WNCC softball sweeps Luna

                Western Nebraska Community College's Bree Bitton hit two home runs and the Cougar softball team battled the snow, wind and sun in registering a doubleheader sweep of Luna Community College at Volunteer Field in Scottsbluff.

               Mariah Faifer delivered the game-winning hit in the seventh inning of the opening game in leading the Cougars to an 8-7 win. The second contest saw Bitton hit her second home run of the day and Megan Bourdon smack her 16th dinger of the season as the Cougars registered a 7-2 win over the Rough Riders.

               The two squads will face each other in another doubleheader today [Sunday] at Volunteer Field beginning at 11 a.m. It will also be the final home game for the six sophomores.

               On Saturday, the Cougars didn't look sharp committing Luna to score a combined nine runs on 13 hits, but a lot of the defensive miscues can be contributed to the off and on snow showers.

                Still, the Scleroderma Fundraiser and dorm parent recognition proved to be a successful one for the 20th ranked Cougars despite the climate variations throughout the afternoon that included snow flurries off and on.

               "When you have climate conditions like this, it equalizes the game a little bit," WNCC coach Maria Winn Ratliff said. "I thought we had a couple balls that would have went out in left field if the wind wasn't  blowing in.

               "Today, we just struggled in making adjustments in game one. We went down and then we found a way to tie it up, then take the lead and then they have a bad inning and they get back in the ball game. They are a pretty good ball club.  They are a team that if you give them an inch, they will take it from you and take a mile. I thought we did a nice job of playing hard for 14 innings and finding a way to come out with two victories."
               WNCC definitely used some late-inning magic to pull out the first game. After both teams scored two runs in the first inning, the Cougars took a 5-2 lead after two innings. Bitton started the second wth a solo home run to help ignite the team.

               The Cougars went up 7-3 after four innings with two more runs in the fourth on singled by Megan Bourdon and Jacqui Cappuccilli. Luna came back with four runs on three hits in the fifth inning. The big blow was a 2-run home run followed by Shannon Garcia and a 2-run single by Ashton Martinez.

               WNCC then won the game in the seventh. Aria Agle earned a 2-out walk and came around to score on a triple by Mariah Faifer to end the contest.

               Ashton Hughes picked up the complete-game win. Hughes allowed seven hits while walking four. Hughes also struck out 10, including eight in three innings.

               Offensively, the Cougars pounded out nine hits. Bitton led the way with a 3-for-4 game with a home run and a double, while Cappuccilli and Bourdon each collected two hits. Bourdon had a triple, walk and two runs scored, while Cappuccilli had two singles.

               The second game saw Amanda Jones throw seven strong innings, allowing six hits and striking out three. Jones avoided disaster from the onslaught, allowing just one run while leaving the bases loaded. WNCC came back to take the lead in the second as Bitton hammered her second home run of the day, a 2-run shot into the win to right field. It was Bitton's ninth of the season to put the Cougars up 2-1. 

               WNCC added single runs in the third and sixth, and three runs in the fifth to open up a 7-2 lead.

               Cappuccilli had the big hit in the fifth with a 2-run single and then Jocelyn Stubbs had a run-scoring double. In the sixth, Bourdon hammered her team-leading 16th home run, a 2-out, solo shot. Bourdon is now just one home run from tying the season home record set by Katie Groves in 2009.

               Offensively, the Cougars pounded out 10 hits. Bourdon went 3-for-3 with three runs scored and a home run. Stubbs also collected two hits, going 2-for-3 with a run scored and RBI.

               Sunday's contests will be the last time the six sophomores will play at home. The six sophomores are Hughes, Bourdon, Cappuccilli, Jordan Schoepflin, Amanda Saldivar and Allie Alverson. The six will also be honored during the game.

               "Tomorrow [Sunday] will be the last time the sophomores will put a uniform on and play on this field," Winn-Ratliff said. "Hopefully, they will take some pride and continue with the tradition we have of playing well and winning at home. Also, hopefully, the climate will be a little better and we see some better results. We have really trying to preach shutout and better defense and tomorrow we hope to be able to do those things."

First Game

Luna                     201 040 0 -- 7 7 1

WNCC                  230 200 1 -- 8 10 2

WP -- Ashton Hughes; 2B -- Jordan Schoepflin, Bree Bitton; 3B -- Megan Bourdon; HR -- Bree Bitton.

Second Game

Luna                     100 010 0 -- 2 6 0

WNCC (46-13)    021 031 x -- 7 10 3

WP -- Amanda Jones; 2B -- Aria Agle, Jocelyn Stubbs, Jordan Schoepflin; HR -- Megan Bourdon, Bree Bitton.

WNCC baseball sweeps Trinidad, moves into 4th in conference standings

                 The Western Nebraska Community College baseball team used dramatic seventh innings to keep its playoff hopes alive with two thrilling victories over Trinidad State Junior College Friday at Cleveland Field.

                Jake Montoya had a 3-run double in the bottom of the seventh to lift the Cougars to a 6-5 come-from-behind victory. The second game was just as intense as the Cougars thwarted Trinidad from scoring the tying run on a passed ball in the seventh inning to record the 3-2 win.

                The doubleheader pushes the Cougars into fourth place in the Empire Conference standings and a game ahead of McCook Community College for the final playoff spot.

                Montoya said these two wins are huge confidence boosters for the team as they fight for a berth in the playoffs.

                “These two wins are really big. They are big confidence builders going into the weekend since we knew McCook had lost one [on Wednesday] to NJC, so we knew we had a chance,” the sophomore from Wheatland, Wyo., said. “Winning these first two off the bat solidifies us and we move up into fourth right know and now it depends on what other teams do.”

                The two wins weren’t pretty, but the Cougars found a way to come out on top. WNCC trailed 5-3 heading into their final at bat of the opening game. Jake Peltz started the comeback with a one-out infield single. Then, Reimer Alambarry slapped a single to right field. Camilo Baldelomar then reached base on an error to load the bases.

                Montoya then stepped to the plate with two outs and everything rested on his shoulders. Montoya, who struck out in his two previous plate appearances, came through in the clutch. He said he went up to the plate with confidence.

                “I had a couple tough at bats earlier in the game,” he said. “I was walking up there and I had a lot of confidence that I could put something into play. I got that 2-0 count and I knew that fast ball was coming. I just put it into play.”

                Montoya took a fastball and drove it to right field and the diving attempt resulted in all three baserunners crossing home plate as Montoya had a stand up double. Montoya said he did see the winning run cross the plate, but the next thing he saw was him being mobbed by his teammates as if they just won the Region IX tournament.  Montoya did see Baldelomar cross home to win the game

                “I did see the winning run cross home plate. I ran to second base and thought about going to third, but I didn’t want to risk anything so I stopped on second base to watch them score. At that point I saw the team running out at me.”

                WNCC had many heroes in the opening game offensively and defensively. Alamberry went 1-for-1 in the contest as he had two runs scored and three walks. Peltz went 1-for 3 with two runs scored, while Montoya had the only extra base hit, the game-winning double.

                Carlos Palomo picked up the win on the mound, tossing a complete game. Palomo allowed five runs but scattered six hits. The Gering graduate struck out a season high eight Trojan batters.

                WNCC rode that win into the second game and quickly took a 2-0 lead on Trinidad with two runs in the second inning on three hits. The big hit was a 2-run single by Paul Singh to score Montoya and Nelzon Quintero.

                Trinidad came back to tie the game in the fifth on a home run by Gavis Purvis. The Trojans scored their second run as Jacen Davis doubled and scored on a Adam Anderon single to knot the score.

                WNCC came right back in the bottom of the fifth with a single run. Benly Ramos started things by reaching on an error. Pinch runner Trevor Kriesel then scored the go ahead run on a Baldelomar single for the 3-2 lead.

                Trinidad tried a seventh inning comeback as they had a runner on third base with two outs. A couple pitches later, Trinidad tried to score on a passed ball but Montoya delivered the ball to relief pitcher Terry McNabb to tag out tying run at the plate.

                WNCC received another superior pitching performance as Carlos Luzon pitched six strong innings to get the win. Luzon allowed just two runs on six hits. The sophomore also struck out struck out two and two. Terry McNabb picked up the save, tossing the seventh in walking one and striking out one.

                Baldelomar led the team from the plate, going 2-for-2 with a RBI. Singh also had two RBIs in the contest.

                The same two squads will be back in action Saturday for another doubleheader beginning at 1 p.m.. Montoya said they will hope to carry the momentum into the rest of the games this weekend.

                “We are going to enjoy these two wins for now and then tomorrow [Saturday] get back to work,” he said. “We are going to try to keep it going. If we can win two on Saturday, we will be sitting in really good position heading into Sunday against Lamar.”

First Game

Trinidad                002 300 0 – 5 6 1

WNCC                   002 010 3 – 6 5 1

WP – Carlos Palomo, LP – Rhys Nitt; 2B – WNCC (Jake Montoya).

Second Game

Trinidad (34-20)                                000 020 0 – 2 6 1

WNCC (17-29)                    020 010 x – 3 6 0

WP – Carlos Luzon, LP – Kevin Hand, S – Terry McNabb; 2B – Trinidad (Jacen Davis); 3B – Trinidad (Wade Beauvais); HR – Trinidad (Beauvais).

Region IX Standings

Team                                                 Conf.               Overall

Lamar                                                24-4                 41-14

Trinidad                                            17-11               34-20

Otero                                                14-12               31-19

WNCC                                               10-16               17-29

McCook                                           9-17                 23-26

NE Colorado                                   8-22                 20-34

Friday’s Games

WNCC 6, Trinidad 5

WNCC 3, Trinidad 2

Lamar 6, NE Colorado 3

Lamar 15, NE Colorado 4

               

WNCC softball sweeps Hastings College J.V.

                HASTINGS -- The Western Nebraska Community College softball team hit four home runs and swept a doubleheader from Hastings College junior varsity Thursday evening in Hastings.

               Amanda Jones pitched seven strong innings and the Cougars received home runs from Aria Agle and Mariah Faifer in capturing the 7-4 win. The Cougars' offense cranked up in the second game, pounding out 15 hits as Megan Bourdon and Jacqui Cappuccilli each hit their 15th home runs of the season in racing to a 17-6 victory.

               It was the 20th-ranked Cougars 44th wins of the season as they get set to host Luna Community College in the regular season finales on Saturday and Sunday.

               Thursday, the Cougars showed plenty of offense. In the opener, WNCC didn't open the offense until the third inning when Faifer led off the inning with a home run over the left field fence.

               The Cougars added two more runs in the fourth and fifth. Amanda Saldivar had the big hit in the fourth with a triple that scored Faifer from first.           Agle then had a 2-run home run in the fifth inning.

               WNCC had four players record multiple hits. Saldivar led the way, going 3-for-3 with two runs scored and a RBI. Faifer also had two hits, including a home run, two runs scored and a RBI. Megan Bourdon and Sarah Hawryluk each had two hits as well.

               Amanda Jones earned the win in the circle with seven strong innings in scattering five hits and giving up four runs. Jones walked one but struck out seven.

               WNCC wasted little time in starting the offense in game two. Bourdon connected on her 15th home run of the season to lead off the game. The Cougars scored four more time in the inning to grab a 5-0 lead.

               The Cougars added four more runs in the second for a 9-1 lead. Cappuccilli had the big hit, hitting a 2-run linedrive to right field for her 15th home run of the season.

               Hastings fought back scoring five times in the bottom of the second, slicing the lead to 9-6. WNCC came back with a single run in the fourth and then wrapped up the game in the fifth with seven runs. WNCC scored the seven runs on just three hits, all singles from Jocelyn Stubbs, Bree Bitton, and Allie Alverson.

               Stubbs paced the team with a 4-for-4 night, including a double, three runs scored and three RBIs. Bitton collected three singles in the game along with two runs scored and a RBI. Hawruluk and Cappuccilli each collected two hits. Hawryluk also had three runs scored, while Cappuccilli had two runs scored and three RBIs.

               Sarah Ward-Hadden collected the win, going four innings in giving up nine hits and six runs. Ward-Hadden struck out three and walked one. Aria Agle finished the came, going one inning while striking out two.

First Game

WNCC                  002 221 0 -- 7 13 2

Hastings JV          001 200 1 -- 4 5 2

WP -- Amanda Jones; 3B -- Amanda Saldivar; HR -- Aria Agle, Mariah Faifer.

Second Game

WNCC (44-13)                   540 17 -- 17 15 3

Hastings JV                         150 00 -- 6 10 3

WP -- Sarah Ward-Hadden; 2B -- Sarah Hawryluk, Jocelyn Stubbs; HR -- Megan Bourdon, Jacqui Cappuccilli.

Westphal signs with Millsaps College

               Scottsbluff and Western Nebraska Community College volleyball player Mackenzie Westphal will be continuing her college playing at the next level after inking a letter of intent with Millsaps College Wednesday evening.

               Westphal said that Millsaps was a perfect fit for her to continuing playing volleyball as well as pursue her foreign language degree.

               " I decided to go to Millsaps because when I went on my visit, I really could see myself there," she said. "i really liked the coach and the atmosphere. It is a lot like WNCC where it is small. When you walk into the coaches' offices there, you pretty much can talk to any of the coaches and any one is willing to help you.

               "There coach is a lot like coach Gi [Giovana Melo] and I really got along with the players a lot. When I met the teachers for the field I am going into for Spanish and French, i really got a long with them. It was just a place that I could see myself."

               Westphal was a standout athlete at Scottsbluff earning Star-Herald all-region honors her senior season. Westphal originally signed with Wagner University, but spent two years at Western Nebraska Community College. And, in those two years, the 5-foot-10 outside hitter continued blossoming as a volleyball player, helping the Cougars win the NJCAA national championship in November.

               Westphal said these past two years have been two years that has helped her grow as a person off and on the court.

               "It is kind of hard to put words into it, but playing under coach has been amazing and I feel I have grown so much as a person and a player," she said. "i took a year off so I was a little off when I came back into it, but I feel like I am back into it know. Coach really strives to push as players and people. She works really hard for us to get good grades and play well on the court. It really has been a good experience. And, playing with these girls has been amazing. I will never forget all the memories we made especially winning nationals."

               That national tournament ring will be something that Westphal will cherish for years to come.

               "It feels really good to have this ring because we worked so hard throughout the season. In practice and every single day with running, conditioning, and we really came together from being individuals to being a team. i think this ring proves that we are not only the best team but we are a family now."

               The leadership skills she obtained at WNCC with the rest of the Cougar players that will help Westphal when she joins the Majors' volleyball team next fall. Millsaps is in the same conference as Colorado College from Colorado Springs, Colo.

               "One of the reasons I am going there is because the coach told me I would be really good with the leadership skills in the experience of playing college volleyball," she said. "I definitely think it will help me of already playing in college with the level that we play at."

               Westphal is the last of the sophomores that have signed to go on to play volleyball. The other five, all officially signing letter of intents earlier this month, included Kathryn Stock at NIcholls State in Thibodaux, La., Kuulei Kabalis at Kansas State, Ariel Austin at the University of Alaska Anchorage, Tania Torres at Barry University, and Emily Hoehn at C.W. Post University in New York.

               The past two seasons, WNCC has sent 11 of 13 sophomores on to play at four year schools. Stock and Kabalis signed with NCAA Division I schools this year. Last year, WNCC saw Kalei Kabalis ink with Washington State, Paulina Piegza sign with St. Johns, Cami Weimer with Oklahoma Baptist, Brooke Blomenkamp with Grand Canyon University, and Whitney Roth with Texas A&M KIngsville.