0

McCook               011 000 3 -- 5 11 2

WP -- Challis Wright; 2B -- Alex Michaud, Pablo Garcia, Nick Vanthillo 2; HR -- Ozzy Gonzalez.

Second Game

WNCC                   112 123 0 -- 10 16 2

McCook               000 001 1 -- 2 4 2

WP -- Grant Piccolli; 2B -- Cameron Snyder 3, Anthony Delgado, Ryan Bender; 3B -- Zach Ostergard; HR -- Delgado.