WNCC baseball sweeps Trinidad on Sunday, takes over second in conference standings

Empire Conference Standings
College Conf. Overall
NE Colorado 9-5 21-9
WNCC 7-5 17-14
Lamar 8-6 13-14
Trinidad 7-7 22-14
Otero 4-6 13-19
McCook 3-11 11-23

TRINIDAD, Colo. – The Western Nebraska Community College baseball team didn’t like how the Trinidad State Junior College baseball smacked around the Cougar team Saturday in the 12-3 second game.

So, on Sunday, the Cougars did a little pounding of their own, registering 23 hits and 24 runs to sweep the Trojans by claiming 11-1 and 13-2 wins. The 3-of-4 wins this past weekend moved the Cougars into second place in the Empire Conference Standings with a 7-5 conference record, just percentage points from the top spot. Northeastern Junior College holds down the top spot with a 9-5 conference record.

The way the team rebounded from Saturday’s loss really impressed head coach Mike Jones.

“I was impressed of how they did handle [Saturday’s loss]. They didn’t let that bad game bother them,” Jones said. “They were able to forget about it; get some rest Saturday evening and come out Sunday with a great attitude. We were ready to play.”

WNCC’s double-dip win over Trinidad State was the result of not only timely hitting, but sizzling pitching.

“We faced two pretty good pitchers and we put together a lot of very good at bats. We were able to get ourselves into some good hitting counts and got good pitches to hit and were very aggressive when we got good pitches,” Jones said. “It did take us a little while to get going because he was a side-arm thrower. But once we got through the batting order once, we able to make the adjustments and the bats really took off.”

In game one, Jackson Salazar picked up the win, throwing all seven innings in the 11-1 win. Salazar allowed five hits and struck out two.

Offensively, the Cougars pounded out 10 hits, including two extra base hits, both doubles from David Monteagudo and Norbert Susini.

WNCC held an 1-0 after three innings before opening the game by plating four runs in the fifth inning for a 5-0 lead. The Cougars opened the lead with three more runs in the sixth and seventh inning for the win.

Susini, David Monteagudo, Aurelio Monteagudo and Greg Crowe each finished the game with two hits. David Monteagudo finished by going 2-for-2 with three runs scored and a double, while Crowe went 2-for-2 with four RBIs.

WNCC continued swinging the hot bats in the second game, pounding out 13 hits and scoring 13 runs. The Cougars started their offensive early scoring in all five innings before the game was called because of the run-rule.

Rudy Soto led the offensive with a 3-for-5 contest, including a double, three RBIs and two runs scored. Aurelio Monteagudo finished the contest going 2-for-3 with a home run, a double and a RBI, while Dustin Javins went 2-for-4 with three RBIs and two runs scored.

Kyler Edgehouse picked up the win throwing 4 2/3 innings, while allowing three hits, one run and striking out three.

The Cougars, 17-14, will be back in action on Wednesday when they travel to Otero Junior College before facing Empire Conference leaders Northeastern Junior College over the weekend at Sterling, Colo.

“It is amazing how each game is becoming more and more important and it will become a snowball effect and they will become bigger and bigger,” Jones said. “I think it is important for us not to get caught up in that. It is important for us to focus on making a little bit of improvement here and there, or making improvements in the pitching staff. We don’t focus that much on the standings; we just focus on our team.”

First Game
WNCC 001 403 3 – 11 10 0
Trinidad 000 100 0 – 1 5 1
WP – Jackson; 2B – Susini, D. Monteagudo.

Second Game
WNCC (17-14) 141 43 – 13 13 0
Trinidad (22-14) 100 10 – 2 3 3
WP – Edgehouse; 2B – Soto, A. Monteagudo; HR – A. Monteagudo.