WNCC softball hosts Fall Classic this weekend

Softball enthusiasts will enjoy this weekend in Scottsbluff. Not only will there be high school softball action at Lacy Park, but Western Nebraska Community College will kick off the fall season with the Fall Classic Friday through Sunday at Volunteer Field.

The Fall Classic will feature seven teams, including four 4-year schools – University of Wyoming, Air Force Academy, Weber State in Idaho and Chadron State College – during the three days of action. The three junior colleges in attendance include WNCC, North Platte Community College and McCook Community College.

“I hope to see some really exciting games,” fourth-year WNCC coach Maria Winn-Ratliff said. “With four, 4-year schools coming I think we will see some really good talent and leadership by having upper classman. Region IX continues to improve and I think we will see a new look out of McCook with new coaches and new recruiting area, and North Platte always comes to play.”

Action opens Friday night with WNCC taking in Weber State at 7 p.m. followed by North Platte Community College meeting Weber State at 9 p.m.

Saturday’s action will include eight contests at Volunteer Field behind Cleveland Field in Scottsbluff. WNCC and Chadron State will kick off the day at 8 a.m. Chadron State will also play at 9:45 a.m. against North Platte, while WNCC will finish the day at 8:15 p.m. against McCook Community College. Other games will be start at 11:30 a.m., 1:15 p.m., 3 p.m., 4:45 p.m. and 6:30 p.m.

Sunday’s action will begin at 8 a.m. with Weber State taking on Chadron State at 8 a.m. The Eagles softball team, who already faced North Platte and McCook last weekend, will take on McCook at 11:30 a.m. The Cougars will play at 3:30 p.m. against Air Force and then again at 4:45 p.m. against Wyoming. Other action will be at 9:45 a.m. and 1:15 p.m.

“In the fall you usually see a lot of runs or no runs,” Winn-Ratliff said. “Some teams are still trying to get their coaches’ hitting styles down and the pitchers are working out the kinks. I think this weekend you will see a lot of underclassman get playing time this weekend for all programs.”

WNCC will open the fall season with plenty of experience, returning 10 players from last spring’s 36-21 team that set a school record with most wins and a second straight Region IX runner-up finish.

“We return 10 sophomores that saw a lot of playing time last year and need to step up and be leaders for our newcomers,” Winn-Ratliff said. “I believe defense wins games so if we can take care of business on the defensive end and provide our pitching staff with a couple of runs, I think we should have a good shot at coming away with victories.”

In fact, the Cougars will be will flash plenty of depth, not only with the returning players but also the freshmen. Leading the least is a pitching staff that will be well-rounded. Back are sophomores Natasha Dypchey of South Surrey, British Columbia, and Jessica Pexton of Douglas, Wyo. Also returning will be Ashley Patton of Delta, Utah.

Other sophomores returning include Lauren Mills of Birch Hills, Saskatchewan; Kara Ryman of Westminster, Colo.; Jessie McNabb of Davidson, Saskatchewan; Amanda Torimaru of Ft. Collins, Colo.; Amanda Hensley and Whittany Foster of Greeley, Colo.; and Lauren Bourdon of Duck Lake, Saskatchewan.

WNCC will also feature plenty of depth in the circle with freshman talent, including 5-foot-9 Kelsey Garner of Regina, Saskatchewan, and 6-foot Allie Griffin of Ft. Collins, Colo.

Other freshmen include Kayla Hall of Pueblo, Colo., Mandy Pounds and Alec Voci of Colorado Springs, Colo., Kelsi Baldwin of Riverton, Utah, Lauryn Smith and Kayli Allen of Berthoud, Colo., and Lindsay Paulson of Castle Rock, Colo.

“We have a great mix of sophomores and freshmen this year,” Winn-Ratliff said. “We have a couple of players injured right now, so we are getting different looks from some players in different positions. We have a lot of versatility in all nine positions.”

Winn-Ratliff said the fall season games are a tune-up for the spring season. While it is not always about wins and losses during the fall season, she said it is an opportunity to get the players a chance to show what they can do for the team in game situations.

“The fall is very important to our program because it provides our staff an opportunity to get to know the student athletes better on a playing level and in turn gives them an opportunity to get to know our coaching style and our expectations for them on the field as well,” she said. “It also gets our young players playing time right away and gives us a chance to evaluate our progress through the fall and determine what we need to work on individually as a team over the winter.”

Tournament Schedule Friday’s Games
7 p.m. – WNCC vs. Weber State, 9 p.m. – Weber State vs. North Platte
Saturday’s Games
8 a.m. – Chadron State vs. WNCC, 9:45 a.m. – North Platte vs. Chadron State, 11:30 a.m. – Weber State vs. North Platte, 1:15 p.m. – Wyoming vs. Weber State, 3 p.m. – McCook vs. Wyoming, 4:45 p.m. – North Platte vs. Air Force, 6:30 p.m. – Air Force vs. McCook, and 8:15 p.m. – McCook vs. WNCC.
Sunday’s Games
8 a.m. – Weber State vs. Chadron State, 9:45 a.m. – McCook vs. Weber State, 11:30 a.m. – Chadron State vs. McCook, 1:15 p.m. – Air Force vs. Wyoming, 3 p.m. – WNCC vs. Air Force, 4:45 p.m. – Wyoming vs. WNCC.