WNCC softball sweeps Lamar

The Western Nebraska Community College softball team will be known as the cardiac kids after their performance Sunday against Lamar Community College in their home opener.

The Cougars swept Lamar in three game 8-7 in eight innings, and then 8-7 and 10-2 to run their record to 10-7 and 6-2 in league play.

“I thought we played really well. We came together as a team when we were down,” freshman Kara Ryman said. “We did well offensively when we needed to. Our team motto is never give up.”

There were several heroes on the day, especially in the first two games, which counted in regional play where the Cougars used some late inning magic to pick up the win.

One of the stars of the day was pitcher Natasha Dypchey, who collected all three wins. The freshman from British Colombia pitched 15 2/3 innings giving up 15 hits and striking out 11.

Jessica Ventoza also came through at the plate, going 9-of-12 with three doubles, four RBIs and four runs scored. Also standing out was Ryman, who went 6-of-12 with three doubles, five runs scored and two RBIs.

Amanda Torimaru also stepped up. Torimaru finished with a triple, double, two singles, two runs scored and three RBIs.

Ryman said all three wins were definitely a team effort.

“I thought it was nice that we all could fight back together and win as a team. No one was left out and it all three wins was a team win.,” she said. “When we were down with two outs, one girl would get the rally going and we kept on going and fighting back. Our hitting was amazing and it kept us alive the entire game.

In game one, the Cougars fell behind 5-0 after five innings. The Cougars rallied to tied the game at five in the sixth inning on seven hits. Ashley Eichelberger started things with a big RBI double. Eichelberger’s hit jump-started the offense as Torimaru responded with a 2-RBI double followed by a Lauren Mills’ 2-RBI double.

Lamar came back with two runs in the seventh as Ashley Duffy unloaded on a 2-out 2-run home run.

WNCC came back and tied the game in the bottom of the inning. Ventoza led off with a double to left field. Amanda Hensley followed with a single. Eichelberger then scored Ventoza with a sacrifice fly. Torimaru followed with a 2-out triple to tie the game.

The Cougars won the game in the eighth. Lauran Bourdon led off with a single. Ventoza then delivered a 2-out double to put runners in scoring position. Bourdon scored on the next batter on an error by the first baseman for the game.

Natasha Dypchey picked up the win going eight innings and striking out seven.

Ventoza led the Cougars from the plate with a 3-for-5 performance including two doubles and an RBI. Also collecting two hits were Hensley and Torimaru.

The second game was just as exciting. Both teams wer tied at four after four innings. Lamar took a 7-4 lead in the sixth on two hits and two errors. WNCC responded with three runs to tie the game. Lauren Mills started things with a double followed by a single by Whittany Foster.

Ventoza continue her torrid hitting by delivering an RBI double. McNabb then scored two runs on another double to tie the game with no outs.

In the seventh, Dypchey, who came in to pitch in the sixth inning, shut down the Lopes’ bats. WNCC quickly took advantage in the bottom of the inning. Ryman led off with a double followed by a single by Bourdon. After a groundout, Foster walked to load the bases. Ventoza came through with a sacrifice fly to left field to score Ryman with the winning run.

Ryman knew when she stepped up to the plate, that she had to deliver, and deliver she did.

“[I thought to myself] we needed to get runs on the board,” she said. “I needed to try to get on base and score.”

Dypchey picked up the win pitching 1 2/3 in relief of Jessica Pexton. Pexton also pitched well, but gave up seven runs on 16 hits, while striking out four in the no-decision.

Ventoza continued her sizzling hitting going 2-for-3 with a double, two RBIs and two runs scored. McNabb also had excellent game going 3-for-4 with a double, three RBIs and a run scored. Also collecting multiple hits were Hensley with a 2-for-4 performance, including a double and two RBIs, and Ryman with a 2-for-4 outing with two doubles and two runs scored.

In the nightcap, WNCC was all over Lamar jumping out to a 5-0 lead after three innings and cruising to the 10-2 win.

Ventoza, Ryman and Torimaru each collected three hits in the third game. Ventoza had three singles, an RBI and a run scored from her lead-off spot. Ryman had one double and three RBIs in the win. Torimaru had a double two RBIs and a run scored.

Also collecting multiple hits were Foster with two, including a run-scoring triple, and Ashley Eichelberger with two RBIs and two singles.

The Cougars will be off until Sunday when they travel to the Air Force Academy before hosting Dawson Community College in two Region IX games on March 15. Ryman said the three wins showed the home crowd how good this team can be.

“I think we are really good and we have a lot of potential,” she said. “At times we get down on ourselves, but in the end we are all well-rounded and talented and the players on our team can do anything that the other ones can do. It was just nice to be 3-0 in front of a home crowd thanking them for supporting us.”

Game One
Lamar 010 220 10 – 7 11 2
WNCC 000 005 21 – 8 12 1
WP – Dypchey, LP Kay Norte. 2B – WNCC (Ventoza 2, Eichelberger, Torimaru, Mills), Lamar (Norte); 3B – WNCC (Torimaru); HR – Lamar (Duffy 2).

Game Two
Lamar 220 003 0 – 7 8 2
WNCC 120 103 1 – 8 12 3
WP – Dypchey, LP – Caitlin Schmidt; 2B – WNCC (Rynan 2, Ventoza, McNabb, Hensley, Mills).

Game Three
Lamar 000 110 – 2 4 5
WNCC 005 032 – 10 16 0
WP – Dypchey, LP – Schmidt; 2B – WNCC (Torimaru, Ryman), #B – WNCC (Foster), HR – Lamar (Michelle Reynolds).