WNCC still alive at regional tournament; defending champs eliminated from tournament

Friday's Scores
Northeastern Colorado 8, Lamar 6 (12 innings)
Trinidad State 2, WNCC 1
WNCC 9, Lamar 6
Saturday's Games
WNCC vs. McCook, 11 a.m.
NE Colorado vs. Trinidad State, 2 p.m.
Winner 11 a.m. vs. Loser 2 p.m., 5 p.m.
Sunday's Games
Championships Noon and if necessary 3 p.m.

LAMAR, Colo. — The Western Nebraska Community College baseball showed plenty of character during the second day of the Region IX baseball tournament in Lamar, Colo., and it was the bat of sophomore Abraham Cervantes, who belted two home runs and five RBIs, to keep the Cougars title hopes alive.

The Cougars opened the day falling in a heartbreaker to Trinidad State Junior College 2-1 in the winner’s bracket on a walk-off 2-run home run. WNCC quickly regrouped by eliminating host and defending champs Lamar Community College 9-6.

WNCC will play McCook Community College today in an elimination game at 11 a.m. If they win, they will face the loser of the Trinidad State and Northeastern Junior College at 5 p.m. The championship is slated for Sunday.

“A lot of teams would have folded after they [TSJC] hit that walk-off home run, but not this group,” WNCC coach Mike Jones said. “We have a group of guys with strong character, big heart, and they came right back and put up four runs in the first inning against the next game.

“Even though we split, I don’t know if it was the best I have ever seen us play, but it might be real close. I saw us play with a lot of heart and I saw us play great defense on both games and we played as a team.

The loss to Trinidad State was a heartbreaker not only for the team, but also for starting pitcher Phillips Orta. Orta went the distance, striking out 11. Trinidad State Jones said it was the best he has seen the sophomore right-hander throw.

The only difference was a two-out walk-off home run in the bottom of the ninth that the Trinidad batter took a 1-2 count, slider out of the ball park.

“Our team was just crushed after that game,” Jones said. “But, oh my gosh, it was one of the best ball games I have seen. Their pitcher was good and ours was great.”

WNCC manufactured a run in the seventh inning. Travis Lindhorst led off with a walk and then went to second on a Daniel Martinez bunt. Lindhorst then went to third on a Pedro Suarez groundout, before scoring on a while pitch.

WNCC managed just six hits in the game – all singles. JC Perez was the only Cougar finish with two hits. Trinidad finished with four hits with two coming in the ninth inning.

WNCC quickly rebounded with authority against Lamar Community College, who lost a 12-inning thriller to Northeastern Colorado earlier in the day 8-6. Jones said his team came out hitting, collecting four hits and four runs in the opening inning.

Martinez started things by blasting a double followed by a Suarez single. Suarez then stole sec to put runners in scoring position. Perez came through with a 2-RBI single. Gilbert Gonzalez walked and then Cervantes reached base on an error to score Perez. Marco Moreno then singled in the fourth run.

Lamar came right back with three runs in the second inning to close the gap to 4-3, only to see the Cougars put up three runs in the third inning. Perez started things with a walk followed by a Gonzalez single. Cervantes then delivered a 3-run home run, the first of his two for the game. Cervantes came back with a 2-run blast in the 8th inning to put WNCC up 9-4.

“Abe was the difference in that game,” Jones said. “Abe was huge for us and those home runs carried us to the victory.”

The pitching also was stellar. Jeff McDonald picked up the win striking out eight, while Bauer took the save, while striking out two.

WNCC pounded out 10 hits on the day, led by Cervantes’ 3-for-4 day, which included five RBIs and two home runs. Also collecting extra base hits were Martinez and Suarez each with a double.

Jones said his team needs to keep the offensive cranked in today’s contest against McCook. Greg Crowe will get the start on the mound.

“We need to put up some runs on McCook and keep our offense rolling,” Jones said. “We need to have really good at bats and put up some runs, and give Crowe an opportunity to go out there and pitch.”

Jones doesn’t know what to expect from McCook today.

"I am curious who McCook is going to pitch,” he said. “Their right-hander that beat us at McCook only pitched two innings against NJC [on Thursday] and their left-hander that beat us at McCook has thrown way too much and he is not coming back. I don’t know if he will try to bring the right-hander back or throw someone else that we have beat.”

In other Cougar news, five players were named to the all-region team. Perez was a first-team third-baseman, Suarez first-team outfielder, Richie Stewart first-team first-baseman, Gonzalez second team second baseman, and Carson Cook second team catcher.

First Game
WNCC 000 000 100 — 1 6 0
Trinidad State 000 000 002 — 2 4 0
LP — Orta.

Second Game
WNCC (26-27) 403 000 020 — 9 10 0
Lamar 030 001 011 — 6 7 1
WP – McDonald; 2B — Martinez, Suarez; HR — Cervantes (2).