Three WNCC softball players named NJCAA All-American

The Western Nebraska Community College softball team continues adding honors to their record-setting season. This time three Cougars were named NJCAA All-American after helping the Cougars to a 54-10 season and a berth at the national tournament.

It is the first time in school history that any WNCC player earned All-American recognition. Freshman Kelsey Garner led the team, earning first team honors as a pitcher, while sophomores Lauren Mills received second team outfield honors and Kara Ryman picked up second team infield honors.

WNCC coach Maria Winn-Ratliff said these honors are a testament of hard work from not only these three players, but the entire team as well.

“This is exciting for our program,” the Region IX coach of the year said. “We had a wonderful year and had a lot of great things happen, and do have our program have its first NJCAA All-American is amazing of what our program stands for and what these young ladies have done.”

Garner, Mills and Ryman, however, were just a part of a Cougar team that achieved plenty of success last season. The team won the college’s first Region IX championship in May and then competed at the national tournament in Plant City, Fla. Winn-Ratliff said while she is proud of what these three did, it is the end result of the entire team that helped everyone achieve success.

“I am very proud of those three, but when we look at the these awards, we have to look at the whole team aspect because they got supported day in and day out by the other 14 young ladies on the team,” she said. “This is just an honor for our program. I couldn’t be more excited and I wish the two sophomores success in their journeys where they are going to go, and I look forward to having Kelsey returning and doing bigger and better things next year.”

Garner had one of those seasons that turned out just magical in the circle. The freshman from Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada, went 32-4 and set school records in innings pitched (208.33), wins (32), strikeouts (259), and ERA (1.32). She also earned two NJCAA Pitcher-of-the-Week honors last season, including coming within one batter of throwing a perfect game.

“Kelsey had an amazing season going 32-4 and being a first team All-American, which is well-deserving,” Winn-Ratliff said. “We hope she can continue that success next year and then on to the next level.”

Garner was just one of three freshmen on the first team. There were 16 first team individuals on the team. The other two freshmen on the All-American team were Iowa Western Community College outfielder Toni Dance, and Sante Fe Community College outfielder Brittany Cannon.

Ryman and Mills also were deserving of the honors as each overcome many obstacles in their two years at WNCC.

“What a way for Kara and Lauren to go out in getting second team All-American,” Winn-Ratliff said. “It proves of their hard work and what they have done to buy into what we want to accomplish.”

Winn-Ratliff said both players played several positions in their two years in the Cougar program.

“Kara comes in as a high school shortstop and we move her over to second. She also bought into our hitting a little bit more this year then last year and made huge strides,” she said. “She also played hurt and a lot of people didn’t know that. She worked hard and got through a lot of things.”

Ryman finished the season batting .450 and holds the school record for doubles in a season (28) as well as career (36). She played primarily second base this season, except for a 12-game stretch when she was shifted to shortstop for the injured Jessie McNabb.

Ryman will take those talents to the University of Northern Colorado, as she tries to lead the Bears to the NCAA Division National Tournament just as she did at WNCC.

Mills, just like Ryman, also played hurt off and on during the season. But, one never realized it with her toughness, said Winn-Ratliff.

“Lauren Mills was juggled all over the place from playing right, left and center fields. She did some DP [designated player] work for us,” the coach said. “She probably played injured more then she played healthy, but she just worked hard and she is a gutsy kid.”

Mills led the team in home runs this season with 13, including many that either led off the game or an inning. Mills also batted .460 this season along collecting a team-leading 67 runs 78 hits, and 54 RBIs. Mills is still undecided where she will be playing next year.

Winn-Ratliff said these three hopefully will be the first of many more NJCAA All-Americans in years to come.

“I couldn’t be more proud of those three, but there are more then those three that should have had the opportunity to have those awards. I see our whole team as All-Americans,” she said. “It is just a great honor for us and I hope we continue to have that success in years to come in being recognized by the NJCAA. I hope to continue having coaches buy in and believe in what we are doing, seeing that we are a success, and seeing that this program will continue to be a success.”