WNCC softball sweeps Luna Community College

Las Vegas, N.M. -- The Western Nebraska Community College's offense lit up the scoreboard to the tune of 31 runs on 27 hits in the Cougar's sweep of Luna Community College on Friday in Las Vegas, N.M.

The Cougars belted 10 extra base hits in game one, including three doubles by sophomore Katie Groves as WNCC ran to a 15-8 win. The 20th-ranked Cougars were even more explosive in the second game, pounding out 12 hits, including four home runs, in a 16-7 win.

WNCC, 36-18, will face Luna Community College Saturday in another doubleheader.

Luna actually led the Cougars early in game one, holding a 1-0 lead. That was short-lived as the Cougars erupted for four second inning runs and then put the game with a six-run seventh inning to earn the victory.

The Cougars offensive eruption started in the second inning when sophomore Brittany Chacon launched a 2-run home run to help WNCC to a 4-1 lead. Allie Alverson got in the hit parade, launching a 2-run home run in the fifth inning to help the Cougars take a 7-3 lead.

Still, the Cougars had to fight to the end as they held a 9-8 lead entering the seventh inning. That is where they put the game away as they plated six runs. The big hit was a 2-run home run by Megan Bourdon.

WNCC had plenty of offensive weapons throughout the batting lineup. Alverson led the way with a 3-for-4 contest, including three runs scored, three RBIs, a double and a home run. Groves finished the contest going 3-for-5 with three doubles and a run scored, while Jordan Schoepflin went 2-for-4 with two runs scored, Bourdon going 2-for-5 with a double, home run and two RBIs, and Chacon going 2-for-3 with a double, home run, two runs scored, and four RBIs.

Schoepflin picked up the win going 3 2/3 innings. Shoepflin gave up seven hits, three earned runs and struck out two. Taylor Anderson started the game, going 3 1/3 with three strike outs and five hits.

WNCC completely dominated in the second game as they scored five times in the first inning and then added seven runs in the fourth to go up 16-1.

WNCC hammered four home runs in the contest. Groves started things by rocketing a 2-run shot in the first inning.

The Cougars then had three home runs in the fourth inning to open up the game. Bourdon started the inning with a solo shot. Anderson then followed with a 2-run shot followed by a 3-run home run by Jackie Cappuccilli that scored Groves and Adena Hagen.

Groves and Cappuccilli each finished the game going 3-for-3. Groves had a double, home run, four runs scored and four RBIs, while Cappuccilli had a double, home run, two runs scored and five RBIs. Also collecting multiple hits were Megan Burditt, who went 2-for-5 with two runs scored, and Bourdon with a 2-for-2 day with a double, home run, two RBIs and a run scored.

Stephanie Townsend picked up the win, going 4 2/3 innings while striking out two, walking two and allowing four hits. Schoepflin finished off the game by tossing the final 1/3 of an inning by allowing six hits and six earned runs.

Game One

WNCC 040 122 6 -- 15 15 6

LUNA 101 123 0 -- 8 12 6

WP -- Jordan Schoepflin; 2B -- Adena Hagen, Katie Groves (3), Megan Bourdon, Brittany Chacon, Allie Alverson; HR -- Bourdon, Chacon, Alverson.

Game Two

WNCC (36-18) 513 70 -- 16 12 0

LUNA 001 06 -- 7 10 1

WP -- Stephanie Townsend; 2B -- Groves, Bourdon, Jacqui Cappuccilli; HR -- Groves, Cappuccilli, Bourdon, Taylor Anderson.

--
Mark Rein
Photographer,
WNCC SID,
College Relations Assistant

Cell: 308-631-0459
Home: 308-436-2963
Work: 308-635-6057
Email: mrein@wncc.net

WNCC softball splits with Black Hills State

SPEARFISH, S.D. – The Western Nebraska Community College softball team went 11 straight innings without scoring a run against Black Hills State College.

The 20^th ranked Cougars dropped the first game 8-0, but then came back and scored 10 times in the sixth and seventh innings of game two to earn a split against the Hornets in winning 10-1.

The Cougars had just two hits in game one as Allie Alverson had a single in the third and Megan Bourdon had a hit in the fourth.

Game two was a different story for the Cougars as they pounded out 12 hits, including three extra base hits. Black Hills State scored first, notching a run in the first inning to hold a 1-0 lead through five innings.

It was the sixth inning when the Cougar’s bats started to come alive and it all started with Ashton Hughes 3-run home run that jump started the Cougar’s offense in the sixth inning. WNCC led 4-1 after six innings.

WNCC built upon its lead in the seventh with six runs crossing the plate. The big hit was a 2-run scoring triple by Alverson.

WNCC was paced by Taylor Anderson, who went 3-for-4 with a double and two runs scored. Alverson finished the game going 2-for-4 with a triple and two RBIs, while Jordan Schoepflin went 2-for-5 with two runs scored.

Hughes finished the contest with a home run, two runs scored and three RBIs, while Stephanie Townsend went 1-for-2 with a run scored and a RBI.

Townsend also picked up the win, going six innings, while scattering four hits and striking out four. Schoepflin finished off the game by tossing the seventh inning.

WNCC, 34-18, will be back in action with doubleheaders against Luna Community College in Las Vegas, N.M.

Game One

WNCC 000 000 – 0 2 4

BHSC 211 022 – 8 12 0

LP –Taylor Anderson.

Game Two

WNCC (34-18) 000 004 6 – 10 12 0

BHSC 100 000 0 – 1 4 2

WP – Stephanie Townsend; 2B – Taylor Anderson; 3B – Allie Alverson; HR – Ashton Hughes.

WNCC baseball falls twice to Lamar on Monday

The Western Nebraska Community College baseball team still sits in second place in the Empire Conference standings, barely that is, after dropping a doubleheader to Lamar Community College Monday afternoon at Cleveland Field.

The Cougars stranded seven runners in the last four innings, including three at third base, as they fell 2-1 in the first game. The second game saw the Cougars limited to just three hits in falling 6-1.

WNCC is just a half a game ahead of Trinidad State Junior College in conference standings for the second seed. Trinidad State and McCook split a doubleheader on Monday with the Trojans winning game one 9-2 and McCook game two 9-1. The top two seeds host first-round playoff games. WNCC has just two conference games left as they host Trinidad State on Friday. Trinidad State has three games left as they face Otero Junior College in a 9-inning game on Wednesday.

“Friday is the key,” WNCC coach Mike Jones said. “We have been a very good team at home even though we lost two games today, it doesn’t matter. We are a team that enjoys playing at home at Cleveland Field. We enjoy playing in Scottsbluff. For us to get that home field advantage is very important for us and the whole team feels that way. All we have to do is take care of Trinidad for one game. If we win one of the two, we have all the tie-breakers in our favor to host.”

The one thing that Jones knows for sure is his team needs to hit better than they did in the last three games of the four-game series with Lamar. On Sunday, the Cougars won the opener 9-0 before falling 5-3 in eight innings.

“In the first game I thought we played fairly well. I thought we had plenty of scoring opportunities but we couldn’t come up with that last hit,” Jones said. “JC Morales pitched a real good game and we played good defense. We had our opportunities to win the ball games and that is all you can ask.

Monday’s opening contest was a barnburner. JC Morales started slow, giving up two early runs on three hits. After the second inning, though, Morales settled into a rhythm and shut down the Lopes’ bats, allowing just three hits over the next five innings.

WNCC, in the meantime, was getting to the Lamar pitchers as they made some noise in innings four through seven. Each time, though, the Cougars came up short, stranding seven runners in those four innings.

The only run the Cougars managed to cross the plate was in the sixth. Elvis Garcia led off with a single and later scored on a grounder to third base and snuck home for the run.

WNCC misfired in the other innings, leaving runners in scoring position in the fourth as Garcia and Josh Parker had back-to-back leadoff singles. WNCC even loaded the bases with one out, but Lamar turned a double play to get out of the pickle.

The Cougars managed just three hits in the contest as Garcia was 2-for-4 with a run scored. Parker had the other hit.

Morales took the hard-luck loss on the mound as he scattered six hits while walking five and striking out none.

“He pitched a real good ball game. Even in the first couple of innings, he wasn’t making bad pitches. Lamar got a ball into the wind to deep right field. That is a ball that normally we catch, but it just worked out in Lamar’s favor. You can’t ask anymore out of the guys.”

Lamar’s Shane Dedig controlled the Cougar bats in the second contest. WNCC managed just three hits in the contest, but once again, left five runners on base.

WNCC took an early 1-0 lead after the first as Shane Wade and Garcia each walked. Wade came around to score on a fielder’s choice hit by Camilo Baldelomar for the quick lead.

Lamar turned the game around in the third inning as Eric Dorton delivered a 2-run home run over the right field fence for a 2-1 lead. Lamar added single runs in the third and fourth innings to go up 4-1.

Julio Davila took the loss, going four and a third innings. Davila allowed four hits, four runs and struck out two.

WNCC was led offensively by Trace Marsden, who went 2-for-3 with two singles. The other hit came from Caleb Patton in the seventh inning.

In Sunday’s contests, the Cougar’s Tim Beard struck out nine in tossing a shut-out against Lamar. Beard's sparkling pitching, along with an offensive attack that saw the Cougars score in five of the six innings that they batted in, helped WNCC win the opener 9-0. In the second game, the Cougars fall 5-3 in an extra-inning affair.

In the opener, the storyline was Beard's pitching. The flamethrower from Canbarra, Australia, went all seven innings, scattering three hits and allowing just two free passes on base.

WNCC used Beard's pitching to their advantage on offense as they quickly took a 3-0 lead in the first. Wade started things by reaching base after being plunked by a pitch. Later, Garcia singled to left field. Both runners came around to score as Baldelomar tripled to right field. He later scored on a passed ball for the 1-0 lead.

The Cougars finished the first game with eight hits. Baldelomar led the way with a 3-for-3 game with four RBIs and a run scored. No other Cougar had more than one hit in the game.

The second game was anyone's game. Lamar took a 1-0 lead as Dorton scored on a Tanner Waite single. WNCC quickly answered in the bottom of the first. Wade drew a lead-off of walk. After a sacrifice bunt, Garcia earned a walk. Then, with two outs, Josh Parker had a single to score both runners for a 2-1 lead.

The teams were noted after seven innings before Lamar scored twice in the eighth to forge ahead 5-3.

WNCC will next be in action Wednesday when they travel to Colorado State University in Ft. Collins, Colo.

Monday’s Games
Game One
Lamar 110 000 0 – 2 6 1
WNCC 000 001 0 – 1 3 2

WP – Arturo Maitos-Garcia, LP – JC Morales, Save – Brandon Ward-Hersee. 2B – Lamar (Travis Hayes).

Game Two
Lamar (41-10) 002 112 0 – 6 7 0
WNCC (21-32) 100 000 0 – 1 3 2
WP – Shane Dedig, LP – Julio Davila; 2B – Lamar (Max Milot, 3B – Lamar (Eric Dorton), HR – Lamar (Dorton).

Sunday’s Games
Game One
Lamar 000 000 0 -- 0 3 1
WNCC 311 301 x -- 9 8 0
WP -- Tim Beard, LP -- Michael Oberto; 2B -- Nelson Quintero; 3B -- Camilo Baldelomar.

Game Two
Lamar 102 000 02 -- 5 13 1
WNCC 201 000 00 -- 3 5 0
WP -- Brandon Ward-Hersee, LP -- Jacob Stutzman.

WNCC splits with Lamar on Sunday, still in second place in conference race

Western Nebraska Community College Tim Beard struck out nine in tossing a shut out against Empire Conference leading Lamar Community College Sunday afternoon at Cleveland Field in Scottsbluff.

Beard's sparkling pitching, along with an offensive attack that saw the Cougars score in five of the six innings that they batted in, helped WNCC win the opener 9-0 in a crucial conference game. THe second game, saw the Cougars fall 5-3 in an extra-inning affair.

With the split, the Cougars are still one game up on Trinidad State for the second playoff spot. Trinidad State split with McCook on Sunday, winning the first 6-4 and falling 2-1.

In the opener, the storyline was Beard's pitching. The flamethrower from Canbarra, Australia, went all seven innings, scattering three hits and allowing just two free passes on base.

WNCC used Beard's pitching to their advantage on offense as they quickly took a 3-0 lead in the first. Shane Wade started things by reaching base after being plunked by a pitch. Later, Elvis Garcia singled to left field. Both runners came around to score as Camilo Baldelomar tripled to right field. He later scored on a passed ball for the 1-0 lead.

WNCC added single runs in the second and third inning for a 5-0 lead. In the second, Nelson Quintero doubled and scored on a Jared Baros single down the left field line. The third inning saw Garcia score from third on a Kevin Sanford sacrifice fly to right field.

WNCC added three more runs in the fourth as Baros led off with a single. Wade and Jason Sloan reached base to load the bases with no outs. All three came in to score for an 8-0 lead.

The Cougars finished the first game with eight hits. Baldelomar led the way with a 3-for-3 game with four RBIs and a run scored. No other Cougar had more than one hit in the game.

The second game was anyone's game. Lamar took a 1-0 lead as Eric Dorton scored on a Tanner Waite single.

WNCC quickly answered in the bottom of the first. Wade drew a lead-off of walk. After a sacrifice bunt, Garcia earned a walk. Then, with two outs, Josh Parker had a single to score both runners for a 2-1 lead.

Lamar retook the lead in the top of the third as WNCC pitcher Armani Gonzalez loaded the bases with three free-passes. Waite then had a single to score to runs for the 3-2 lead.

The Lopes' lead was shortlived as WNCC responded in the bottom of the frame. SLoan worked himself on board with a walk. Then, with two outs, Baldelomar singled followed by a run-scoring single by Parker to tie the game at 3-3.

Neither team scored until the eighth inning when Lamar plated two runs on three hits. WNCC couldn't muster anything against Lamar's closer Brandon Ward-Hersee, who struck out five of the final six outs for the win.

WNCC managed just five hits in the contest. Parker led the way with three hits, going 3-for-4 with three RBIs.

WNCC, 21-30, will face Lamar in another conference doubleheader Monday afternoon. First pitch is slated for 1 p.m. at Cleveland Field.

The Cougars need to keep winning to secure the No. 2 seed at regionals. WNCC had a 15-11 conference record, just a game ahead of Trinidad State at 13-12. McCook is fourth at 13-14, while Otero is 10-17 and Northeastern Colorado is 7-20. Only the top four teams make the Region IX playoffs that being May 7 at the sites of the top two teams.

Game One
Lamar 000 000 0 -- 0 3 1
WNCC 311 301 x -- 9 8 0
WP -- Tim Beard, LP -- Michael Oberto; 2B -- Nelson Quintero; 3B -- Camilo Baldelomar.

Game Two
Lamar (39-10) 102 000 02 -- 5 13 1
WNCC (21-30) 201 000 00 -- 3 5 0
WP -- Brandon Ward-Hersee, LP -- Jacob Stutzman.

Schoepflin earns NJCAA softball player of the week honors

Western Nebraska Community College softball player Jordan Schoepflin, of Arvada, Colo., earned National Junior College Athletic Association pleyer of the week honors for your play last week. Schoepflin made a huge impact for the Cougars last week as she helped the Cougars capture the conference title and the No. 1 seed in the Region IX tournament that will be held March 7-9 at Volunteer Field in Scottsbluff.

Schoepflin had a big four games for the Cougars as she hit .642 (9-14) with three runs, one double, one home run, six RBI's and one walk helping them earn a 3-1 record for the week.

On April 17, in a split doubleheader against Otero Junior College (Colo.), the freshman went 6-for-8 with two runs, one double, one home run and five RBI's.

The next day, in two wins over Trinidad State Junior College (Colo.), the Colorado native went 3-for-6 with one run, one RBI, and one walk.

In the win over Trinidad that clinched the conference title for the Cougars, Schoepflin went 3-for-4 with three singles, one run and one RBI. After last week the freshman is now batting .440 on the season..

WNCC offering volleyball camps May 24-27

Western Nebraska Community College will host four volleyball camps during the last part of May for girls in kindergarten through 12^th grade from May 24-27.

The first game will be held Monday, May 24 from 8:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. and it will be a Little Cougars camp for girls in kindergarten through fifth grade. Cost of the camp is $40.

An Individual Skills Camp will then be held on Tuesday, May 25 for girls in 6^th through 8^th grade. The camp will be held from 8:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. and the cost is $40.

The third camp will be a Setter/Hitter Camp for girls in the 9^th and 10^th grades. This came will be held Wednesday, May 26 from 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. The cost of the camp is $50 per camper.

The final camp will be a Setter/Hitter camp on Thursday, May 27 for 11^th and 12^th grade girls. This camp will also be held from 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. and costs $50.

The camps will be conducted by WNCC head coach Giovana Melo, Cougar assistant coaches, current players as well as some former players. The camps are a way to fine tune one’s volleyball playing skills.

This year’s camps will be held the end of May because of the renovations in Cougar Palace over the summer.

To download a camp flyer, visit the Cougar athletic website at sports.wncc.net. For more information, contact Melo at melog@wncc.edu or at 308-635-6028.

WNCC's Chacon, Hearn sign to continue with softball

Western Nebraska Community College Brittany Chacon isn’t going too far from home or WNCC next year after signing to continue her softball playing career with Chadron State College next year.

Another Cougars, student manager Brenda Hearn, also signed a scholarship offer with Northwest Oklahoma University last week. Both players say they are excited to be continuing their softball careers.

“I picked Chadron because it is so close to home and to my family. I am a big family person,” she said. “Coach [Rob] Stack has done a pretty good job with his team. It is also a small community and I like the small communities because you are more than just a number, you get to know everybody.”

Chacon, a second baseman from Broomfield, Colo., has been a key performer for the Cougars this season. She currently is hitting .337 on the season with 16 RBIs and 31 runs scores. Chacon also had three home runs and four doubles to her credit in helping the Cougar softball team to a 33-17 record and the conference title.

Chacon said she will miss her WNCC family – the players, coaches and friends.

“The girls have done a lot for me. They turned me into a better player as well as the coaching staff,” she said. “They worked around my injuries and they still gave me an opportunity to play. The community here is also a big part of WNCC softball. They have a good support system here.”

Chacon was also looking at Adams State and Montana State-Billings, but when she visited the campus in Chadron, she realized just how much it was similar to WNCC.

“I did go up on a visit and I liked the campus,” she said. “It is not very big but it has more buildings then the Scottsbluff campus. It is very nice.

She is also looking forward to the fall when Chadron State usually comes down to the WNCC Fall Classic so she can play against WNCC.

“Both teams are pretty good,” she said. “It is pretty good competition. WNCC is good. Chadron State is good. We will see what happens in the fall.”
Hearn came to WNCC to play softball and soon had to give up her playing because of her Scleroderma, which is a skin disease. Still, Hearn remained a part of the Cougar softball team as the student assistant as she learns the ropes of coaching.

“I decided to go to Northwest Oklahoma because the coach is willing to work with me with my Scleroderma. I also the fact I have relatives in the area,” Hearn said. “I will still be doing the same thing I was doing here as the team manager and it will be nice to be learning different softball plays and what other coaches have to offer because I want to be a coach some day.”

Hearn, who came to WNCC from Tijeras, N.M., said that her time here will be cherished.

“I am going to miss the community because this is a really nice area to be in,” she said. “I am also going to miss my dorm family [Scott and Amy Winters] a lot because they done a lot for me. The teachers also really work with you as well.”

For Hearn, though, it has been tough not being able to play softball anymore. But, she has found her love on the coaching side of things.

“It has been a little tough not playing because at times I wish I could be playing. I enjoy what I am doing know because the girls are very supportive and coach so is Coach Winn,” she said.

Chacon and Hearn are the fourth and fifth players from the softball team to sign letters so far. In November Megan Burditt signed with Northwest Oklahoma, while Katie Groves and Adena Hagen signed with Central Missouri University.

WNCC men's basketball signs Alliance's Peltz, Utah's Delgado

Western Nebraska Community College men’s basketball coach Russ Beck isn’t wasting any time in assembling a team for next year.

The Cougars, who finished 19-13 this past season, lose some key scorers from this year’s team, including guards Francisco Cruz and Scott Bamforth, and forward Geddes Robinson, who are all headed to the Division I level.

Beck has a couple of guard replacements in mind after inking Alliance’s Mike Peltz and Raul Delgado from Springville, Utah. Both players bring the same type of shooting accuracy that Cruz and Bamforth exhibited for the past two years.

“We will lose the top two scorers off of this past years team,” Beck said. “I expect that both Raul and Michael that they both can step in and provide us with a good scoring punch from the guard positions.”

Beck said it is nice to ink two top guards early on.

““We feel very fortunate to add Michael to our team,” he said. “In my opinion, he is the best high school player in the state of Nebraska at his position. He really has a good understanding of the game and has a knack for scoring. I think he will be a huge asset on the perimeter.”

As for Delgado, he came to visit WNCC because he knew Cruz and Saul Torres. During his visit, he decided to sign with the Cougars.

“Raul is going to be a great player here for us at WNCC,” Beck said. “He is big strong and athletic and will cause opposing guards a lot of problems with his size and strength. He can really get to the rim and does a good job of knocking down open shots.”

Peltz averaged 20 points a game for the Bulldogs this season as the senior led the team to the Class B, District 6 runner-up. Petlz said that he is excited to begin a new chapter in his athletic career.

“It feels really great to be coming here,” Peltz said last Wednesday. “I have been waiting a while to sign something. Now that I have, I am ready for the next level and ready to get to work. I am really excited.”

Petlz’ s goal is to achieve the same level of higher competition that Cruz, Bamforth and Robinson achieved. Cruz is headed to Wyoming, Bamforth to Weber State and Robinson to Utah Valley State – all Division I schools.

“That is my goal for sure to play Division I basketball,” he said. “I think I fit in well. My hard work and dedication I think I can get to where I want to be. I like coming up and playing with the guys. The competition is definitely elevated. “

Delgado is also excited to be following in his Cruz and Torres’ footsteps. All three are from Mexico and came to the United States to attend high school and to get an education while furthering their basketball skills.

“I choose to come here because I have a couple friends from Mexico that played here this past year in Saul and Pako,” he said. “It is a nice facility and nice community. I feel like this is the right decision to come and play basketball and it is a great program. I like the community and I just want to come down here because of the basketball program and the coaches.”

Delgado grew up in Mexico and played for the junior national Mexico team, which won the World Cup in Tailand when he was 15 back in 2005.

He then played two years at Springville High School in Utah, where he was MVP and an a McDonald’s All-American honorable mention. Delgado, who stands 6-foot-4, averaged 18 points, six assists, six rebounds and eight steals a game.

One of his specialties, though, is dunking the basketball, where he said he has won a number of dunk contests. He had nearly 50 dunks this past season as a Red Devil. During his visit to WNCC, Delgado put on a dunking clinic, where he dunked the basketball after taking off from the free throw line. He said he loves doing that in a game.

“I love to dunk the ball when I have an opportunity,” he said. “I won a dunk contest in Utah. It is fun and it is all about fundamentals.”

What Delgado wants to achieve is to get better to move on to the Division I level. He also wants to make his family proud in getting an education.

“I want to get experience at a junior college with the community and academic so my family can be proud of me and I can be proud of myself,” he said. “Everyone at the junior college wants to go Division I and that is my focus for know. “

Delgado had just five games where he didn’t score in double figures this past season. His best game came on Jan. 12 against Maple Mountain where he poured in 34 points, including six 3-pointers, He also had eight rebounds a five assists and four steals in the game. He finished the season with 370 points, 24 3-pointers and 80 rebounds.

Delgado said that while he can score, he also likes to get everybody involved in the offense.

“My job is to pass the ball around and make my teammates better,” he said. “Of course I have to score and I will do whatever it takes to win games so we can go to the national tournament.”

Delgado also played football and soccer for Springville. Currently, he is having an outstanding soccer season, where he has scored seven goals in six games. He had two goals in a match on March 22 against American Leadership.

WNCC softball scores 44 runs in a doubleheader against McCook

The Western Nebraska Community College softball team claimed the conference championship on Monday after they lit up the scoreboard for 44 runs against McCook Community College in a doubleheader Monday in McCook.

The Cougars scored 26 runs on 20 hits to claim game one 26-0. They continued their offensive power in game two, pounding out 15 hits, including home runs from Megan Bourdon and Stephanie Townsend, to register an 18-2 win.

The wins give the Cougars a 16-4 conference record and the No. 1 seed entering next month’s Region IX tournament that will be held in Scottsbluff. It was the Cougars fifth straight win.

Just as important as winning the conference, the Cougars left little doubt in the outcome early on as the Cougars erupted for four runs in the first and second innings of game one to take an 8-0 lead. They put the game away as they scored 17 runs in the fifth inning to seal the win.

Taylor Anderson picked up the win in the circle by going four innings, while scattering five hits and walking two.

Offensively, the Cougars pounded out 20 hits, including six extra base hits. Adena Hagen and Stephanie Townsend each went 3-for-4 in the game. Hagen had two doubles, four runs scored and three RBIs, while Townsend had a double and three RBIs.

Katie Groves and Ashton Hughes each collected three hits on five at bats. Groves had a double, four runs scored and three RBIs, while Hughes had a double, three runs scored and two RBIs. Jordan Schoepflin finished the game with a 2-for-4 appearance, including a triple, three runs scored and five RBIs. Allie Alverson also had two hits as she had a double.

Megan Burditt also a good game in a different type of line score. The sophomore stepped to the plate six times and was walked all six plate appearances, while scoring three runs and getting two RBIs.

WNCC took control early in the second game as well, scoring six runs in the first inning and then added another six in the third for a 12-2 lead. WNCC added two more in the fourth and the put the game away in the fifth with a four-run inning.

Megan Bourdon had a huge game as the freshman from Duck Lake, Saskatchewan, was 4-for-4 with two doubles, a home run, four runs scored and five RBIs. Bourdon’s home runs was a 2-run shot in the third inning.

Townsend also had a home run as she led off the fourth inning with a solo shot. Townsend also scored three runs and had one RBI.

Alverson finished the game going 2-for-2 with a double and four RBIs, while Groves and Hughes each had two hits as well. Groves had a double, two runs scored and three RBIs, while Hughes had two runs scored and two RBIs.

Jacqui Cappuccilli also had a good game, going 1-for-2 with a double, two runs scored and an RBI.

WNCC, 33-17, will next be in action Thursday when they travel to Laramie, Wyo., to take on the University of Wyoming. First pitch is slated for 4 p.m.

Game One

WNCC 441 0(17) – 26 20 2

McCook 000 00 – 0 5 9

WP – Taylor Anderson; 2B – Adena Hagen 2, Katie Groves, Ashton Hughes, Stephanie Townsend; 3B – Jordan Schoepflin.

Game Two

WNCC (33-17) 606 24 – 18 15 2

McCook 011 00 – 2 8 1

WP – Stephanie Townsend; 2B – Katie Groves, Jacqui Cappuccilli, Megan Bourdon 2, Allie Alverson; HR – Bourdon, Townsend.

WNCC baseball splits with Otero, sttill in second place in Empire Conference

The Western Nebraska Community College baseball team earned a split with Otero Junior College Sunday afternoon at Cleveland. And, even with the split, the Cougars are still in second place in the Empire Conference standings, a full two games ahead of third place Trinidad State Junior College.

The Cougars left eight baserunners on base in the opener as they pounded out just five hits in falling to the Rattlers 4-3. In the second game of the twinbill, the Cougars had home runs from Elvis Garcia and Camilo Baldoelomar to the 9-7 win.

In the first game, Otero went up 2-0 before the Cougars scored single runs in the second and third inning to tie the game at 2-2. Each team scored single runs in the fourth inning to keep the game deadlocked at three. The Rattlers scored the winning run in the fifth inning.

JC Morales took the loss from the mound, going six innings and scattering nine hits. He struck out two and walked just one.

The Cougars managed just five hits in the contest. Kevin Sanford had the only extra base hit with a double. He also had a runs scored.

"I thought we played pretty well in that first game, but we left some guys on base," WNCC coach Mike Jones said. "We had some opportunities to score some runs and needed some big hits. But we just couldn't come up with that hit that we needed to score the runs."

The second game was a totally different story as the Cougars put on a hit parade with seven hits, including five going for extra bases.

"We showed some power in the second game, hit some home runs and put a bunch of runs up early," Jones said. "They then went to their bullpen and we got shut down and let them back int he game."

WNCC quickly got on the board as Elvis Garcia launched a towering 2-run home run to put the Cougars up 2-0. The Cougars pushed it to 5-0 in the third inning as Baldelomar took the first pitch and sent it deep over the leftfield fence for a 3-run home run.

The Cougars plated four more runs in the fourth all with two outs. Garcia and Baldelomar had the big hits as Garcia had a 2-run double followed by a 2-run single by Baldelomore for the 9-1 lead.

Otero made it close scoring five times in the sixth and then once in the seventh, before Jacob Stutzman and Luis Martinez shut down the Rattlers rally for the team's 20th win of the season.

Julio Davila picked up the win going 4 2/3 innings as he allowed three hits, struck out three and walked six. Carlos Palomo threw a third of an inning, giving up five runs on four hits. Stutzman went 1 2/3 innings in giving up five hits and a run, before Martinez got the final out.

Garcia paced the team with a 2-for-3 game, including four RBIs, three runs scored, a double and a home run. Baldelomar went 2-for-3 with a runs scored, five RBIs and a home run. Jason Sloan went 1-for-2 with three runs scored and two walks. The only other extra base hit came from Nelson Quintero with a double.

The Cougars, 20-28 overall and 14-9 in conference play, will battle McCook Community College on Wednesday in one 9-inning conference game on the road. WNCC will then host conference-leading Lamar Community College Saturday and Sunday.

"McCook is playing really well," Jones said. "They just beat us last week and they went to NJC and won all four games. SO it will be important for us to go out and pitch well. We will also have to put up some runs if we are going to beat McCook."

Game One

Otero 020 110 0 -- 4 9 4

WNCC 011 100 0 -- 3 5 1

LP -- JC Morales; 2B -- Kevin Sanford.

Game Two

Otero (17-31) 000 105 1 -- 7 12 1

WNCC (20-28) 203 400 x -- 9 7 1

WP -- Julio Davila; 2B -- Jared Baros, Elvis Garcia, Nelson Quintero; HR -- Garcia, Camilo Baldelomar.

WNCC sweeps Trinidaid State, picks up 31st win of the season

The Western Nebraska Community College softball team used a six-run fifth inning to help the Cougars come back to claim game two two of their doubleheader, earning them a sweep of Trinidad State Junior College.

The Cougars won the first game 3-2 scoring all three runs in the fifth inning. They then overcome a 4-0 deficit with the six-run fifth to topple the Trojans 8-5. Sunday's wins gives the Cougars the No. 1 seed at the Region IX tournament next month.

WNCC still has two conference games to play -- Monday afternoon at McCook Community College -- but two losses will only tie the Cougars with Otero and WNCC holds the tiebreaker.

"We played really great today," sophomore Megan Burditt said. "We started a little slow to start but we came through with our bats in the end."

WNCC had to find that little extra to get the wins Sunday.

"Every game is a tough game," she said. "i am glad we came from behind in both games."

The wins also were sentimental for the sophomores, who played their last regular season home game at Volunteer Field. They will, however, host the Region IX tournament beginning May 7.

"As a sophomore, it means everything to get two wins in the final home games of the regular season," Burditt said. "it is nice to walk away from Volunteer Field with wins behind my back. We have to keep doing what we are doing by putting the ball into play and we should be ready for regionals."

WNCC found ways to win Sunday's doubleheader. The Cougars managed just two hits in the first game and then pounded out 12 hits in game two.

The first game definitely was a pitcher's dual between the Cougar's Taylor Anderson and Trinidad State's Sara Permenter. It was Trinidad that struck first with two runs on four hits in the fifth inning. WNCC didn't waste any time to bounce back, scoring three runs in the bottom of the frame.

Allie Alverson started things by reaching on an error. Burditt followed by drawing a one-out walk. Adena Hagen singled home Alverson with the first run and then Burditt and Hagen scored on a hit by Katie Groves.

After that, Anderson was unstoppable in the circle with a little help from her defense that turned a double play to end the game. Anderson went seven innings to get the win, allowing eight hits, striking out three and walking just one.

Parmenter was just as sizzling, tossing a two-hitter in the loss. But it was two costly errors in the fifth that did the sophomore in.

In the second game, Trinidad game out with plenty of fire, jumping to a 4-0 lead after two innings. In the meantime, the Trojans Jordyn Randolph was keeping the Cougar bats at bay. WNCC's biggest early scoring treat came in the fourth as Jordan Schoepflin singles followed by a double by Jacqui Cappuccilli. Randolph got out of the jam by striking out the side.

WNCC, though, came right back in the fifth and chased Randolph from the game as they plated six runs on seven hits. Megan Bourdon started things by rocketing a double to the fence. Alverson followed with a single to put runners in scoring position. Burditt than took a full-count and slapped a a triple to left field to score the Cougar's first runs of the game.

WNCC wasn't through as Burditt cut the lead to one after scoring on a Hagen sacrifice fly. Groves and Schoepflin followed with back-to-back singles, before Groves scored on a Cappuccilli double. Moments later, Ashton Hughes had a single to leftfield that scored Schoepflin and Cappuccilli to put WNCC up 6-4.

WNCC added two more runs in the sixth to go up 8-4 on two hits. Haden scored on a Groves hit that was booted. Groves later scored on a Schoepflin base hit.

Stephanie Townsend picked up the win going seven innings, giving up five runs on nine hits. Townsend struck out four and hit one batter. After a rough first two innings, where Townsend faced 14 batters, the sophomore from Roosevelt, Utah, allowed just one run and stranded just three Trojans on base as she faced 20 batters in five innings of work.

Burditt paced the team with a a 3-for-4 game, including two RBIs and a triple. Schoepflin also went 3-for-4 with a run scored and RBI, while Cappuccilli went 2-for-4 with a double. Hughes also had two hits with a double and two RBIs.

Burditt said they had to remain positive when they were behind early because they knew they would come back.

"We had to stay positive and keep hitting the ball into play," she said. "We all knew we had faith to put everything together and score some runs."

The Cougars, 31-17, will next be in action Monday when they face McCook Community College in a game that was moved up a day from Tuesday. After that, they will face the University of Wyoming on Thursday followed the Iowa Western tournament on Saturday and Sunday.

Game One

Trinidad 000 020 0 -- 2 7 2

WNCC 000 030 x -- 3 2 0

WP -- Taylor Anderson, LP -- Sara Parmenter; 2B -- WNCC (Allie Alverson), Trinidad (Leah Hanson).

Game Two

Trinidad (21-22) 220 001 0 -- 5 9 3

WNCC (31-17) 000 062 x -- 8 12 1

WP -- Stephanie Townsend, LP -- Jordyn Randolph; 2B -- WNCC (Jordan Schoepflin 2, Megan Bourdon, Ashton Hughes, Jacqui Cappuccilli), Trinidad (Shelbi Long); 3B -- WNCC (Megan Burditt).

WNCC softball splits with Otero

The Western Nebraska Community College softball team earned a split with Otero Junior College Saturday afternoon at Volunteer Field, but they are still on top of the conference standings with a 12-4 mark.

The Cougars dropped the first game 6-5 as Otero's four-run third inning was the difference. In the second game, WNCC plated five runs in the first inning and received a clutch pitching performance from Stephanie Townsend to earn an 8-4 win.

WNCC stays on top after McCook and Trinidad State split games on Saturday with the Indians winning the first game 4-3 before the Trojans won the second game 9-0. Trinidad State and WNCC will battle in a crucial conference doubleheader today at Volunteer Field beginning at 11 a.m. Trinidad State has a 13-5 conference record, while Otero drops to 14-6.

WNCC coach Maria Winn-Ratliff said her team needs to be ready to play today against Trinidad State.

"We have to come out ready to play [Sunday]," she said. "Our biggest thing is to try to be the No. 1 seed in the tournament. We are still on pace to do that, but Trinidad will come out really hungry. It will be a dog fight. We need to come out and do what we need to do both games to come away victorious."

WNCC took a 1-0 lead early as Jordan Schoepflin singled home Megan Burditt in the first inning.

Otero came back scoring two in the second on a 2-run home run by Shannon Traxinger. The Cougars wasted little time as they tied the game in the bottom of the frame as Brittany Chacon doubled home Ashton Hughes.

The Rattlers scored four runs in the third inning to take a 6-2 lead. The big hit was a solo home run by Jordan Bailey. WNCC didn't fold as they scored three runs to slice the lead to 6-5 in the bottom of the inning. Katie Groves ripped a single to score Adena Hagen with the first run, before Schoepflin launched a 2-run home run to bring the team back to within one.

That was as close as they got. Taylor Anderson took the loss in the circle. Anderson went all seven innings, scattering 10 hits while striking out three.

WNCC finished with eight hits, led by Schoepflin with a 4-for-4 game, including three RBIs and a home run.

Winn-Ratliff said they played alright in the opener, except they just couldn't get the clutch hit.

"Game one we came out on fire. We scored a run and did the things we needed to. They came back and hit a home run and then we find a way to tie it," she said. "In the third inning it seemed we lost a little bit of focus and they put up four runs. We immediately come right back and get within one with three innings to play. It just felt like we just couldn't get over the hump. We made some base running mistakes. We missed some bunting opportunities. But, it was a fight to the very end and as a spectator that is what you want to see. Unfortunately, we were on the wrong end of the scoreboard.

"Game two Otero came out with a ton of momentum. They put a run up and then their pitcher struggled a little bit and I thought we did the things we needed to by putting up a lot of runs and stay in control of the game. Steph kept her composure and some kids came up big offensively."

After Otero scored once in the first inning, WNCC plated five runs in the bottom of the frame on just one hit, a triple by Hagen. WNCC pushed the lead to 7-1 after three innings as Hagen scored two runs on a single up the to right centerfield.

Otero added two runs in the fifth on a 2-run home run by Traxinger to cut the deficit to 7-3. WNCC came back with a single run in the sixth as Groves tripled to right field and scored on a Schoepflin single. The Rattlers final run came on a solo home run in the seventh by Mariah Griego.

Townsend picked up the win in the circle by going seven innings, scattering seven hits and striking out three.

WNCC had six hits in the contest as Hagen went 2-for-4 with three RBIs, Also collecting multiple hits was Schoepflin with a 2-for-4 game with two RBIs and a triple.

Game One

Otero 024 000 0 -- 6 10 0

WNCC 113 000 0 -- 5 8 2

LP -- Taylor Anderson; HR -- Jordan Schoepflin.

Game Two

Otero (24-18) 100 020 1 -- 4 7 1

WNCC (29-17) 502 001 x -- 8 6 1

WP -- Stephanie Townsend; 2B -- Schoepflin; 3B -- Adena Hagen, Katie Groves.

WNCC baseball sweeps Otero in doubleheader

The Western Nebraska Community College baseball team exploded for 25 runs in sweeping a doubleheader from Otero Junior College in Empire Conference action Saturday at Cleveland FIeld.

The Cougars 14 runs in the fifth and sixth inning, including a walk-off home run to power WNCC past the Rattlers 16-5 in the first game. The second game saw the Cougars score five times in the fourth before holding off an Otero seventh rally for the 9-8 win.

The doubleheader win pushes the Cougars back into second place in the conference race after Lamar Community College swept Trinidad State in a doubleheader 3-1 and 1-0. McCook also bested Northeastern Junior College on Saturday 3-2 and 6-4.

WNCC and Otero will be back in action Sunday with another doubleheader beginning at 1 p.m. WNCC coach Mike Jones said they need to be ready to play.

"We didn't even play our best baseball and we still get a chance to get out of here with two wins," he said. "We are taking care of our conference record and keeping us in the run for a good playoff spot."

The big key was patience at the plate, where the team had 11 base hits in the opener, including five extra base hits. In the second game, the Cougars were outhit 12-9, but still managed to swing a mean bat.

Jones said their hitting was an improvement over last week, where they struggled at the plate.

"The big key for us was today [Saturday] was getting some good pitches to hit," he said. "In past games last week, we felt like we were taking some good pitches and then getting us down in the count and also swinging at some bad pitches. That was an emphasis so far and I thought we did well with it today."

The Cougars bolted to a 2-0 lead after one inning as Josh Parker delivered a two run-scoring double. Otero sliced the lead in half, 2-1, in the fourth, before WNCC exploded for six runs on just two hits in the fifth inning for an 8-1 lead. After Otero scored four in the top of the sixth, WNCC put the game away in the bottom of the frame with eight runs.

Parker and Jason Sloan each delivered run-scoring doubles before Rodriguez ended the game on the 10-run rule with a home run.

Rodriguez paced the Cougars at the plate with a 3-for-4 game, including three runs scored and two RBIs. Also collecting multiple hits was Sloan going 2-for-3 with three runs and two RBIs, Parker going 2-for-2 with four RBIs, and Shane Wade going 2-for-4.

Tim Beard picked up the win, going 5 2/3 innings by scattering 12 hits and striking out five.

Game two was a tussle early on as the teams were tied 3-3 after three innings. WNCC then erupted for five runs in the fourth inning on just two hits. Sloan had a run-scoring single, while Elvis Garcia had a run-scoring double for an 8-3 lead.

WNCC added a single run in the fifth as Kevin Sanford singled home Jared Baros for a 9-3 lead. Otero fought back with five runs in the seventh on three hits before the Cougars got a fly out to centerfield with runners in scoring position to end the game.

"We were able to get a line drive to centerfield to end the game," Jones said. "You have to give Otero credit for not giving up and fighting for every at bat in that last inning. I think our pitchers should have been better right there at the end to close the game."

Sanford was the only Cougar with more than one hit as the North Dakota native went 2-for-3 wiht two runs scored and two RBIs. Baros also had a big game as he finished with three RBIs on just one hit.

Armani Gonzalez picks up the win in relief of Rodil Martinez. Martinez went just 1 1/3 innings, giving up a run on three hits. Gonzalez went five innings, giving up seven runs, walking eight and striking out four.

Game One

Otero 000 104 -- 5 12 2

WNCC 200 068 -- 16 11 1

WP -- Tim Beard; 2B -- Josh Parker 2, Jason Sloan, Oscar Rodriquez; HR -- Rodriguez.

Game Two

Otero (16-30) 021 000 5 -- 8 12 4

WNCC (19-27) 030 510 x -- 9 9 1

WP -- Armani Gonzalez; 2B -- Kevin Sanford, Elvis Garcia.

WNCC baseball, softball set for home games

The Western Nebraska Community College baseball and softball teams know how important this weekend’s games are heading into next month’s Region IX tournaments.

Both teams are in tight conference races as the season is winding down. The softball team will face Otero Junior College in a doubleheader beginning at 2 p.m. on Saturday followed by hosting Trinidad State Junior College at 11 a.m. on Sunday. Both games are at Volunteer field.

The baseball team, who has lost four straight Empire Conference games, dropped to third in the conference race, where only the top four teams make the post-season tournament. The Cougar baseball team will host Otero Junior College Saturday and Sunday beginning at 1 p.m. on both days at Cleveland Field.

Softball coach Maria Winn-Ratliff and baseball coach Mike Jones said this weekend games are crucial.

“These games are just like any games that we play,” Winn-Ratliff said. “We have to go out and pitch well, hit well and run the bases well, and everything else will take care of itself.”

This weekend’s softball games are the final regular season home games for the team. Saturday’s contest will honor the dorm parents while Sunday’s contest will recognize the sophomores

“We really haven’t emphasized that it is the last home games of the regular season,” she said. “We don’t play at home much so we try to take pride when we are at home and getting to play in front of our fans and do the best that we can do. That is all we can ask them to do day in and day out. We just need to go out and do the things we do in practice and hopefully at the end of the day we have more runs on the board then the other team does.”

WNCC is 28-16 overall and 11-3 in conference play. Otero enters with a 23-17 record and a 13-5 conference record; while Trinidad is 19-18 overall and 12-4 in conference play.

“I wouldn’t say we are in control because we haven’t played as many conference games as the others have,” she said. “We have an opportunity to put ourselves in a good position after this weekend. Right now we have less conference losses then other people do, but they have played more games then we have. We have six big Region iX games coming up – Otero, Trinidad and McCook. Trinidad is playing with a lot of confidence. They went to Otero and swept them. McCook swept North Platte last night [Thursday]. We definitely have to come out and play well and I think that is irrelevant of who our competition is.”

While the softball team controls their own destiny – a sweep of four games will no-doubtedly lock up the No. 1 seed unless they falter at McCook on Tuesday – the baseball team needs to rebound from its six-game losing skid.

“These are extremely important ball games for us. We have been struggling lately,” baseball coach Mike Jones said. “We’ve dropped four conference games in a row and we have slipped from second place to third place. Otero will come in here hungry. They are trying to earn a playoff spot so it will be important for us elevate our game and get ready to play.”

WNCC, who has lost six straight, have been outscored 26-13. Despite the recent turn of misfortune for the Cougar men, they still are in good shape of hosting a first-round playoff game. But they need to win this weekend.

“The league is extremely competitive. There is some separation between one and six, but not by much,” Jones said. “There has been a lot of close ball games all the way through conference play. There have been a lot of one and two run games. It is nice that we played well enough early in conference play to put us in a situation where even though we struggled a little bit, it hasn’t killed us. We still have a chance. If we can get hot again and make a run late, we have a good chance.”

The Cougar baseball team enters this weekend’s clutch conference games with a 17-27 overall record and a 11-8 conference mark. WNCC trails conference leading Lamar Community College (17-5) and Trinidad State (12-7). Lamar will come to town next weekend, while Trinidad State visits Cleveland Field on April 30.

Jones said that Tim Beard will get the nod in the first game on Saturday, while Rodil Martinez will start the second game.

Also during the games this weekend, area youth baseball players will get a chance to hang out with the players after the games. Jones said there will also be prizes for different competitions during the games for the youth. 23 Clun players can attend the games on Saturday, while Gering Organized players can attend on Sunday.

Area youth softball players from the Gering Girls Softball Association and 23 Club will be offered the same opportunity as the baseball players on Saturday during the Otero Junior College game in hanging out with the softball players to get pictures and autographs, or to play catch.

Three WNCC players headed to Division I level

In the photo is (l-r) WNCC head coach Russ Beck, WNCC incoming freshman Mike Peltz of Alliance, Francisco Cruz and Lloyd Hickinson.

Photos of the signing are located on the photo gallery site at http://wncccougars.smugmug.com/Cougar-Mens-Basketball/Cruz-Hickinson-Peltz-signing/11846556_mTkup#837643465_TrcgT

The Western Nebraska Community College men’s basketball program has three players headed to the NCAA Division I level.

WNCC guard Francisco Cruz officially signed his letter of intent to play at the University of Wyoming on Wednesday. Also signing on Wednesday was Lloyd Hickinson, who played for the Cougars from 2007-2009, inked with Southern University in Baton Rouge, La.

Geddes Robinson signed with Utah Valley State College on Thursday.

Robinson said Utah Valley State College is a perfect fit for him.

“I felt comfortable with the coach and I felt it was a good opportunity for me,” the 6-foot-5 forward said. “As for picking a good coach, it was a easy choice for me because his record speaks for himself. For basketball, I just had to make the right decisions for me as a player and then just go there and try to be successful.”

Robinson transferred to WNCC this year and averaged 19 points and nine rebounds a game this season. He will be going to a Utah Valley State team with the potential to do well.

“Ronnie Price played for Utah Valley and averaged about 29 points a game and he now has a four-year NBA career and he has played for Coach [Dick] Hunsaker,” WNCC coach Russ Beck said. “We kind of expect Geddes to go there and step into a role that both he will be comfortable with and coach Hunsaker is recruiting him to be that type of player. We are excited for Geddes and expect good things from him.”

Cruz is also excited about his opportunity at Wyoming, after officially signing to become a Cowboy on Wednesday. Cruz verbally committed to Wyoming in February.

“I am really excited about finally signing. I have a place to go and play Division I basketball,” the 6-foot-4 guard said. “I was happy to play at WNCC and I enjoyed the people here. I really liked the support that they gave us.”

This past season, Cruz ranked No. 22 in the nation in scoring among National Junior College Division I players. He was also a First Team All-Region 9 selection.

As a sophomore, Cruz averaged 20.0 points, made 92 three pointers and shot 47 percent from three-point land. He shot 45 percent from the field and 78 percent from the free-throw line. He also averaged 6.0 rebounds, 1.9 assists and 1.0 steals a game. He started all 32 games and helped lead the Cougars to a 19-13 overall record. His best game of the season came when he scored 41 points in a win over Eastern Wyoming. On the year, Cruz made three or more three pointers in 18 of 32 games.

As a freshman at WNCC, Cruz knocked down 41 three pointers and scored 460 points. He was selected as the school's most valuable male athlete. In his career at WNCC, Cruz became only the 12th player in school history to score over 1,000 career points. He ended his career with 1,099 points.

“Pako has been a very fun player to coach and I am pleased with his opportunity to go continue his career at a great school like Wyoming,” Beck said. “We will miss him a lot and whoever replaces him will have some big shoes to fill.”

Hickinson, a 6-foot-6 player from Chandler, Ariz., played for Brian Joyce from 2007-09, but was also recruited by Beck to play for Salt Lake Community College.

“I found out who the head coach was over the summer and the name was familiar,” he said. “Then, when I went to his office and I was like you were the coach at Salt Lake. I was kind of funny because he actually recruited me to go to Salt Lake Community College and I choose here.”

Hickinson averaged about eight points and seven rebounds during his sophomore year with the Cougars, said his goal was to go Division I and not Division II, so he decided to return to WNCC to take care of his academics.

“It was important for me to come back just go to school,” he said. “I could have gone Division II route last year. It was a humbling experience because you went in the front playing and having the crowd support to just being another face in the crowd.”

Hickinson said his three years here made him more mature.

“I became a man, in a sense, while going here,” he said. “It was weird because here people would just come up and start speaking to me, which doesn’t happen in the city. I received a lot of love. This community is different from a lot because people actually care about not only athletics, but about the person.

“Coach Beck and Coach Gianno have helped me a lot. They really didn’t have to let me into their program because I am here this year finishing up my academics. They accepted me into the family, let me practice with them, lift with them.

Beck said that Hickinson has unlimited potential and wishes he would have won the recruiting battle for his talents.

“It’s true that three and a half years ago I was trying to recruit Lloyd to SLCC [where Beck was an assistant coach],” he said. “I am excited for Lloyd, he is a great young man and a phenomenal athlete. We expect him to really have an impact at Southern University in Baton Rouge.

“There are not many players across the country that possesses the kind of leaping ability that Lloyd has. He can knock down the open three and he can really impact the game with his ability to attack the offensive glass.”

So far four players have signed to go to the Division I level. Scott Bamforth was the first to ink back in November as the 6-2 guard signed with Weber State. Bamforth will have three years playing at the Utah school.

Beck also said that Saul Torres, Geoffrey Firmin and Ritchie Mundende all have opportunity to play at the Division I level as well. For Firmin and Munende, that would mean that they would have three years at that level. Seeing all these players go to the Division I level is a positive for the program.

“We want to recruit high caliber student athletes here to the men’s basketball program,” he said. “We are excited about our guys having opportunities to continue on and playing Division I.”

WNCC Basketball camp set for May 7-8

The Western Nebraska Community College basketball camp will be held Friday and Saturday, May 7-8 at Cougar Palace.

The camp is open to boys and girls in kindergarten through 12^th grade. The camp will run May 7 from 4-9 p.m. and Saturday from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. The cost of the 2-day camp is $100 per boy or girl.

WNCC men’s basketball coach Russ Beck, along with assistant coach Gianno Bianconi, and current Cougar players will conduct the camp.

Beck said the camp will give each participant one-on-one instruction in the fundamentals of basketball. The camp will teach and focus on basic skill development such as passing, shooting, dribbling, rebounding, and team communication.

The reason the camp will be held the first of May is because Cougar Palace is scheduled to get a new floor over the summer.

Interested participants may download a registration form from the Cougar athletic website at sports.wncc.net, or pick up a form in the athletic office. For more information, contact Beck at 308-635-6780 or beckr@wncc.net.

WNCC baseball team drops another close game at McCook

Submitted by Jeremy Woznick, of the Star-Herald.

MCCOOK - The recent theme of close games not ending in favor of the Western Nebraska Community College baseball team continued Wednesday afternoon as the Cougars dropped a 5-3 decision at McCook Community College.

It was WNCC's sixth loss in a row. The last five of those losses have all been by two runs or less.

"We just got outplayed today. McCook is fighting for a playoff spot and played with a little bit more intensity. We didn't handle it very well," WNCC coach Mike Jones said. "We need to understand that we can't let our guard down just because we have a little bit of a lead for a playoff spot. We're at the point in the season right now where everybody's fighting for a playoff spot and we need to be ready to play."

The good news for the Cougars is they still maintain a bit of a cushion in the race for the regional playoffs. WNCC is now third in the standings behind Lamar Community College and Trinidad State Junior College. The Cougars are five games clear of McCook in the loss column. McCook moved into fourth place just ahead of Otero Junior College. The top four teams in the standings advance to the regional tournament.

Against McCook on Wednesday, the Cougars mustered just five hits. One of those hits came off the bat of Elvis Garcia, who blasted a solo home run in the top of the first to put WNCC in front 1-0.

WNCC's lead grew to 3-1 in the fourth after Camilo Baldelomar drove in a pair of runs. However, McCook answered with one run in the bottom of the inning before plating three runs in the fifth to take the lead for good.

Carlos Luzon took the loss on the mound for WNCC. He allowed five runs and struck out two in 4 2/3 innings of work. McCook finished the game with 13 hits.

The Cougars, now 11-8 in the conference and 17-27 overall, will host Otero in a crucial four-game series this weekend. Doubleheader action on both Saturday and Sunday will begin at noon at Cleveland Field in Scottsbluff.

"These games are going to important," Jones said. "We're a good team when we are focused and hungry. We weren't very hungry today and McCook sure was. It's just that mentality you have to come out with for every game."

All six teams in the conference will be in action against each other this weekend. In addition to the WNCC-Otero series, McCook will play Northeastern Junior College and Lamar will battle Trinidad State.

WNCC 100 200 000 - 3 5 0
McCook 010 130 00x - 5 13 0
LP - Carlos Luzon.
HR - Elvis Garcia.

Five WNCC players sign with four-year colleges

Western Nebraska Community College volleyball coach Giovana Melo couldn’t hold back the emotion as she watched five of her sophomores sign letters of intent Wednesday afternoon and officially their two-year career as a Cougar.

Melo said this is a happy and sad day as the five sophomores officially inked their scholarship letters.

“These five mean a lot to me and it was funny because before they came in here to sign, we were in the office area just laughing and looking at a little video together. It made me tear up,” Melo said. “I remember the first time I saw them together on the court and seeing them what they did in the last game together in the spring tournament [on April 10] you see a completely different group.

“It started with five kids in a group in a way I didn’t see them close and then to see them as close as they are now and close to me, I did not see that happen. I think they have matured so much, not just as players but as people. To see them all go to the next level and play and show them who we and they are all about is incredible.”

Kaleinani Kabalis and Paulina Piegza signed to play Division I volleyball next year. Kabalis will be playing at Washington State, while Piegza will play at St. Johns University in New York. Cami Weimer inked with Oklahoma Baptist University, a NAIA school. Then, the two Gering graduates signed their letter of intents as Whitney Roth is headed to Division II Texas A&M-Kingsville, while Brooke Blomenkamp will be playing at Grand Canyon University in Phoenix.

The former Bulldogs have the biggest story among the five signings. Roth and Blomenkamp went to the same pre-school together have played together for what seems an eternity. Now, the two Gering High School standouts will be going their separate ways.

“I started out with Brooke going to pre-school together and we have known each other a long time,” Roth said. “Knowing how [Brooke and Sierra Schmidt] play and who they are, that is going to be hard as I go down there not knowing a whole lot about the other players.”

“I will miss playing with Whitney because we played together all of our lives,” Blomenkamp said. “That will be sad to leave that. I am also going to miss playing with these other guys so much. I really don’t want to leave, because these two years have been awesome. They all have been really nice to play with.”

Roth and Blomenkamp, along with the other sophomore signees, have grown both on and off the court. In two years at WNCC, the sophomores have compiles a 101-8 record and finished third at the national tournament in back-to-back years.

“I think I have improved a lot,” Roth said. “I think I can jump a little higher and I definitely have gotten stronger and a little bit quicker. I think the two years here has helped me prepare for the Division II level. I improved quite a bit but I have a long ways to go.

Roth said what helped her improve is playing against and with people that are headed to the four-year level.

“Playing with people that are at the DI level now [Fatima Balza at Penn State and Nayka Benitez at Creighton] or going to DI, it definitely helped bring your playing level up,” she said. “You have high levels of volleyball, so I think that has helped over the past two years to elevate my game.”

Weimer said playing with great players helps you want to excel as well.

“Playing my freshman year with Fatima who just won a national title at Penn State, that gives you that much more motivation to want to excel yourself and want to be a great player,” the Ft. Morgan, Colo., native said. “Having teammates that are going on to DI and DII schools is really cool that you have been a part of something great and great people.”

Blomenkamp said playing with the likes of a Balza or Kalei and the other Cougar teammates, has helped her become a better volleyball player.

“They have brought my level up,” she said. “Playing with people that go on to high levels of volleyball, like Fatima and Kalei, I think it has helped me reach a level of volleyball that I never dreamed I would reach when I was in high school. Now, I get the opportunity to go and play at a higher level and reach a higher level of volleyball. It is a nice-dream-come true.”

Roth and Blomenkamp, along with the other three sophomores that signed, were all recruited by former Cougar coach Chris Green before he left for the University of Alaska Anchorage. All five of them said they didn’t have second thoughts about coming here under Melo’s coaching.

“I still remember the first time I met her and she scared me,” Blomenkamp said. “I was like, ‘ok, I don’t know.’ Now I am so thankful that she came here. She has been a great coach and she has helped me so much. I think I have reached a level in these two years that back in high school I thought I never would reach.”

“It has been awesome playing under coach,” Weimer said. “It didn’t matter to me who the coach was. I wanted to come here. I knew the program was a great program and I knew the players were out here to win.”

Blomenkamp said she can’t believe how much everybody has become like sisters now.

“I think it is cool to see how we all have grown in two years and as a team helped each other grow,” she said. “I now when we play together, there is nothing we can’t do. We have shown that we pretty much can beat anybody.”

Kabalis said the game of volleyball brought everybody, players and coach, together like a tight-knit family.

“When we first got here, we all had different personalities. No matter what we looked like or talked like, we still had that feeling for volleyball. That is what brought us together and closer than anything else,” she said. “I felt like I knew them for a long time. We argue. We do everything just like sisters do, and it doesn’t matter because at the end of the day you still want to be with them. You still love them.”

That is why Melo said she won’t be able to replace them. Instead, she will look for someone to step into their shoes.

“I don’t think they are replaceable,” she said. “You see them as crazy freshmen when they came in and now you see them mature. You can’t replace that, especially after seeing where they can get to [after signing Wednesday]. You obviously have to go get different kids and try to get them as good at these five when they leave. The sad part is you get them to get better, you get them to improve and then they leave you. It is sad, but it makes you happy at the same time because they are moving on to better things.”