The Western Nebraska Community College softball team will be entering this season with lots optimism as well as a target on their back. The Cougars will open the season Thursday on a road trip to Wichita, Kan., as one of the nation's elite. WNCC is No. 11 in the NJCAA pre-season poll and it is an honor that Cougar coach Maria Winn-Ratliff embraces with honor.
"It is a huge honor for the program and the institution," Winn-Ratliff said. "No matter if we were ranked or not we continue to practice hard every day to accomplish our goal of getting better every day."
The pre-season recognition as the team's attention, but as the same time they know what it will take to be successful this season. Last year, the Cougars finished with a 42-18 record and a third place finish at the regional tournament. Two seasons ago, the Cougars made school history after going 54-10 and capturing the regional title.
WNCC is hoping to recaptur
e some of that glory from two seasons ago. That journey begins Wednesday when they open the season in Wichita, Kan., Friends College junior varsity. The Cougars will then face Sterling College junior varsity on Thursday. The Cougars were scheduled to play Hutchinson and Butler Community Colleges on Saturday and Sunday, but the weather forecast scratched those games.
"I think we all are ready," she said. "It has been nice to get outside and actually practice on our field in January and February."
This year's team should be excited for the season. They return some key returners and some a talented freshmen class.
"This will be one of the faster teams that we have had and look to score a lot of runs with our speed," she said. "We are still working out a few kinks on the infield moving some players around and trying to get the right fit. We have been hitting the ball very well and should score lots of runs."
The one goal for this year's team is to win a second regional title in three seasons. WNCC will host regionals in March, and Winn-Ratliff said this team has the capabilities of achieving their goals.
"I think if we do the right things, anything is possible," she said. "It will take consistent pitching throughout the regular season as well as the tourney. Pitching is the key. This season should be exciting because this group is fun to watch and loves to play."
Pitching definitely will be the big key for this year. WNCC graduated Kelsey Garner from a year ago, but return a very diverse pitching staff that are fighters in the circle. This year staff can go five deep, including returner Stephanie Townsend from Roosevelt, Utah. Taylor Anderson is a transfer that had a strong fall season. The other three pitchers are freshmen, including Jordan Schoepflin of Arvada, Colo., Brittany Enterline of Tracy, Calif., and Ashton Hughes of Regina, Saskatchewan.
"Our staff is very different in the looks that they give teams," Winn-Ratliff said. "We return Stephanie Townsend who saw some action last year for us and really came on strong in the region tourney. Taylor Anderson is a transfer who threw really well for us this fall. Ashton Hughes is a versatile player and will not only find time in the circle but at various positions on the field as well. Brittany Enterline started a little slow but has made huge adjustments and has been pitching very well for us. Jordan Schoepflin is a fireball and will provide innings for us in the circle and as well on the infield. To start the year we will not have a 1, 2 ,3 we will most likely have four of our five pitchers playing at the same time. We are very lucky with their versatility both defensively and offensively."
The pitching talents are only part of a talented squad. The Cougars also return last year's freshman of the year Katelyn Groves of Bluffdale, Utah. Groves set the season home run and RBI record last season, as well as tying the career home run record with 17 dingers. Groves, who played primarily first base a year ago, will probably be making the stitch to third base this season.
Other players that will be seeing action on the infield this season will be freshman Jacqui Cappuccilli, of Las Vegas, Nev., along with sophomores Tonya Atencio of Denver, and Brittany Chacon of Broomfield, Colo. Hughes, Townsend and Schoepflin will also see action at the corner positions.
Sophomore Adena Hagen of Birch Hills, Saskatchewan, will anchor the outfield for a second straight year. Also seeing outfield action will be sophomore Megan Burditt of Los Alamos, N.M., along with new faces Allie Alverson of Toole, Utah, and Amanda Saldivar of El Paso, Texas.
The catching position
Adena Hagen is our anchor in the outfield she will return in Center for us as well as returner Megan Burditt in left we have added some new faces in Allie Alverson and Amanda Saldivar who are battling for right field. We have some utility players that will also get some action it the outfield like Bourdon, Townsend and Schoepflin.
The catcher position will have the most inexperience with the of Alyssa Hickey at semester.
"Losing Alyssa Hickey at the break has put some pressure on our new catchers, but they have been working hard every day and getting better every day," WInn-Ratliff said. "We have 3 newcomers behind the dish Cappuccilli, Hughes and Megan Bourdon (Duck Lake, Saskatchewan). Like our pitchers they give us a different look as well. Each one of them is very unique."
Winn-Ratliff said each player will be counted on during the season, especially with a roster of just 14 active players.
"I think all 16 members of our team are key players. We are going to rely on all of them at given times," she said. "I expect them all to practice and play hard every day and don't want any surprises on who is key or came up big because they all should be ready for that."
After this weekend's season openers, the Cougars will get into Region IX play when they face Lamar Community College on the road Feb. 27. WNCC will play their home debut on March 26 against Lamar Community College.
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