Western
Nebraska Community College and Trinidad State Junior College starting pitchers
Bianca Duran and Kaycee Prevedel were hooked up in an old-fashioned pitcher’s
duel.
Now, the two freshmen pitchers
will have to wait until Sunday to finish their contest after an electrical fire
in the breaker box that feeds the lights caught on fire, forcing the game to be
called in the top of the eighth with a scoreless game.
The untimely
ending makes the winner bracket contest even more intense when play resumes at
10 a.m. on Sunday. The winner advances to the championship at 4 p.m. while the
loser drops to a 2 p.m. contest against the winner of the Lamar Community
College and Otero Junior College that will be played at noon.
Saturday’s
delayed contest resembles the contest the two teams played at Scottsbluff on
March 22 when WNCC won 1-0 in eight innings off a solo home run by Kasey Cash.
In that contest, Prevedel limited the
Cougars to just two hits in striking out 16, while Duran allowed seven hits and
struck out three.
In
Saturday’s Region IX tournament contest, Prevedel was again throwing hard in
striking out 11 Cougars. Duran was also throwing well, scattering six hits and
striking out five. At the same time, the Cougar bats did get to Trinidad’s freshmen
pitcher from Roosevelt, Utah. Unfortunately for the Cougars, they left runners
in scoring position in five of the seven innings
WNCC
had a prime scoring opportunity in the second after Cash walked and later Bree
Bitten walked before both were stranded in scoring position.
The
third inning saw two runners get on with one out before two fly balls spoiled
that threat.
The
fourth inning saw the Cougars have a huge scoring opportunity as Cash led off
with a triple to right field, but was stranded at third base.
The
fifth inning also saw the Cougars botch a scoring opportunity. Sarah Hawryluk
led off with a single, stole second and was force over to third on a fielding
error that put two runners in scoring position with no outs. WNCC couldn’t get
a run across as Trinidad turned a double play, catching Hawryluk at home.
The sixth
inning was Trinidad’s turn at trying to get a run across. Kaitlyn Mattila led
off with a single and then Jourdan Ensign slapped a single to left field that
saw Mattila try to score. However, left fielder Aria Agle threw a perfect ball
to catcher Jocelyn Stubbs to tag out Mattila at the plate.
The
seventh inning saws both teams go not get a runner on base, and that is where play
stands heading into the eighth inning in the morning.
In
other games in the tournament on Saturday, Trinidad dropped Otero 3-2, Dawson
Community College eliminated Northeastern junior College 4-2, Otero eliminated
McCook 7-0, and Lamar Community College dropped Dawson 10-2.
The
winner of the Region IX tournament qualifies for the national tournament in St.
George, Utah, later this month. The Cougars are going for their third straight
regional crown.
Sunday’s Schedule
10 a.m. – WNCC and Trinidad, game resumed in 8th
(0-0)
Noon – Lamar vs. Otero
2 p.m. – Loser WNCC/Trinidad vs. winner of Lamar/Otero
4 p.m. – Championship Game
6 p.m. – if necessary championship game
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