When the Western Nebraska Community College softball team enters this weekend’s Region IX tournament at Volunteer Field in Scottsbluff, they will be doing so with a little bit of confidence. At the same time, they are being cautious as they enter the semi-final round game. The 20th-ranked Cougars, who own the No. 1 seed entering the double-elimination tournament, will open play in the tournament Friday at 7 p.m. against either Lamar Community College (28-31) or McCook Community College (10-31).
“In our region, you can’t overlook anyone,” sophomore Katie Groves, who was named the NJCAA player of the week on Wednesday, said. “It’s one weekend; do or die, all or nothing, and everyone knows that. People play different at regionals. It is now or never; lose and go home.”
The Cougars finished the season with an impressive 40-18 record, including winning 20 of their last 22 games. WNCC has won its last seven games by outscoring their opponents 89-34. WNCC is also looking to capture its second regional title in three years, the last time was back in 2008 when the tournament was held in Scottsbluff.
With all that, Groves said they are a marked team.
“We have to play our game because we have an X on our backs and everyone wants to beat us at home,” she said. “We can’t get caught up in the other team and their emotions. We have to play Cougar ball and play under control.”
WNCC has saved its best softball for the final month of the season. WNCC is hitting a team batting average of .360 with 56 homes runs, 127 doubles and 24 triples. Groves leads the team in home runs with 15 followed by freshman Ashton Hughes at 11. Groves also leads the team with 82 RBIs and 89 runs scored, followed by freshman Jordan Schoepflin with 53 RBIs and 55 runs scored. Schoepflin is second on the team in average at .417, while pitcher Taylor Anderson is hitting .410.
While the Cougars have been playing well both offensively, Jacqui Cappuccilli said this team knows they are beatable.
“Anyone in our conference can win on any given day,” the freshman from Las Vegas, Nev., said. “We can’t underestimate anyone and we just have to go and play Cougar ball. That is playing as a whole and leaving our hearts on the field when we walk away.”
Any team is capable of capturing the regional tournament. WNCC finished conference play with a 16-4 record, falling twice to Lamar Community College, and once each to Otero Junior College and Trinidad State Junior College.
“We have seen our competition numerous times and not overlooking them is crucial,” sophomore Anderson said. “Anything can happen in this game and we need to just focus on our team and not worry about the competition. Playing well is necessary in order to come out victorious. If we play the way we know how, there is no question that we will keep playing well in the future.”
The tournament kicks off Friday afternoon with No. 3-seed Trinidad State (28-21) battles No. 6-seed Dawson Community College (5-33) at 1 p.m., followed by No. 4-seed Lamar (28-31 taking on No. 5 McCook (10-31). Otero, the No. 2 seed (27-21) will face the winner of the TSJC/Dawson winner at 5 p.m.
Groves, who leads the team with a .497 batting average, said they can’t worry about the other teams; they just need to play their game.
“We need to play our game, stay focused and put more runs up than the other team,” she said. “The team that makes the least amount of errors and executes fundamental softball will win.”
The thing that makes this year’s team stand out is that at one time, the Cougars were just barely hanging on above the .500 mark at 14-11 after a 2-8 spring break trip through Arizona. Since then, they are 26-7. Sophomore Brittany Chacon, who signed recently with Chadron State College, said this team has always had the potential to notch 40 wins.
“Our team has always had a lot of potential,” Chacon said. “We play well together and being a team as a whole is the key to success. It is very important that we keep playing the way we are. We know what we’re capable of. Consistency is the key.”
Defensively the team also has done well. The pitching staff’s earned run average has dropped to 3.03. Anderson leads the team from the circle with a 2.02 ERA with a 19-9 record. Stephanie Townsend has also come on from the circle with a 12-3 mark with 66 strikeouts.
Anderson said this team is capable of anything if they continue playing as one unit. The winner of the regional tournament qualifies for the national tournament in St. George, Utah, May 20-22.
“For this team to come away with a Region IX championship, we need for everyone to come together as a team more than ever,” she said. “We just need to make the routine plays, play Cougar ball and keep our level of competition high. The key to winning then is commitment. You need to be committed in order to be successful. Teamwork is a huge key to winning and leadership as well. You need all those in order to win.”
The Cougar softball games can be heard on the radio at KOZY 101.3 FM or on the web at kozy1013.com.
Tournament Schedule
Friday, May 7
1 p.m. – Trinidad State vs. Dawson
3 p.m. – Lamar vs. McCook
5 p.m. – Otero vs. winner of 1 p.m. game
7 p.m. – WNCC vs. winner of 3 p.m. game
Tournament continues Saturday and Sunday.
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