Optimism is running high in the minds of this year’s Western Nebraska Community College softball players and coaches. WNCC’s fans and opponents will get a glimpse of that optimism when they open the season Friday at the Odessa, Texas, Tournament Friday and Saturday.
WNCC coach Maria Winn said these girls are ready to get the season going. “They are eager to get on the bus Wednesday morning at 8 a.m.,” she said. “They have been talking about going to Texas for the last week. They have their bags packed and ready to go.”
Winn can’t wait to see how this team meshes as a unit after a successful fall campaign, in which they went 15-8-1. “This group is fun and energetic, and the recruits coming in brag about how good of kids they are,” Winn said. “We have really worked hard to go out and find good kids that are athletic. I didn’t know that in my athletic career that I would take good athletic kids, good people and sacrifice some other things that might be out there because I couldn’t ask for a better group of kids.”
This year’s team features just 12 players with just one returning player, Ashley Eichelberger from Orangevale, Calif., from last year’s 27-25 and Region IX runner-up team. Winn said Eichelberger’s nickname is “Mom,” since she is the mother-figure on the team of helping the girls excel on and off the court.
“The kids really have trusted her and she came in with the attitude of ‘I am here to help us make us better,’” Winn said. “The kids have really responded to that. She knows when they need to behave a little better and be a little bit more in tune of what we are doing. That is off the field, and what she does on the field is hard to explain. She is versatile and she hits for power.”
The other 11 players are all newcomers to the program, including sophomore transfer Jessica Ventoza, who transferred to WNCC from Highline Community College in Washington.
“She is a unique kid and a tremendous competitor, who probably hates to lose as much as I do,” Winn said. “She has tremendous foot speed, and we flipped her around to bat left-handed this spring to get some versatility. She will be a threat on the bases. She really worked hard to pick up the kids.”
With 12 players and 11 being freshmen, Winn doesn’t see a depth problem. She is pleased with the flexibility this team possesses.
“We don’t have a lot of bodies sitting on the bench, but we have kids that can interchange positions, and that is what is unique about us,” Winn said. “Having this versatile of a team really helps because if someone does go down with an injury, we might have to juggle some things, but we might not lose as much as people might think just having 12 players.”
Position-wise, Winn said they can go two and three deep. Here is a breakdown, by position, of this year’s Cougar softball team.
Pitcher
WNCC has four pitchers, with Natasha Dypchey of South Surrey, British Colombia, leading the charge. Right behind Dypchey is Jessica Pexton of Douglas, Wyo., who Winn said has improved considerably since the fall season. The other pitchers are Ashley Patton of Delta, Utah, and possibly Ashley Eichelberger in spots.
“Natasha threw really well for us in the fall. We have been doing pressure bullpens and charting pitches, and she is very consistent for us,” Winn said. “Pexton really has improved a lot for us and has more control with her curve ball and she is getting more pitches on the black. When she does miss, she is not missing down the middle of the plate.
“I also think Ashley Patton is a kid that will win a lot of ball games for us because she throws to her spots. She will not stand on the mound and intimidate and overpower you with speed, she just does the little things right. With those three kids, we see a lot. Natasha has a great rise ball, Pex has a really good curveball, and then you have Patton who has a great off-speed pitch.”
Catcher The catching position is also deep with Amanda Torimaru of Ft. Collins, Colo., and Amanda Hensley, of Denver, Colo., ready to call the game behind the plate. Both catchers also led the team in hitting during the fall season. Torimaru batted .513 with three home runs and 28 RBIs, while Hensley hit .540 with 27 hits.
Lauren Bourdon of Duck Lake, Saskatchewan Canada, can also fill in behind the plate if needed, but Winn said Bourdon will more then likely see time in the outfield.
“We will see a lot of good things happen for us behind the dish for us,” Winn said. “Our battery will be controlled by freshmen. That is promising for us for the upcoming year. Tori and Hensley led the team in hitting in the fall. Obviously, both can’t catch at the same time, so you will see both of those kids in the field somewhere because they hit so well.”
First Base
The first base position will be anchored by Eichelberger and Pexton, when she doesn’t pitch. Winn said depth at first base won’t be a problem.
“Ashley does a really nice job maintaining the team and because our catchers are kind of quiet and she is our leader,” she said. “Pex came in with limited experience and got experience in the fall. She does some really nice things and has really grown a lot. We are excited to get her some time there and see how she responds in game situations.”
Second Base
The second base position will be anchored by Kara Ryman, of Westminster, Colo. Winn said they also have the luxury of moving either Dypchey, Ventoza or Jessie McNabb to second base at times.
“Kara came in as a high school shortstop, and primarily played second base in the fall for us,” Winn said. “We are pretty versatile at second, third and short. Those kids can all interchange.”
Shortstop
Ventoza is the main shortstop. When she isn’t playing there, Winn said she can play third, second or the outfield. Besides Ventoza’s fielding, she also will be a plus in the batting lineup, having stolen seven bases in the fall.
Thirdbase
The third base position will be handled mainly by McNabb, of Davidson, Saskatchewan Canada. Other players that can play that position include Eichelberger, and outfielders Bourdon and Lauren Mills.
“McNabb will primarily play third for us,” Winn said. “McNabb is athletic and a gutsy kid. She will dive for anything and she will work hard.”
Outfield
Winn said the outfield will feature a bunch of competitive and raw players. Roaming the grassy area will be Whittany Foster, of Greeley, Colo. Foster is a true outfielder, while the other players can play other positions on the infield. They include Mills of Birch Hills, Saskatchewan Canada, Bourdon, along with Torimaru, Hensley, Patten, Dypchey and Ventoza.
“Every kid on our team can play the outfield,” the third-year head coach said. “That is the one unique quality of this team, that everyone is interchangeable. Not everyone can pitch or catch, but with the other seven positions on the field, if you ask them to do it, they will give 100 percent.”
After this weekend’s contests, the team will be back on the road for Region IX games in Colorado. The team’s first home contest is scheduled for March 4 against Lamar Community College.
