WNCC softball drops doubleheader to Lamar at home

The conference-leading Western Nebraska Community College softball team was in prime position to widen its hold on the first place. Instead, Lamar Community College came to Volunteer field and upended the Cougars in a doubleheader, claiming 4-1 and 6-5 wins Sunday afternoon.

“It definitely shakes things up in the region,” WNCC coach Maria Winn-Ratliff said. “Hopefully now they understand that every game is important and region games are more important than any game. What we have done know is open the door for two or three other teams to win the region. We could have closed the door on a couple of teams If we would have came out and been victorious today.

“I said all year the region is wide open and whoever plays well in May will win it. It just proves that factor that you have to show up and willing to play day in and day out and today we weren’t. We didn’t win and we will bounce back on Wednesday and then we will face Otero and Lamar again.”

WNCC falls to 7-3 in conference play and is percentage points ahead of Lamar, who is in second at 5-3. Trinidad State and Otero are both 4-4 in the conference.

Wins Sunday by WNCC definitely would have changed the complexion of the conference. Lamar had different ideas as the Runnin’ Lopes pitcher Brittany Bourque held the Cougar runs in check.

“Lamar did everything they needed to do to come in and win. They came in this morning, driving all this way and I thought we came out a little flat,” Winn-Ratliff said. “Their pitcher [Bourque] did a very nice job on the mound containing us. It was 0-0 through five in game one and then we commit an error and they get a run. We then claw our way back into it going into the seventh inning. I tell the kids all the time we can’t wait until the seventh inning. It is great if you can score early, but you have to find a way to produce every inning and make things happen. We left way too many runners on base.”

Lamar scored once in the fifth inning and then added two more runs in the sixth on a 2-run home run by Katie Schoepf to take a 3-0 lead. WNCC finally plated a run in the bottom of the frame. Katie Groves tied the game with one swing of the bat, blasting a lead-off home run in the sixth inning. It was the freshman from Bluffdale, Utah’s, 1oth home run of the season.

Lamar came back and added an insurance run in the seventh as Samantha Lopez has a solo shot to center field.

The Cougars mounted a comeback in the in the seventh. With two outs, Adena Hagen and Kelsey Garner got on base. Both, however, were stranded as Bourque registered her seventh strike out of the game to earn the victory.

WNCC left five players in scoring position in the opening-game lose. The Cougars were also outhit 7-6. Hagen and Groves had the only extra base hits for the Cougars. Hagen had a double to lead off the first inning, and Groves was the home run in the sixth.

Garner took the loss in the circle, scattering seven hits while striking out five out five. Garner also walked two Lamar batters.

The second game turned into a pitcher’s duel early between WNCC’s Casey Simpson and Lamar’s Emily Huhta. WNCC finally cracked the 0-0 tie with two runs in the fourth inning. Lauryn Smith started things with a single followed by Kelly Pearson reaching base on an error. Both came around to score on Groves double to left field for the 2-0 lead.

Lamar sliced the lead in half in the fifth inning as Lopez scored on a 2-out single by Kayla Bruner.

The Cougars bounced right back in the bottom of the frame, plating two runs. Tonya Atencio led off with a single to right field. Hagen drove in Atencio with a one-out single for a 3-1 lead. Smith followed with a triple to right-center field to make the score 4-1.

The score stayed that way until Lamar put together a seventh-inning rally that saw the Lopes score five times on four hits. Alex Davis started things with a pinch-hit, one-out single. Lopez then walked followed by a single by Maddie Maestas, Bruner delivered a single to score two runs. Lamar added two more runs on a single by Schoepf for a 6-4 lead.

WNCC tried coming back in the seventh. Hagen started things by reaching base on an error. Then, with two outs, Pearson delivered a double to score Hagen for the final run.

Simpson took the loss allowing six runs on 10 hits, while striking out three and walking two and hitting one batter. Bourque picked up the win in relief, throwing 2 2/3 innings. The sophomore from Aurora, Colo., struck out one and allowed just one hit.

WNCC was outhit 10-6 in the contest. Smith went 2-for-4 with a triple, a RBI and a run scored, while Pearson went 1-for-3 with a double, a run scored and a RBI.

WNCC will look to bounce back from Sunday’s losses as they entertain McCook Community College on Wednesday before hosting Otero Junior College on Saturday. WNCC’s Friday home contest with Lamar will now be played in Lamar on a date to be determined.

Game One
Lamar 000 012 1 – 4 7 2
WNCC 000 001 0 – 1 6 2
WP – Bourque, LP – Garner; 2B – WNCC (Hagen); HR – WNCC (Groves), Lamar (Lopez, Schoepf).

Game Two
Lamar (20-17) 000 010 5 – 6 10 1
WNCC (20-14) 000 220 1 – 5 6 1
WP – Bourque, LP – Simpson; 2B – WNCC (Pearson, Groves); 3B – WNCC (Smith).

WNCC baseball sweeps Northeastern Colorado in a doubleheader

The Western Nebraska Community College baseball team evened its record at 16-16 with two impressive wins against Northeastern Junior College Sunday at Cleveland Field in Scottsbluff.

The Cougars pounded out 18 hits, including three home runs, to register a come-from-behind 16-8 win. Game two was much closer as the Cougars scored the winning run in the 8^th inning to register the 5-4 extra-inning win.

WNCC coach Mike Jones said the wins were not only huge to bring their record back to .500, but it moved the Cougars to 8-4 in conference play.

“The most important thing right now is our conference record, which goes to 8-4. We are looking real good right now in the conference race,” Jones said. “It will be important for us not to let up and it is important for us to understand it took a lot of hard work to get to this point and we have to continue that attitude. We can’t slip and let up.”

WNCC was in a position to drop both games on Sunday. Instead, they found a way to win, in contests that featured the Cougars winning different ways. In game one, WNCC trailed 7-3 after three inning.

“In game one, it was nice that our offense picked up Tim [Kupfner], who had a shaky outing,” Jones said. ”We haven’t seen him pitch like that all year. Normally he really shuts down teams. NJC got to him and put up some runs early and we were playing catch up. It was nice that our offense stepped up and got us back in the ball game and we really took it over.”

The Cougars comeback was highlighted by teeing off on the Northeastern Junior College pitchers to the tune of seven extra base hits in the last three innings. Oscar Rodriquez started with a solo home run to lead off the fourth inning. Four batters later, Aurelio Monteagudo launched a 3-run blast that landed in the parking lot of the softball field to tie the game at 7-7.

WNCC put the game away in the fifth inning, scoring seven times to take a 14-7 lead. WNCC had six straight hits in the inning, including 2 run-scoring double by Josh Parker and Monteagudo, and a 2-run home run by Elvis Garcia that landed about the same spot in the parking lot as Monteagudo’s blast in the fourth inning.

“We had a nice wind blowing straight out to left field and we got some good pitches to hit that were down the middle of the plate,” Jones said. “Our guys did a nice job of putting good swings on them.”

NJC came back with a single run in the sixth inning on back-to-back doubles by Sean Flaherty and Cory Miller.

WNCC added two more runs in the sixth inning. Ron Miller led off with a double and then scored on a Vince Rouse triple. Rouse later scored on a Sloan single.

Rodil Martinez picked up the win for the Cougars, going three innings. Martinez allowed just one run and two hits, while striking out two. Kupfner started the game and went four innings, giving up seven runs on nine hits and two home runs. Kupfner struck out six in his four innings of work.

Sloan paced the team from the plate, going 4-for-4 with three runs scored, a double and a RBI. Monteagudo went 3-for-5 with six RBIs, two runs scored, a double and a home run. Also for the Cougars in the opener, Parker went 2-for-4 with three runs scored, two RBIs and double; Garcia went 2-fof-4 with a home run and four RBIs; Alex Arias went 2-for-4 with a triple; and Rouse went 2-for-3 with three runs scored, two RBIs and a triple.

WNCC also needed a comeback in game two. The Plainsmen jumped out to a 4-1 lead after five innings. The big blast for NJC came in the fifth when Nick Nguyen delivered his second home of the day, a two-run shot.

WNCC scored a single run in the third. Jared Baros reached base on an error and scored on a Parker ground out.

The Cougars tied the game in the sixth inning with three runs on just two hits. Baros led off with a single. Parker then walked before Sloan doubled in Baros for the Cougar’s second run of the day. Parker later scored on a Garcia ground out and then Sloan scored on a throwing error to tie the game at 4-4.

In the extra inning, NJC had two runners on before the Cougars turned a double play to thwart the scoring opportunity. WNCC capitalized in the bottom of the inning. Parker delivered a bloop single to lead off the inning. Sloan then tried a sacrifice bunt, which turned into a single to put two runners on with no outs. Monteagudo then delivered the hit down the third base line that scored Parker with the winning run.

“In the second game, I thought their left hander [Matt Klein] did a great job of stopping our offense,” Jones said. “We have been an offense that has been known to put up quite a few runs and he really stopped us. He held us in game two, but good teams always find a way to win. It is nice that we were able to find a way to score some runs in the ball game and get it there in the end.”

WNCC, after finishing with 18 hits in game one, were out hit 12-5 in game two. Sloan went 2-for-4 with a run scored, a double and a RBI.

Victor Rubio picked up the win, throwing 3 2/3 innings in relief of Ben Doran. Rubio scattered five hits in allowing zero runs. Rubio also struck out 4 and walked two. Doran allowed seven hits, walked four and struck out one in 4 1/3 innings of work.

WNCC (16-16) will next be in action Wednesday when they travel to Colby Community College. They will then face Otero Junior College on the road Saturday and Sunday in conference games. Otero took 3 of 4 from McCook this weekend, downing the Indians 5-1, 11-2, 13-2, before falling 12-10.

Game One
NJC 113 201 0 – 8 11 1
WNCC 102 472 x – 16 18 0
WP – Rodil Martinez, LP – Javier Banuellos; 2B – WNCC (Parker, Sloan, Miller), NJC (Flaherty), 3B – WNCC (Arias, Rouse); HR – WNCC (Monteagudo, Garcia, Rodriquez).

Game Two
NJC (10-19) 020 020 00 – 4 12 3
WNCC (16-16) 001 003 01 – 5 5 0
WP – Rubio, LP – Klein; 2B – WNCC (Sloan), NJC (Nguyan, Billy McHenry); HR – NJC (Nguyen).

WNCC baseball will play at home on Sunday against NJC

The Western Nebraska Community College baseball team will play at home after all. The Cougars, 14-16, will host Northeastern Junior College in a doubleheader at Cleveland Field on Sunday, March 29. First pitch is slated for 1 p.m.

WNCC and NJC were slated to play Tuesday in Sterling, Colo., but because of the unsettled weather forecasted, the game was switched to Cleveland Field. The WNCC and NJC contest will also effect future games between the two squads. On April 10, WNCC will now travel to Sterling, Colo., for a doubleheader before the Plainsmen come to Cleveland Field for a contest on April 11.

The Cougar baseball team was suppose to play Trinidad State Junior College this weekend, but those games were pushed back to April 25 and 26 at Cleveland Field because of field conditions.

Also playing at home on Sunday will be the Cougar softball team. The WNCC ladies will take on Lamar Community College at 2 p.m. at Volunteer Field. The game was originally slated for Lamar, Colo., but snow in southern Colorado forced the location change.

Weather forces postponements, cancellations for this weekend

The weather has caused plenty of changes with this weekend's Western Nebraska Community College athletic schedule.

The Cougar baseball team was slated to host conference leading Trinidad State Junior College in a four-game series Saturday and Sunday. Because of the weather the past week, Cleveland Field is unplayable. The games have now been moved to April 25 and 26. The Cougars will next be in action Tuesday March 31 when they travel to Sterling, Colo., to face Northeastern Junior College in a conference doubleheader.

The softball team also had their weekend revamped. WNCC's contest with Lamar Community College slated for Saturday at Lamar, has been moved to Sunday. That forced Sunday's games with Colby Community College to be moved to April 20.

The Cougar softball team, who received votes in this week's NJCAA softball poll, will return home on Wednesday, April 1 to face McCook Community College.

WNCC athletic postponements and cancelations

The Western Nebraska Community College high school-age volleyball clinic that was scheduled for Tonight, Tuesday, March 24, has been postponed until Tuesday, April 7. The time of the clinic will be from 6:30-8:30 p.m.

Also, the WNCC Cougar baseball game with Colorado State University scheduled for Wednesday afternoon at Cleveland field has been canceled because of the weather.

WNCC softball shirts auctioned off with proceeds going to Scleroderma Foundation

The Western Nebraska Community College softball team made Scleroderma Awareness Day something special.

Not only did the Cougars earn 10-2 and 11-1 victories against Dawson Community College to go to 7-1 in conference play and picking up their 20^th win of the season, WNCC donated all the money from the gate and concession stand to the Scleroderma Foundation.

WNCC coach Maria Winn-Ratliff said it was a special day all the way around.

“We had Scleroderma Awareness Day because one of our players, Brenda Hearn had the condition, to raise some money for the Scleroderma Foundation,” Winn-Ratliff said. “It has been unique, especially for myself because I didn’t know anything about it before her coming here, so she has educated all of us on it.”

Saturday’s doubleheader with Dawson Community College was called Strike Outs for Scleroderma and the college gave out information packets about Scleroderma as well as WNCC items for each strike out by a WNCC pitcher.

“We just wanted to help get the awareness out and let people in our community know about it,” Winn-Ratliff said. “I don’t think, prior to Brenda coming here, that many people knew about it. We have had responses from the articles [in the newspaper and the website] from other people that want to help, so the information is getting out there.”

Hearn was appreciative for the special day that the college organized to help raise funds for the Scleroderma Foundation.

“The day was pretty special because I was surprised to see all the people that came to the game. I really liked that the people were there to not only support the softball team, but also to support the Scleroderma Foundation,” the freshman from New Mexico, said.

People still can donate, said Winn-Ratliff, because the special turquoise shirts that the players wore in the game will be auctioned off.

“Today was a great opportunity for us to do some community support and learn more about the disease,” she said. “The girls autographed their shirts that they wore in today’s games. We are going to have an auction where people can either email or text message their bids so we can get the Scleroderma Foundation some money to get some more research and also help us to better educate ourselves. We just want to help Brenda and others that have that condition.”

The shirts were autographed by the player and they will be auctioned off through the Internet. Individuals can bid on the shirts April 11, the date of the softball team’s last home game. All the money raised during the jersey auction will go to the Scleroderma Foundation.

Hearn is hoping that a lot of people send in bids. There are 16 shirts available to be bid on, including Hearn’s shirt.

“I think this is a cool idea because the more money the Scleroderma Foundation can get, the more ways they can try to find cures so people with Scleroderma have more options. So, with the jersey’s being auctioned, I think it is a cool way for people to get something and for the foundation to get something.”

On Monday, pictures of the player with their autographed shirts will be online on the WNCC athletic website (sports.wncc.net). Individuals then can either email or text message head coach Maria Winn-Ratliff (winnm@wncc.net or 308-6725880), assistant coach Molly Bonuchi (mollybonuchi@sbcglobal.net or 573-489-0484) or Mark Rein (mrein@wncc.net or 308-631-0459) with a bid to purchase that player’s jersey. The bids will then be listed on the website with the current-leading highest bid. Bidding will close at noon on April 11. To bid, the individuals needs to include the player's name/number, bid amount, and contact information.

“I am letting my whole family know about it,” Hearn said. “Hopefully everyone else passes along the word and checks out the website to put in a few bucks.”

Hearn is still in awe of how WNCC and Winn-Ratliff has taken on a project like this to educate everyone about Scleroderma, a rare disease that is a condition which the body’s immune system attacks its own tissues. The disease varies as moderate to severe and sometimes even life-threatening.

“I really appreciate the day because the day lets people know and to be aware of Scleroderma is and how confusing it is,” Hearn said. “For them to make a day for me was really special. And letting the community know about it is also really cool.

WNCC softball team downs Dawson

The Western Nebraska Community College softball team collected their 20^th win of the season in topping Dawson Community College Saturday afternoon at Volunteer Field.

WNCC shined offensively and defensively in the two conference wins, pounding out 11 hits in earning a 10-2 win in game one. The Cougars then had 12 hits and turned three double plays in registering an 11-1 win in the second contest.

Tonya Atencio, who had a hand in all three double plays from her short stop position, said they played well.

“I think we did well. We made a few mistakes,” she said. “It took us a while to jump on their pitchers and get used to them. We did really well when we hit. It went far and hard.”

The Cougars definitely didn’t start the contests with a lot of authority as Dawson was in both games through the early innings. WNCC, however, found their offense in the late innings.

In game one, Dawson took a 1-0 lead after two innings on a Whitney Newman home run. WNCC finally cracked the scoring column with two runs in the fourth. Sofia Gomez led off with double. Pinch runner Alec Voci later scored on an Atencio single. Atencio scored on a Megan Burditt slap single to center field for a 2-1 lead.

WNCC added two more runs in the fifth on two errors and just one hit, before opening the contest in the sixth by plating five runs for a 9-1 lead.

Atencio and Burdett started the inning with singles. Kelly Pearson then had a run-scoring double. After Adena Hagen walked, Katie Groves had a sacrifice fly to score one run, followed by a Kelsey Garner single that plated two runs.

Dawson came back with a run in the sixth inning as Kristen Delude walked and scored on a Erin Greensberg double. WNCC added another run in the top of the seventh for the final margin of victory.

WNCC pounded out 11 hits, led by four players collecting multiple hits. Groves, Atencio, Burditt and Alyssa Hickey all went 2-for-4. Groves had a double and two RBIs, while Hickey had a double and RBI, Atencio had two runs scored and two singles, and Burditt had two singles, a stolen base and two runs scored.

Garner picked up the win in the circle allowing two runs, while scattering five hits. Garner walked just two batters, while striking out 11.

Game two was a pitcher’s duel between WNCC’s Casey Simpson Dawson’s Brittany Fedler for the early innings. WNCC took a quick 1-0 lead as Hagen singles and scored on a throwing error. WNCC led 2-0 after 2 ½ innings as Hagen doubled and scored on a double by Sofia Gomez.

Dawson sliced the lead in half as Lindsey Speer singles and scored on a passed ball.

WNCC added a single run in the fifth inning, before putting the game with eight runs on seven hits in the sixth inning.

Simpson helped her own cause out in the sixth by starting the inning with a single. Lauryn Smith followed with a single before Atencio roped a 2-RBI double. Hagen contributed with a run-scoring double. The big hit came from Pearson, who’s triple scored three runs to put WNCC up 9-1.

Simpson and Hickey each had run-scoring singles to make the score 11-1.

The big momentum changer for the Cougars, however, was their defense, where they turned three double plays to stop potential Dawson runs. In the second inning, Dawson’s Karissa Fenstemacher bunted back to the Simpson, who threw home to catch the runner in a run down. Gomez threw to Atencio at third, who tagged out both the runner going back to third as well as the runner going to third to end the inning.

In the forth, Brittany Chacon fielded a line drive and then doubled off the runner at second to stop another rally. The other double play was a 6-4-3 routine play in the sixth inning.

WNCC had 12 hits in the second game as Hagen went 3-for-3 with three runs scored and two doubles. Gomez went 1-for-3 with two RBIs, while Pearson went 1-for-3 with a triple and three RBIs.

Also for the Cougars, Simpson went 2-for-4 with a stolen base, a run scored and a RBI; Atencio going 1-for-4 with two RBIs and a double; and Burditt going 1-for-2 with two runs scored.

Simpson went five innings in the circle, scattering five hits and striking out two.

WNCC will next be in action Saturday and Sunday when they face Lamar Community College in conference games and then Colby Community College on Sunday. The team’s contest with North Platte Community College on Friday has been cancelled.

Game One
WNCC 000 225 1 – 10 11 0
Dawson 010 001 0 – 2 5 5
WP – Garner, LP – Meghan Dewer; 2B – WNCC (Pearson, Groves, Gomez), Dawson (Greensburg); HR – Dawson (Newman).

Game Two
WNCC (20-12) 101 018 – 11 12 0
Dawson (3-12) 001 000 – 1 5 2
WP – Simpson; LP – B. Fedler; 2B – WNCC (Hagen 2, Gomez, Atencio); 3B – WNCC (Pearson).

Errors plague WNCC baseball team in setback

Submitted by Jeremy Woznick, Star-Herald Sports Reporter

PHOENIX - Seven errors proved too much to overcome for the Western Nebraska Community College baseball team in a 9-5 setback to Glendale Community College on Friday in Phoenix. The seven errors were a season-high for the Cougars, who dropped to 13-15 on the season with the loss.

"It was a tough day. I think we had some tired legs and some tired arms out there and we weren't quite focused today," WNCC coach Mike Jones said. "We're going to chalk it up to a bad day and hopefully we'll play better baseball tomorrow."

The Cougars will be right back in action today against an all-star team out of British Columbia, Canada. First pitch of the nine-inning contest is scheduled for 11 a.m. WNCC will then close out its spring break trip on Sunday against nationally-ranked Central Arizona College.

In Friday's setback, the Cougars fell behind 4-0 through three innings before getting their first run of the game in the top of the fourth. WNCC plated two more runs in the sixth and added a run each in the eighth and ninth innings.

Aurelio Monteagudo paced the WNCC offense by going 2-for-5 with a double. Alex Arias also had a double. Ronald Miller went 1-for-3 with a run batted in and Vince Rouse drove in a pair of runs.

WNCC finished the contest with eight hits. Glendale pounded out 12 hits.

Victor Rubio took the loss on the mound. Rubio struck out three and allowed 11 hits in five innings of work. Luis Orta struck out two in two innings of work out of the bullpen before Marco Jiminez pitched a scoreless eighth.

On Thursday, WNCC split a pair of nine-inning contests. After dropping a 1-0 setback to South Mountain Community College, the Cougars earned a 12-8 win over Chandler-Gilbert Community College late Thursday night.

"Those were good ball games against two really good teams. It was nice to come out of it with a split and play so well for 18 innings," Jones said. "We had a little letdown today, but overall it's been a great trip for us so far. We're getting in a lot of baseball."

Jones said Gustavo Sanchez (2-1) will get the start on the mound today.

WNCC (13-15) 000 102 011 - 5 8 7
Gateway 211 121 10x - 9 12 0
LP - Victor Rubio (2-4).
2B - Alex Arias, Aurelio Monteagudo.

WNCC softball team shuts out Dawson in doubleheader

The Western Nebraska Community College pitching staff combined for 16 strikeouts in shutting out Dawson Community College in a doubleheader at Volunteer Field Friday afternoon.

In the opener, Kelsey Garner struck out 12 and allowed three hits in leading the Cougars to the 4-0 win. The second game saw Casey Simpson and Stephanie Townsend combine on a 5-inning, no-hitter in the Cougars 9-0 win that pushed the Cougars to 5-1 in conference play and 18-12 overall.

Both teams will be back at it Saturday in a doubleheader beginning at 2 p.m. It will be Schleroderma Awareness Day, where all proceeds go to the Schleroderma Foundation.

Friday’s action definitely was controlled by the Cougar pitchers.

“We kept them off balance and didn’t let them get any good hits. All three of us did a good job,” Garner said. “I was pretty satisfied with the way I pitched and I can’t really complain.”

The Cougars defense also shined in the opening contest behind Garner’s sizzling pitching performance. Garner quickly set the tone by striking out eight of the first 11 batters. In the meantime, the Cougars bats scratched across four early runs.

WNCC scored once in the first as Adena Hagen had a double and scored on a Katie Groves single to right field for a 1-0 lead.

Actually, that was all the runs WNCC really needed with Garner in the circle. But, the Cougars added three more runs in the third. Kelly Pearson led off with a double. Groves followed by reaching base on an error and then Sofia Gomez singled to load the bases.

Alyssa Hickey scored two runs with a double to left field and Garner helped her own cause by roping a single for the 4-0 lead.

WNCC finished the first game with 10 hits. They also left five runners in scoring position. Hagen led the team with a 2-for-4 performance, including two doubles and a run scored. Gomez finished 2-for-3. Pearson, Hickey and Tonya Atencio each added a double in the contest.

Garner said they struggled against Dawson’s pitcher Megan Dewar.

“Their first pitcher kept us off balance,” Garner said. “She was throwing some junk, but we didn’t hit the ball as solid as we did the second game.”

Game two was definitely a different story for the Cougars, both offensively and defensively. First off, Casey Simpson was masterful in the circle, picking up the win in going four innings and striking out four. Simpson allowed just one base runner as Amanda Morris reached first in the fourth inning on a throwing error.

Other than that, WNCC just nickel-and-dimed the Buccaneers to the tune of nine runs on 10 hits.

WNCC opened the contest by plating two runs in the first inning. Pearson led off by drawing a walk and scored on a Groves single to center field. Groves came around to score on a Hickey single to right field.

WNCC added four more runs in the second inning. Atencio led off with a single. Pearson followed by reaching base on an error. With two outs, Groves and Gomez had run-scoring singles to help WNCC to a 6-0 lead.

The Cougars added a single run in the third on two hits, and then plated two more runs in the fourth. The fourth inning saw Garner start things by drawing a walk. Garner scored after Lauryn Smith roped a triple to left field. Smith came around to score on an Atencio single.

The Cougars had a three players finish with multiple hits. Atencio, Smith and Groves all finished with 2-for-3 performances. Groves had two runs scored, a RBI and a stolen base, while Smith had a triple, two runs scored and a RBI. Atencio had two singles, run scored, a stolen base and a RBI.

The Cougars ran the bases well in the second game, recording five stolen bases.

Garner said Friday’s performance was much better than the last time the Cougars were on the field Tuesday night in a 7-6 loss to Black Hills State University.

“I think the hitting performance and the defense was way better then the last time we were on this field,” the sophomore from Regina, Saskatchewan, said. “All-around it was a better performance. It was really good when we can execute with runners on base and end up scoring them. We don’t want to leave runners in scoring position and not get them in.”

The Cougars will need to continue playing well in the doubleheader Saturday and not overlook the Dawson Squad.

“They [Dawson] have gotten better every year. They’ve seen all of our pitchers [today], so they will be ready. They will know what to expect,” she said. “We will just have to fight right back because we saw their pictures too. We just have to come out hard and score first.”

Game One
Dawson 000 000 0 – 0 3 1
WNCC 103 000 x – 4 10 1
WP – Garner, LP – Meghan Dewer; 2B – WNCC (Pearson, Hagen 2, Hickey, Atencio).

Game Two
Dawson (3-10) 000 00 – 0 0 1
WNCC (18-12) 241 2x – 9 10 1
WP – Simpson, LP – Brittany Fedler; 3B – WNCC (Smith).

WNCC baseball team split a pair of games on Thursday

The Western Nebraska Community College baseball team split a pair of contests on their Spring Break trip through Arizona Thursday.

The Cougars opened with a superb pitching performance from Tim Kupfner in a 1-0 loss to South Mountain Community College. Kupfner scattered seven hits and struck out six in getting the hard-luck loss.

WNCC rebounded in the second game against Chandler Gilbert Community College, taking a 12-8 win in the nightcap.

Sam Diaz came out of the bull pen to pick up the win, striking out four. Offensively for the Cougars, Jason Sloan had a the only home run of the day, blasting a home run to help power the Cougars.

WNCC coach Mike Jones said his teamd did O.K.

"In the first game, Kupfner pitched a good game," he said. "In the second game, Sam Diaz did a good job coming out of the bull pen and offensively we were pretty good."

The Cougars, 13-14, will take on Glendale Community College today on their Spring Break trip followed by contests against the University of Arizona Club team on Saturday and then Central Arizona College on Sunday.

Saturday is Scleroderma Awareness Day at Cougar softball game with Dawson

It has been about a year since Western Nebraska Community College softball player Brenda Hearn found out she has Scleroderma, a rare skin disorder that affects about 300,000 people in the United States.

While Hearn, A freshman from Tijeras, N.M., has endured living with the rare disease, it has set her playing days back. Hearn came to WNCC to play softball and after playing in the fall and competing with the Cougars in a few games this spring, she has decided that the pain of playing was too much.“In a way it was very difficult to stop playing,” Hearn said. “I have been playing this sport since I was very little. But, at the same time, I knew that I wasn't the same player I once was when I didn’t have Scleroderma. I am very thankful that Coach [Maria] Winn has allowed me to still help out the team.”

Hearn is still helping out with the softball as a student assistant and that is why Coach Winn-Ratliff has elected to have Saturday’s home doubleheader at Volunteer Field with Dawson Community College to be Scleroderma Awareness day. All proceeds from the gate, as well as the concession stand will go to the Scleroderma Foundation. Other donations will also be accepted, as well as WNCC giving away Cougar gear each time a WNCC pitcher strikes someone out. First pitch for the doubleheader is slated for 2 p.m.

“This day means a lot. Scleroderma is rare and most people know nothing about it,” Hearn said.

Scleroderma is basically "hard skin,” Hearn said, which is not cancerous or infectious.

“My body is very sensitive to cold weather,” she said. “I have tried to just forget I have it in order to play sports but I get sores on the tips of my fingers which cause a lot of pain.”

At first Hearn was scared when she learned she had the rare skin disease that affects the nervous system a year ago.

“To be honest, I was scared and sad. I wasn’t sure on what Scleroderma was or what had to be done for it,” she said. “I have a friend back at home that has had it since she was little and I have known some of the things that she has gone through and what she has had to do for it and that just scares me.

“I was very thankful when I found out I had Scleroderma. I gave up on a lot of things that I wanted to do. I stopped looking at schools to play softball at, and my dreams of playing in college were gone once I found out.”

That didn’t stop Winn-Ratliff from recruiting Hearn to play softball at WNCC. She wanted to give her a chance to keep playing. Hearn took that opportunity and tried to play. Finally, the realization set in that the pain was too much.

“I have been doing well this semester,” she said. “Some days are better than others, but I get through it and know that there will be better days.”

Someday, Hearn is hoping there is a cure for Scleroderma.

“Well, my friend [Erin Thomas] is on chemo [with the same disease],” she said. “I know it isn’t a cure but it helps her out a lot. The other thing I know they have looked to is stem cell research.”

In fact, her high school back in New Mexico is also going to host a Scleroderma Foundation day on March 31 during the Mazano High and Highland High softball game. Hearn is a graduate of Mazano, while Thomas is from Highland. Also, Rio Rancho High School is planning to have a Scleroderma day in April.

“It is pretty exciting that all these schools are having awareness days,” Hearn said. “I know it will hit some people close because last year I had to sit out half the year to figure out what I had. The younger girls saw what I was going through and why I was sitting out, so they all understand what these days mean.”

Hearn is sure that Saturday’s awareness day will hit her pretty hard.

“I’m not too sure how emotional Saturday will be,” she said. “I have never had a day like that for me. But for this to be a year since I found out I have it, it might cause some tears to fall, at least for my mom more than me.”

In fact, Hearn’s mom Regina is a driving force to help find a cure.

“It shows me that my mom wants to know everything about it so she can tell me what I should or shouldn’t be doing,” Brenda said. “She wants to find out how to get rid of it, if there was a way.”

Hearn is just appreciative that individuals understand what she is going through.

“I would just like to thank, Coach Winn and Coach Molly [Bonuchi], for everything that they have done for me,” she said. “Also my parents, John and Regina Hearn, my older brother John Bubba Hearn, and my Grandma, Betty Whittet have been there through the tough times trying to figure this all out. Also, thank you to all the girls on the softball team for supporting me when it would get hard. You guys are the best.”

WNCC hosting boys basketball clinic on April 4

The Western Nebraska Community College men’s basketball team will be sponsoring a mini basketball clinic for boys ages kindergarten through eighth grade on Saturday, April 4.

The camp will be held from 1-4 p.m. at Cougar Palace and costs $25 in advance and $30 at the door.

WNCC men’s basketball coach Brian Joyce said the camp will utilize coaches and current players as they introduce boys K-8 to the fun of fundamentals and team play. The camp will offer individual instruction and organized games based on age and skill level, plus be a prelude to the summer basketball camp this summer.

To register, contact Joyce at (308) 631-5180 or by email at insidehoop@gmail.com. Registration forms can also be downloaded from the WNCC athletic website at sports.wncc.net.

Cougar bats ignite in baseball win over Arizona team

Submitted by Jeremy Woznick, Star-Herald Sports Reporter

PHOENIX - After having its offense held in check on Tuesday, the Western Nebraska Community College baseball team didn't have any trouble scoring runs in a 13-2 thumping of Gateway Community College (Ariz.) on Wednesday afternoon in Phoenix.

The Cougars broke open a tight game with three runs in the fourth inning before erupting for seven runs in the fifth to pull away.

"I thought we looked a lot stronger today," WNCC coach Mike Jones said. "We had much quicker bats and we were mentally focused much better today."

WNCC, now 12-13 on the season, will continue its six-day spring break road trip today with a pair of nine-inning games. The Cougars will face South Mountain Community College at 11 a.m. before taking on Chandler-Gilbert Community College at 6 p.m.

In Wednesday's win, WNCC received another stellar pitching performance. Freshman Armani Gonzalez struck out four in six innings of work to record his first victory of the season. Gonzalez allowed just two first-inning runs and scattered just five hits.

"Armani threw a good game," Jones said. "He threw a lot of strikes and he got stronger as the game went along. He pitched a great ball game for us."

Offensively, four different Cougars finished with multiple hits. Josh Parker led the way by going 3-for-4 with three singles. Jason Sloan, Aurelio Monteagudo and Alex Arias all added two hits each. Arias finished with a triple and three runs batted in. Monteagudo also drove in three. Sloan and Monteagudo both had doubles.

In today's games, Jones said Tim Kupfner will get the start on the mound against South Mountain and Ben Doran will start against Chandler-Gilbert.

"It will be a long day," Jones said. "Both teams are really good ball clubs. These two teams, along with Central Arizona, are going to be the best teams we face down here."

WNCC (12-13) 100 370 2 - 13
Gateway 200 000 0 - 2
WP - Armani Gonzalez (1-1).
3B - Alex Arias. 2B - Jason Sloan, Aurelio Monteagudo.

WNCC baseball team has 6-game winning streak snapped in Arizona

Submitted by Jeremy Wosnick, Star-Herald Sports Reporter

PHOENIX - The Western Nebraska Community College baseball team had its six-game winning streak snapped on Tuesday afternoon against Neosho Community College (Kan.) in the first day of its spring break road trip in Phoenix.

The Cougars, who entered the game on the heels of a four-game sweep of McCook Community College over the weekend, couldn't muster much offense in a 7-3 setback. WNCC will play six games in the next five days, including a nine-inning game against Gateway Community College today at 3 p.m.

Despite the setback on Tuesday, the Cougars received a strong outing on the mound from freshman lefthander Rodil Martinez. Martinez struck out five and allowed just three runs in seven innings of work.

"Overall, it was a good ball game," WNCC coach Mike Jones said. "We were really pleased with Rodil's outing. He threw a lot of strikes and had really good command of three pitches.

Unfortunately, they were just able to find some holes early in the ball game in the first inning. But I thought he pitched a good game for us. I was really encouraged."

The only three runs Martinez allowed came in the top of the first inning. After that, he managed to hold Neosho scoreless for the next six innings.

WNCC also had its struggles offensively in the contest against Neosho's southpaw starter. The Cougars only mustered a single run in the fifth, seventh and ninth innings.

"He was a lefthander that mixed up his pitches and mixed up his locations on us," Jones said of Neosho's starting pitcher. "I thought that we made a lot of mistakes, as far as being too aggressive and forcing ourselves into a lot of outs."

No Cougar finished with multiple hits in the contest. Aurelio Monteagudo blasted a solo home run in the bottom of the ninth, while Oscar Rodriquez added a hit and drove in two runs.

WNCC, now 11-13 on the season, will be in action every day for the rest of the week. The Cougars will wrap up the trip on Sunday against Central Arizona College, which is ranked No. 4 in the nation.

"The guys are real excited about playing in the warm weather," Jones said. "We're going to play some really strong teams while we're down here. It won't get any easier for us. They all keep getting better as the week goes along. It's going to be really good for our ball club to get a chance to play every day and play against great competition."

Neosho 300 000 013 - 7 10 3
WNCC (11-13) 000 010 101 - 3 5 3
LP - Rodil Martinez (0-1).
HR - Aurelio Monteagudo.

WNCC softball splits with Black Hills State in home opener

The Western Nebraska Community College softball team received two strong pitching performances Tuesday in their home opener at Volunteer Field in Scottsbluff against Black Hills State University. Unfortunately, the Cougars earned a split with the Yellow Jackets.

The Cougars played well offensively and defensively in opening game to earn a 5-2 win. In the nightcap, the Cougars committed four fielding errors to drop the contest 7-6.

“I thought Casey [Simpson] did a nice job on the mound. We did some nice things to get her some run support early,” head coach Maria Winn-Ratliff said. “I thought she pitched well. She also had a good outing Monday [against Trinidad] as well. In the second game, Steph [Townsend] did exactly what she needed to do to keep us in the ball game. We just didn’t execute when we needed to. We gave up seven runs and all of them were unearned. We just have to show that we can play defense behind her and show we can score runs. Late in the game we started hitting the ball well, but how many times are we going to rely on the sixth and seventh inning. We have to be able to play a full seven innings.”

Black Hills fought tooth and nail with the Cougars. Both teams combined for 30 hits, with WNCC getting 17 of those in the two contests.

“They are a good ball club and they are much improved,” Winn-Ratliff said. “They threw all four of their pitchers at us. We just have to do a better job from start to finish.”

In the opener, Simpson scattered five hits while allowing two unearned runs in getting the victory. The freshman from Nokomis, Saskatchewan, struck out four and walked just one.

The Cougars flashed their offensive power early and often in game one. Adena Hagen started the game with a single and scored on a Katie Groves two-out single to left field. Black Hills fought back, taking a 2-1 lead after two innings on two unearned runs on two hits, an error, a walk and a hits-batsman.

The Cougars quickly changed the complexion of the contest in the third inning. Hagen started things with a one-out single. Hagen came around to score on a Sofia Gomez double. Groves followed with her eighth home run of the season to put the Cougars up 4-2.

WNCC added an insurance run in the fourth inning. Simpson helped her own cause out by unleashing a one-out single. Simpson scored two batters later on a Lauryn Smith single to left field for the 5-2 lead.

The Cougars, who pounded out just seven hits, was led by Groves with a 2-for-3 game, including three RBIs and a home run. Hagen finished 2-for-3 with two runs scored.

WNCC started game two on a mission offensively, playing two first-inning runs. With two outs, Kelly Pearson started things after being hit by a pitch. Groves followed with a single. Alec Voci then singled in Pearson and Groves for the quick 2-0 lead.

Black Hills came storming back, scoring three times in the second and third innings for a 6-2 lead. The Yellow Jackets scored their runs on six hits and three costly fielding errors. Kelli Graham had the big hit for the Jackets with a 2-out double to plate two runs in the third inning.

WNCC, however, fought back, scoring three times in the fourth inning to slice the lead to 6-5. Kelsey Garner started the inning with a single, followed by a run-scoring triple by Alyssa Hickey and a run-scoring single by Tonya Atencio. With two outs, Gomez had a RBI double to cut the lead to one digit.

Black Hills added an insurance run in the fifth inning as Katie Wagner walked and scored on a throwing error.

WNCC had its opportunities to mount a late-inning comeback. In the fifth inning, Groves led off with a double but was thrown out trying to stretch it into a triple. The Cougars then had a seventh-inning rally. With two outs, Pearson reached base on a ball that went under the third-baseman’s glove. Pearson scored on a Groves double for the run of the contest.

Townsend took the loss in the circle, going five innings while giving up seven runs, all unearned, and scattering seven hits. Townsend, the freshman from Roosevelt, Utah, struck out two and allowed four free passes.

Simpson finished off the game, throwing two innings in relief, striking out two and allowing one hit.

Groves paced the Cougars with a 3-for-4 performance, including two doubles and a RBI. Atencio also finished with multiple hits, going 2-for-3, while Hickey went 2-for-2 with a triple and a single. Voci went 1-for-4 with two RBIs, while Gomez went 1-for-4 with a double and a RBI.

Winn-Ratliff said they have to learn from the mistakes they made against Black Hills State and come out Friday and Saturday ready to play.

“We did what we were supposed to in game one and if we do that day in and day out, we are going to win a lot of ball games,” she said. “If we kick the ball around and don’t hit behind runners, don’t execute by bunting or moving runners, it makes for a long day. Right now I am upset and I hope the kids are upset. It is never a good thing to lose, especially at home when you have a lot of fans supporting you. We have to get refocused for conference games this weekend.”

WNCC will host Dawson Community College in doubleheaders Friday and Saturday beginning at 2 p.m. both days. Winn-Ratliff said Dawson is a talented team.

“They are much improved and they have a new coach,” she said. “We need to do what we need to do to support our pitchers. We also need to come out and play defense and put the ball into play. We know if we do that, we can play with anybody in the country; it is just a matter of putting all three of those things together.”

Game One
BHSU 020 000 0 – 2 5 1
WNCC 103 100 x – 5 7 1
WP – Simpson; LP – Katie Wagner; 2B – WNCC (Gomez); HR – WNCC (Groves).

Game Two
BHSU (6-5) 033 010 0 – 7 8 1
WNCC (16-12) 200 300 1 – 6 10 4
WP – Karissa Norte, LP – Townsend, Save – Ashley Grose; 2B – WNCC (Gomez, Groves 2), BHSU (Graham); 3B – WNCC (Hickey),

WNCC softball sweeps Trinidad State, hosts Black Hills State on Tuesday

The Western Nebraska Community College softball team utilized some late-inning hitting as they swept a pair of games from Trinidad State Junior College on Monday as they head into Tuesday’s home-opener with a little bit of momentum

The Cougars will host Black Hills State College at 2 p.m. in a doubleheader at Volunteer Field. On Monday, the team scored nine runs in the sixth and seventh inning to take game one from Trinidad 9-4. WNCC then put up eight, seventh-inning runs to take the second game 10-7. The team pounded out 24 hits in the two conference wins.

On Sunday, the Cougars split contests with Otero Junior College falling 3-2 in game one and then slamming three home runs in picking up a 5-3 win in game two.

After Monday’s come-from-behind wins, the team is looking forward to be playing at home.

“I think they are excited to be playing at home. The weather is beautiful this weekend and it was nice to score runs and pick up a conference sweep [on Monday],” WNCC coach Maria Winn-Ratliff said. “We should have taken all four this weekend.”

One of the reasons for the Cougars taking three of four games this weekend was their hitting. WNCC finished with 36 hits in the four games.

“The last three games we hit the ball well,” Winn-Ratliff said.

WNCC will need some timely hitting Tuesday when they host Black Hills State College, a four-year institution from Spearfish, S.D.

“Both of their pitchers are seniors and they will probably throw the ball pretty well,” Winn-Ratliff said. “It will just be a matter if we can contain them offensively and if we can find a way to put the ball in play.”

In Monday’s games against Trinidad, WNCC found a way to put the ball play in play when they needed to. In fact, in both games, the Cougars fell behind early. In game one, Trinidad led 3-0 through five innings, before the Cougars put up five runs in the sixth inning for a 5-3 lead. The Cougars added four more runs in the seventh inning to salt the game away.

WNCC finished with five hits in the crucial sixth inning as Kelly Pearson and Katie Groves each had run-scoring singles, and Alyssa Hickey had a 2 run-scoring single. In the seventh, Stephanie Townsend led off with a double and the Cougar bats followed as Groves, Kelsey Garner and Sofia Gomez each had singles.

Garner picked up the win, scattering seven hits while striking out seven, while walking two.

Gomez and Pearson went 2-for-3 in the contest, while Groves went 2-for-4 with two runs scored, two RBIs and two singles. Gomez and Townsend each had doubles in the win.

The second game was even more dramatic for the Cougars. Trinidad jumped out on top 6-0 after two innings. WNCC trailed 7-2 after six innings before. In the seventh, Townsend started the offensive comeback with a single. Adena Hagen followed with a run-scoring double. Groves later delivered the big hit, a 2-run home run. It was Groves seventh home run of the season. Brittany Chacon finished off the inning with a 2-run single to spark the comeback win.

The Cougars finished the game with 13 hits. Hagen paced the team with a 3-for-5 performance, including two runs scored, three RBIs and a double. Groves went 1-for-2 with two runs scored, two RBIs and a home run.

Also for the Cougars, Garner went 2-for-4 with two singles, While Hickey and Alec Voci each had a double. Chacon went 1-for-3 with two runs scored and two RBIs.

Garner started the contest, allowing six runs in less than two innings of work. Casey Simpson came in to get the win, scattering seven hits and allowing just one run, while striking out five.

In Sunday’s split with Otero, the Cougars smacked all three home runs in game two against the Rattlers. Groves started the home run parade with a solo shot in the second inning for a 1-0 lead. Otero tied the game in the third with a run, before the Cougars scored four times in the fifth inning. Three of the four runs came with two outs.

Garner started the fifth-inning scoring stampede with a solo home run. Then, with two outs, Alec Voci crushed a shot for a 3-1 lead. Adena Hagen followed with a double while Brittany Chacon earned a walk. Garner and Groves each had run-scoring singles for a 5-1 lead.

Garner picked up the win on the mound, going seven innings, striking out three and walking three.

Garner and Groves paced the team with 2-for-3 performances. Groves had two RBIs and a home run. Kelly Pearson finished with a 2-for-4 game with two singles and a run batted in. Voci went 1-for-3 with a home run, while Hagen went 1-for-4 with a double.

In the opening game, Garner struck out nine and allowed five hits in taking the loss.

WNCC struck first, scoring once in the second inning as Groves singles and scored on a Garner hit.

Otero took a 3-1 lead after four innings before WNCC mounted a seventh-inning rally. Gomez started things by drawing a walk. Gomez was lifted for a pinch-runner. Hickey singled and then Chacon scored on a Garner hit that found the seam between the Otero shortstop’s legs.

Hagen paced the team with a 2-for-4 performance, including two singles and a stolen base. Groves and Hickey had the other hits for WNCC.

The 3-1 weekend series moves the Cougars on top of the Region IX standings with the 3-1 record, followed by Lamar and Otero at 3-3. WNCC host Black Hills State College on Tuesday before entertaining Dawson Community College Friday and Saturday in home doubleheaders beginning at 2 p.m.

Sunday’s Games
Game One
WNCC 010 000 1 – 2 4
Otero 010 200 x – 3 5
LP – Garner.

Game Two
WNCC (13-11) 010 040 0 – 5 8
Otero (11-12) 001 011 0 – 3 5
WP – Garner; 2B – Hagen; HR – Groves, Garner, Voci.

Monday’s Games
Game One
WNCC 000 005 4 – 9 11
Trinidad State 000 210 1 – 4 7
WP – Garner; 2B – Gomez, Townsend.

Game Two
WNCC (15-11) 000 110 8 – 10 13
Trinidad (10-11) 330 100 0 – 7 13
WP – Simpson; 2B – Hagen, Hickey, Voci; HR – Groves.

WNCC softball splits with Otero

The Western Nebraska Community College softball team split a doubleheader Sunday against Otero Junior College, falling 3-2 in game one and then slamming three home runs in picking up a 5-3 win in game two.

The Cougars smacked all three home runs in game two. Katie Groves started the home run parade with a solo shot in the second inning for a 1-0 lead. Otero tied the game in the third with a run, before the Cougars scored four times in the fifth inning. Three of the four runs came with two outs.

Kelsey Garner started the scoring stampede with a solo home run. Then, with two outs, Alec Voci crushed a shot for a 3-1 lead Adena Hagen followed with a double while Brittany Chacon earned a walk. Garner and Groves each had run-scoring singles for a 5-1 lead.

Garner picked up the win on the mound, going seven innings, striking out three and walking three.

Garner and Groves paced the team with 2-for-3 performances. Groves had two RBIs and a home run. Kelly Pearson finished with a 2-for-4 game with two singles and a run batted in. Voci went 1-for-3 with a home run, while Hagen went 1-for-4 with a double.

In the opening game, Garner struck out nine and allowed five hits in taking the loss.

WNCC struck first, scoring once in the second inning as Groves singles and scored on a Garner hit.

Otero took a 3-1 lead after four innings before WNCC mounted a seventh-inning rally. Sofie Gomez started things by drawing a walk. Gomez was lifted for a pinch-runner. Alyssa Hickey singed and then Chacon scored on a Garner hit that found the seam between the Otero shortstop’s legs.

Hagen paced the team with a 2-for-4 performance, including two singles and a stolen base. Goves and Hickey had the other hits for WNCC.

The Cougars will face Trinidad State on Monday before returning home to host Black Hills State College on Tuesday at Volunteer Field. Tuesday’s first pitch is slated for 2 p.m.

Game One
WNCC 010 000 1 – 2 4
Otero 010 200 x – 3 5
LP – Garner.

Game Two
WNCC (13-11) 010 040 0 – 5 8
Otero (11-12) 001 011 0 – 3 5
WP – Garner; 2B – Hagen; HR – Groves, Garner, Voci.

WNCC baseball team sweeps McCook in four-game series

The Western Nebraska Community College baseball team pounded out 26 hits and put up 22 runs in sweeping McCook Community College Sunday 17-4 and 5-2.

WNCC earned the four-game sweep over McCook over the weekend, running their conference record to 6-4 and 11-12 overall. WNCC won Saturday 8-4 and 9-0 over the Indians.

“We hit the ball well all weekend,” WNCC coach Mike Jones said. “We got up early in the first inning [in the first game Sunday] and never stopped.”

In the opener Sunday, Alex Arias blasted a fourth-inning home run to lift the Cougars to the five-inning win. Victor Rubio picked up the win on the mound.

In the second game, the Cougars finished with seven hits in a contest that was much closer. Jones said McCook had a left-handed pitcher that kept the Cougars’ bats at bay until the fifth inning. Again, it was Arias’s bat that sparked the Cougars as the freshman from Miami, had a solo home run to power the Cougars to the win.

Gustavo Sanchez picked up the win on the mound, while David Castle, a Guernsey, Wyo., graduate, picked up the save.

On Saturday, Tim Kupfner picked up the win in game one as the Cougars’ pounded out 11 hits. Jason Sloan was the big offensive threat, driving in a pair of runs, while blasting a solo home run in the sixth.

Ben Doran picked up the win in game two, allowing just three hits in six innings of work.

Elvis Garcia ignited the hot-hitting Cougars with a 2-for-3 performance, including five runs batted in. Garcia finished with a double and blasted a two-run home run in the fifth. Also for WNCC in the game, Aurelio Monteagudo went 2-for-3 with a double and Josh Parker collected a double.

Strong pitching propels WNCC baseball team to sweep of McCook

Submitted by Jeremy Woznick, Star-Herald Sports

MCCOOK - A pair of pitching gems lifted the Western Nebraska Community College baseball team to a Region IX doubleheader road sweep over McCook Community College on Saturday in McCook.

Tim Kupfner struck out seven in an 8-4 win in game one, while Ben Doran scattered just three hits in pitching the Cougars to a 9-0 win in game two.

The victories improved WNCC to 9-12 overall. More importantly, the Cougars evened their conference record at 4-4 and climbed to third place in the regional standings.

"It was a pair of good conference wins for us today," WNCC coach Mike Jones said. "We're showing signs of getting a lot better. McCook is a pretty good team and they threw some good pitchers at us today. But we really are starting to show some improvement and I'm really happy with how we played today."

Kupfner received plenty of offensive support in the opener as the Cougars pounded out 11 hits. Jason Sloan, Anthony Paniagua and Jared Baros all collected two hits each.

Sloan drove in a pair of runs and blasted a solo home run in the top of the sixth. Paniagua and Baros both drove in one. Paniagua finished with a triple. Also collecting extra-base hits in the game for WNCC were Trace Marsden and Oscar Rodriquez. Both had doubles.

The win improved Kupfner to 3-0 on the season. He struck out seven in six innings of work.
In game two, Doran dazzled on the mound in silencing the powerful McCook bats. He allowed just three hits in six innings of work.

"We had two good pitching performances today," Jones said. "Ben threw an excellent ball game and limited them to just three hits. Any time you can get a shutout in conference play, that's great pitching. Kupfner did a nice job for us in game one. His pitch count got up there late in the game and he got a little tired, but for the most part he dominated the game."

Offensively in game two, Elvis Garcia ignited the Cougars by going 2-for-3 with five runs batted in. Garcia finished with a double and blasted a two-run home run in the fifth. Also for WNCC in the game, Aurelio Monteagudo went 2-for-3 with a double and a run batted in. Josh Parker also collected a double.

The Cougars scored three times in the fourth, twice in the fifth and plated four runs in the sixth. WNCC finished the game with 10 hits.

The two teams will play another doubleheader today. Jones said Victor Rubio will get the start on the mound in game one and Gustavo Sanchez will pitch game two.
Following today's action, WNCC will head south for its annual spring break road trip in Arizona.

Game One
WNCC 100 212 2 - 8 11 1
McCook 000 004 0 - 4 14 0
WP - Tim Kupfner (3-0). LP - O'Conner.
HR - Jason Sloan. 3B - Anthony Paniagua. 2B - Trace Marsden, Oscar Rodriquez.

Game Two
WNCC (9-12) 000 324 0 - 9 10 0
McCook (5-10) 000 000 0 - 0 3 1
WP - Ben Doran (2-1). LP - Parker.
HR - Elvis Garcia. 2B - Garcia, Josh Parker.

FSU found Lyles at tiny WNCC

From the Napal Daily News

ESTERO — Florida Gulf Coast University coach Karl Smesko gave assistant Nate Daume a specific mission last year as the Eagles searched for the key piece in a reloading effort.

“A kid that had good legs and versatility, would be able to guard inside but still shoot the ball outside and be able to drive,” Smesko told Daume.

Mission accomplished.

Daume found Chelsea Lyles at tiny Western Nebraska Community College in Scottsbluff, where the 6-foot forward led the Cougars in scoring and rebounding. Lyles was perfect for Smesko’s unique system that relies on screens and cuts and five players who can dribble-drive and swish 3-pointers.

The Colorado Springs, Colo., native “hated” playing with her back to the basket and began honing her behind-the-arc skills as a freshman at Harrison High, even though her coach warned against it. By the time she was a senior, she had scored a “green light.”

For the rest of the story, visit the Daily News

WNCC baseball sweeps Otero in doubleheader

The Western Nebraska Community College baseball team overcome Friday dismal performance against Lamar Community College to topple Otero Junior College Sunday in a doubleheader at Cleveland Field.

The Cougars earned Sunday’s wins with some clutch hitting and some good defense in earning a 4-0 win in game one and then topping the Rattlers 4-3 in game two. On Friday, the Cougars fell to Lamar 9-0 and 11-3.

In the opening game, WNCC quickly got on the scoreboard as Aurelio Monteagudo had a two-out home run over the right centerfield fence for the 1-0 lead. After that, the Cougars played good defense in stopping several Otero scoring opportunities. WNCC added three insurance runs in the sixth inning for the win.

WNCC’s Tim Kupfner picked up the win, going all seven innings in scattering four hits. The Cougars pounded out seven hits.

In game two, WNCC quickly took control as they scored two first-inning runs. The score stayed that way until the fourth inning when Otero plated three runs to grab a 3-2 lead. WNCC retook the lead in the fifth with two runs to get the win.

WNCC’s David Castle picked up the win in relief, while Rodil Martinez got the save.

The Cougars will be back in action Tuesday when they host McCook Community College in a doubleheader beginning at 2 p.m.

First Game
Otero 000 000 0 – 0 4 0
WNCC 100 003 x – 4 7 1
WP – Kupfner

Second Game
Otero 000 300 0 – 3 6
WNCC 200 020 x – 4 4
WP – Castle, Save – Martinez.

WNCC men's basketball season ends season at regionals

The Western Nebraska Community College men’s basketball team’s dream of a regional title came to a halt after falling to Lamar Community College 77-67 in the quarterfinals of the men’s Region IX tournament. The Cougars end their season at 25-7.

WNCC actually was its worst enemy, only making 3 of 17 3-point shots on the day and shooting 48 percent from the field. The Cougars also committed 16 turnovers and made just 12 of 22 free throws.

Still, the Cougars were still in the game, holding a slim 32-31 halftime lead. Lamar took control in the second half, outscoring WNCC 46-35. The Runnin’ Lopes led by nine points midway through the second half before the Cougars started a mini comeback. Francisco Cruz converted an old-fashioned 3-point play to slice the lead to three points. WNCC was within reach with under two minutes to play, trailing 63-58. WNCC couldn’t get any closer as Lamar continued building the lead to the final 77-67 win.

Cruz paced the Cougars with 19 points, including two 3-pointers. Cruz also pulled down six rebounds. Also collected double digits were Scott Bamforth with 13 points and just one 3-pointer, while Larry Brown had 12 points.

Ogo Abegboye led Lamar with 17 points, including going 10-13 from the charity stripe. He hit 8 of 10 free throws in the final four minutes. Jamal Edwards added 13 points, while Antwone Snead had 15 points.

Lamar 31 46 – 77
WNCC 32 35 – 67
LAMAR COMMUNITY COLLEGE
Ogo Abegboye 17, Scott Day 2, Rummel King 8, Jamal Edwards 13, Antwone Snead 15, PJ Reyes 9, MarcAnthony Franks 7, Tyler Garmini 6.
WESTERN NEBRASKA
Tyrell Clark 9, Daniel Smith 8, Chris Hamblin 4, Scott Bamforth 13, Francisco Cruz 19, Sedrick McBounds 2, Larry Brown 12.

WNCC topples Northwest Wyoming, advances to semis to face NJC

Western Nebraska Community College’s Caley Fisher finished with 17 points, including three 3-pointers and the Cougars earned a trip into the semifinals of the Region IX women’s tournament with a 70-52 win against Northwest (Wyo.) College Sunday at Cougar Palace.

The Cougars, who had a first-round bye, will face Northeastern Junior College at 7 p.m. Monday. NJC was a 73-67 winner over Miles Community College as the two teams combined for 76 free throw attempts.

The other semifinal will pit Sheridan College against Casper College at 5 p.m. Sheridan received a 49-point, 22-of-22 free throw performance from Tahnee Robinson in registering an 86-82 win over Otero Junior College. Casper College connected on eight 3-pointers and received a 19-point outburst from Emily Elliott to get by Northeast (Neb.) Community College 71-59. The winners of the two semifinal games will meet Tuesday for the Region IX championship at 7 p.m.

Western Nebraska 70, NW Wyoming 52

The Cougars utilized balanced scoring and played well defensively in registering their 24^th win of the season. Fisher ignited the Cougars early, canning seven early points to give WNCC a 9-8 lead. Northwest, however, came storming to take a 10-9 lead on a Sheena Ryan bucket.

After that, the Cougars inside game took effect as Tawny Drexler and Janae Willis connected on back-to-back buckets. Moments later, Drexler had an offensive putback to put WNCC up 19-12 with 8 minutes left in the opening half.

One of the big keys for the Cougars was a defensive effort that held the Trappers scoreless for nearly five minutes. Northwest did slice the lead down to five, 25-20 on a Ryan bucket, but Fisher finished off the half with her 9^th point of the half and a 27-20 lead.

The defensive effort was a big key in the Cougars halftime lead.

“I think our defensive definitely stepped it up, because we were so excited for the game,” she said. “It all came together defensively and offensively. I think we played really well. As a team, we definitely pulled it together and played awesome the whole time.”

WNCC stepped it up another notch in the second half as Drexler and Amber Kistler opened up the second 20 minutes with back-to-back buckets. Northwest sliced the lead to eight points, 38-30 on a Erin Cooke bucket, but a Cougar 8-0 run behind 3-pointers by Kistler and Fisher pushed the Cougars lead to 46-30 with 11 minutes to play.

The Trappers didn’t quit as Northwest went on a 9-0 run of their own, behind five points from Cooke and a 3-pointer by Ryan to slice the lead to 48-42 with 6:40 to play. Shaquilah Davis stopped the run with a 3-pointer, her first points of the game, and the Cougars went on a 13-8 run, capped off by a Fisher three, to put the game away.

One of the big keys for WNCC on the night was turnovers. The Cougars committed just five turnovers and both teams had 37 rebounds. Drexler led the team with 10 boards to go with her 12 points. Fisher led the Cougars with 17 points followed by Stormye Everett’s 11 points.

Northwest had three players in double figures, led by Cooke’s 26. Ryan chipped in 14, while Gita Grava had 10.

The Cougars advance to face Northeastern Colorado on Monday and Fisher said they will most definitely need to put another strong defensive effort out on the court.

“We definitely have to box out,” she said. “If we do end up playing them, we have to get out on their shooters and really pick it up on defense even more than we did tonight. Tonight, everybody was excited. It is regional tournament time so it is do or die, and we are out there playing like it is our last game.”

Northwest 20 32 – 52

WNCC 27 43 – 70

NORTHWEST COLLEGE
Sheena Ryan 14, Larissa Crump 2, Gita Grava 10, Erin Cooke 26.

WESTERN NEBRASKA

Amber Kistler 7, Lorena Medeiros 2, Shaquilah Davis 7, Stormye Everett 11, Janae Willis 8, Tawny Drexler 12, Caley Fisher 17, Juju Bassetto 6.

Sheridan 86, Otero J.C. 82

Sheridan’s Tahnee Robinson ignited for a career best 49 points, including a 22-of-22 shooting performance from the free throw line to power the Generals into the semifinals with a thrilling 86-82 win over Otero Junior College.

Robinson finished the game with five 3-pointers and now has 81 points for the tournament in two games. Robinson also led the team in rebounding, pulling down 10 boards as the Generals out-rebounded the Rattlers 45-40.

Sheridan raced to a 44-33 halftime lead and led 53-41 after a Kori Bingham 3-pointer. Sheridan, however, couldn’t put the Rattlers away. The Generals led by 13 points, 68-55, but Otero’s Heather Andersen buried a 3-pointer to slice the lead to 68-64 with 7:23 to play.

Otero kept battling, cutting the lead to 77-74 with 2:42 to play on a Bailey Wilkins 3-pointer, but Sheridan’s Bingham came right down the court and connected on a trey to put the Generals back up 80-74.

Sheridan led 82-78 with just over a minute to play as Robinson connected on her 21^st and 22^nd free throws. Otero, however, climbed back into the game, cutting the lead to 84-82 with 12.3 seconds to play on a bucket by Kari Ameling. Bingham then salted the game away with two free throws with eight seconds left.

The Generals shot lights out from the charity stripe, nailing 33 of 38 free throws for 87 percent. The Generals connected on 11 3-pointers as a team. Robinson led the team with 49 points and 10 rebounds, followed by Bingham with 19 points and five 3-pointers, and Kendahl Avery with 10 points and nine rebounds.

Otero shot 38 percent from the field and were just 55.6 (10-18) from the free throw line. Ameling led the Rattlers with 20 points and 10 rebounds, while Rachelle Tilavea had 18 points and four 3-pointers. Andersen finished the game with 17 points and five 3-pointers before fouling out with three minutes to play, while Melinda Perry had 10 points.

Otero 33 49 – 82

Sheridan 42 44 – 86

OTERO JUNIOR COLLEGE

Heather Andersen 17, Rachelle Tilavea 18, Bailey Wilkins 8, Alex Dunn 9, Kari Ameling 20, Melinda Perry 10.

SHERIDAN

Pavlina Chudarkova 2, Tahnee Robinson 49, Kori Bingham 19, Mandy Mullock 4, Kendahl Avery 10, Cassie Carlson 2.

Casper 71, Northeast Nebraska 59

The Casper Thunderbirds fought back from a 33-30 halftime deficit to register a 71-59 win over Northeast (Neb.) Community College.

The big difference in the contest was free throw shooting as the Thunderbirds connected 0on 19 of 25, while the Hawks were just 7 of 13. The other difference was rebounding, where Casper out-rebounded Northeast 57-40, as Josie Stewart collected a double-double with 17 points and 10 rebounds.

Casper needed every bit of those rebounds in the second half. Casper held a 25-20 first half lead, only to watch Northeast go on a 13-5 run on 3-pointers by Mairead McNally, Stephanie Robinson and Sofie Lundberg to lead 33-30 at halftime.

In the second half, Casper regained the lead as Emily Elliott connected on one of her five 3-pointers of the game to give the Thunderbirds a 44-43 lead with 13:30 to play. The contest sew-sawed back and forth with each team making buckets. Finally, Elliott scored five straight points to put the Thunderbirds up 65-53 with 3:14 to play.

Casper had three players in double figures, led by Elliott’s 19 points. Stewart finished with 17 and Samira Van Grinsven had 14 points.

Northeast also had three players in double figures, led by McNally’s 13 points, followed by Jasmine Lovejoy and Lundberg with 11 points each.

Casper 30 41 – 71

NE Nebraska 33 26 – 59

CASPER

Emily Elliott 19, Samira Van Grinsven 14, Megan House 5, Megan Wilson 7, Kerstin Minchow 5, Josie Stewart 17, Ewa Urbanowska 4.

Northeastern Colorado 73, Miles C.C. 67

The Northeastern Junior College Plainswomen received a stiff test from Miles Community College, and in the end, NJC out-boarded the Pioneers and hit crucial free throws down the stretch to steal a 73-67 win to move into the semi-finals against Western Nebraska.

The Plainswomen trailed by nine points practically the entire the first half before Beata Bak nailed a bucket at the end of the first half to give Miles a commanding 42-33 lead. Miles stayed on top of the No. 8 team in the nation early in the second half, holding a 46-33 lead on a bucket by Kristen Brady.

NJC battled back going on a 17-4 run over a five minute span to tie the game at 50-50. Sabelle Diata then put the Plainswomen up 52-50 on a bucket, which was NJC’s first lead in the game since they led 5-4.

Miles fought back, taking a lead after a 3-pointer by Shannon Hildreath and a bucket by Bak with 5:38 to play. NJC retook the lead at 6-159 on a Diata 15-foot jumper with four minutes to play. The Plainswomen pushed the lead to 65-59 on a bucket by Jessica Priest.

Miles fought back, cutting the lead to 67-65 on back-to-back buckets by Bak with a minute to play. NJC came back out and hit clutch free throws down the stretch to preserve the win.

The Plainswomen shot just 29 percent from the field and canned just 2 of 15 3-pointers. Miles also shot poorly, making just 29 percent of their shots, including going 8 of 24 from the 3-point arc. Both teams also combined on 76 free throws as there were 53 fouls called in the contest. NJC was 27 of 39 from the free throw line, while Miles was 27 of 27.

The big difference in the game was rebounding as NJC out-rebounded Miles 55-49. Diata finished the game with 12 rebounds and four blocked shots. Diata also collected 17 points.

NJC also had three other players hit the double-figure scoring. Kristy Henderson finished with 15 points, while Priest and Amy Marin each had 13 points.

Bak led the Pioneers with a double-double, collecting 20 points and 16 rebounds. Bak also went 11 of 12 from the free throw line. Also collecting double-digit scoring for the Pioneers was Hildreth with 12 points and Dale Samuels with 11 points.

NE Colorado 33 40 – 73

Miles C.C. 42 25 – 67

NORTHEASTERN JUNIOR COLLEGE

Amy Marin 13, Tira Callaway 2, Kristy Henderson 15, Chelsea Arnell 3, Dawn Wattley 9, Sabelle Diata 17, Jessica Priest 15.

MILES COMMUNITY COLLEGE

Malissa Ingram 8, Shannon Hildreath 12, Sara Plaviljanin 4, Dale Samuels 11, Beata Bak 20, Kristen Brady 6, Dina Fritz 2, Stren Tramelli 3, Marni Magnason 1.

WNCC softball hits five home runs, wins three games on Saturday

The Western Nebraska Community College softball team hit five home runs on the day as the Cougars picked up three wins, including a thrilling seventh inning win against Iowa Western Community College Saturday in the Cloud County Tournament in Concordia, Kan.

The Cougars opened up the tournament with a 1-0 win against Colby Community College, followed by a 7-0 win against Iowa Lakes Community College and then a 9-7 win against Iowa Western.

In the Colby contest, Alyssa Hickey’s solo home run in the second inning was all the scoring the Cougars needed in getting the win. Casey Simpson through a sparkling game, allowing just two hits, while striking out 13 Trojan batters.

WNCC managed just four hits in the contest, with singles from Alec Voci, Kelsey Garner and Tonya Atencio, and the home run from Hickey.

The Cougars finished with 15 hits in game two against Iowa Lakes. The Cougars scored one run in the second and then plated two runs each in the fifth, sixth and seventh innings.

Adena Hagen went 4-for-4 with two runs scored to pace the Cougars. Also collecting two hits in the game were Kelly Pearson, Katie Groves, Hickey, Garner and Atencio. Garner blasted a 2-run home run in the seventh inning.

Garner picked up the win, going seven innings and striking out 12.

WNCC then used some seventh-inning magic to stop Iowa Western. The Cougars trailed 6-4 heading in the final inning and scored five times. Hagen started off the inning by blasting a solo home run.

With one out, Pearson earned a walk followed by a single and double by Groves and Sofia Gomez. Hickey then smacked her second home run of the day, a 2-run shot, to give the Cougars a 9-6 lead. Iowa Western plated just one run in the bottom of the seventh.

Garner, who had a solo home run in the sixth inning, picked up the win in the circle. The sophomore from Regina, Saskatchewan, allowed eight hits, struck out eight and walked one.

Offensively, Hagen went 2-for-3 with two runs scored, a double and a home run; Groves went 2-for-2 with a run scored, an RBI, two singles, two walks and a stolen base; Gomez went 1-for-4 with a double and two RBIs, Hickey went 1-for-4 with a home run, and Garner went 1-for-4 with a home run.

WNCC, 12-10, will wrap up the Cloud County tournament Sunday with two games. WNCC will play Barton Community College at 1:30 p.m. followed by Colby Community College at 3:30 p.m.

Game One
WNCC 010 000 0 – 1 4
Colby 000 000 0 – 0 2
WP – Simpson; HR – Hickey.

Game Two
WNCC 010 022 2 – 7 15
Iowa Lakes 000 000 0 – 0 4
WP – Garner; HR – Garner.

Game Three
WNCC 002 011 5 – 9 7
Iowa Western 014 010 1 – 7 8
WP – Garner; 2B – Gomez; HR – Hagen, Garner, Hickey.