WNCC baseball camp set for June 11-14

WNCC baseball camp set of June 11-14

Want to learn baseball from the coaches who led the WNCC team to the Region IX title in May? This will be your opportunity as this camp will be an excellent opportunity for youngsters to learn the game of baseball.

This camp will include instruction on hitting, throwing, fielding and pitching, along with actual game play during the four days of the camp. The camp will run June 11-14 from 9 a.m. to 12 noon at Gering’s Oregon Trail Park baseball field.

The camp is open to boys ages 8 and up. The cost is just $40 and includes a T-shirt. The baseball camp will be conducted by WNCC baseball coach Mike Jones, who was named the 2007 Region IX coach of they year, and his asssistants. Also, former and current Cougar players will help with the camp.

For a camp registration form, contact the college's athletic office at 308-635-6151. Registration forms may also be downloaded off the Cougar athletic website at sports.wncc.net.

Former Cougar baseball player Lyall Foran waiting for MLB draft in June

When Lyall Foran came to Western Nebraska Community College four years ago to play baseball, he came with the notion to get better.

Now, after a stellar season at NCAA Division I Norfolk State University, where he helped the team to the most wins in school history, his eyes are set on next month’s Major League Baseball draft. Foran is hoping to hear his name called once again.

“I have been in contact with a couple of [Major League] teams such as the Marlins, Nationals and Phillies. At this point, I have done all I could do and now I just have to let the chips fall where it may. You never know with the MLB draft because there are so many good players out there and people looking to extend their career. You can never tell what a team wants until they make their final decision. Hopefully, the good Lord willing, someone will look out for me and I will keep playing.”

Foran was a mid 40-round draft pick coming out of high school in Surrey, British Columbia by the Atlanta Braves. But, instead of signing he elected to attend four years of college, two years at WNCC and then year each at Tusculum College and then Norfolk State. It was a decision that he is glad he made.

“I have improved tremendously. When I got to college, I was basically a player that could throw and hit the ball,” Foran said. “I really wasn’t that great of a catcher when I arrived at Western Nebraska. Now, looking back, I can honestly say I really worked hard and catching is one of my strong points as far as receiving, blocking and calling pitches. It has really complimented my hitting and throwing.”

At Norfolk State, he was named to the All-MEAC team after leading the Spartans and being among the elite in the conference. Foran ranked fifth in the MEAC with a .377 batting average, topped conference in on-base percentage (.503), and also was among the conference leaders in doubles (14), RBIs (37), slugging percentage (.580) and walks (29). Foran also has four home runs, second on the team.

Foran also was up for CSTV Player of the Year, which he was grateful for.

“Just to be recognized for that is really special for me. I always believed that if you work hard, people will recognize you and you will be rewarded for your work,” he said. “That is something I never really thought about and recognized for. It is a huge honor.”

Foran didn’t finish in the top 10, but he has dreams of playing at the next level. The one team he wouldn’t mind playing for is the Seattle Mariners, which is the closest to his home in Canada. But, if he doesn’t hear his name, he has plans on playing minor league baseball in Missouri.

“If I hear my name at all in getting drafted, I will be happy, but you always would like to go to the team close to home and the Seattle Mariners would be it for me,” he said. “But if I don’t get drafted, my college coach is affiliated with an independent ball club in Missouri, which is not affiliated with any Major League ball club, and I probably be headed to Missouri to play the summer out there.”

For Foran, though, just playing Division I baseball has been something he has dreamed of from his younger days.

“[Playing Division I ball] is one of the biggest thrills that I have ever had in by baseball career,” he said. “Since the time I was 9 years old watching the college world series on television, playing Division I has been something I have always wanted to do and getting the opportunity to play against the best of the best.

“I am grateful to have the opportunity that I have had, to travel to so many places and play for so many different coaches and teammates. Being with so many different teammates has changed my view on things and helped me develop not only as a ball player, but also as a person.”

MJCAA Western District baseball schedule set for this weekend

Cleveland Field will be filled with exciting baseball action this weekend as Western Nebraska Community College gets set to host the NJCAA Western District Tournament this weekend.

WNCC earned the right to host the 3-team playoff after winning their first Region IX baseball title. The winner of the playoff will advance to the Junior College World Series in Grand Junction, Colo., May 26-June 2.

Western Nebraska will be joined in the tournament by Central Arizona College, the Region 1 winner, and Western Nevada Community College, the Region 18 winner.

Thursday’s action will be a round-robin format with Western Nebraska (29-27) facing Central Arizona (42-19) at 1 p.m. to open the district playoff. Then, Western Nevada (36-22-2) will take on Central Arizona at 4 p.m. The Cougars will then battle the other WNCC team, the Wildcats from Nevada, at 7 p.m. to finish out the day.

Friday’s and Saturday’s action will be determined by Thursday’s results. Friday’s game will be played at 7 p.m. while Saturday’s game will tip-off at 1 p.m.

Admission for the Western District is $6 for adults, and $3 for students, children and senior citizens.

WNCC baseball celebration Tuesday

WNCC will honor the Cougar baseball team Tuesday, at 9:50 a.m. with a celebration for winning the Region IX baseball tournament this past weekend. The celebration is open to the public and their will be refreshments and announcements made.

Come out and help celebrate the baseball team's first Region IX championship since the program was started in 2001.

WNCC REGION IX BASEBALL CHAMPS

LAMAR, Colo. -- It's official, the WNCC baseball team can call themselves Region IX champs after taking care of Trinidad State Junior College in two games on Sunday in the Region IX tournament in Lamar, Col0.

The Cougars earned the title by defeating Trinidad 11-3 and 14-9. It is the first Regional Championship for WNCC coach Mike Jones and the first for Cougar baseball since the program was started in 2001.

"It is a great feeling. I am extremely proud of these guys," Jones said. "They are an excellent group of people. it shows they care so much and there is no give up in them. I am very proud of them."

WNCC opened the day by beating the Trojans 11-3 behind the pitching of Eneldas Vasquez, who threw eight strong innings. The Cougars held a 7-0 lead after five innings.

That win pushed the Cougars into the if necessary game and they survived with a strong contest against the Trojans. WNCC led 7-3 after three innings before Trinidad sliced the lead to 1 at 10-9 after seven innings. The Cougars then scored four runs in the final innings for the win.

Chris Cuadra picked up the win. while Phillips Orta pitched the eighth and ninth innings to collect the save. The Cougars pounded out 17 hits in the second game.

For the day, the Cougars had four home runs. Pedro Suarez had two, while JC Perez and Marco Moreno each had one.

WNCC will now host the NJCAA District playoffs this week, Thursday through Saturday. Besides WNCC, Central Arizona College and Western Nevada Community College will make their way to Scottsbluff. Western Nebraska will enter with a 29-27 record, while the other WNCC team, Western Nevada, comes in with a 36-22-2 record. Central Arizona will venture to Cleveland Field with a 42-19 mark. Full bracket and times will be announced next week.

Here is a full recap of WNCC's scores in the Regional Tournament
Thursday
WNCC 4, Otero Junior College 3
Friday
Trinidad State 2, WNCC 1
WNCC 9, Lamar C.C. 6
Saturday
WNCC 4, McCook 2
WNCC 11, Northeastern Colorado 6
Sunday
WNCC 11, Trinidad State 3
WNCC 14, Trinidad State 9

Cougar baseball plays for Region IX title

Saturday's Scores
WNCC 4, McCook 2
Trinidad 6, NJC 5
WNCC 11, NJC 6
Sunday's Games
Noon -- Trinidad State vs. WNCC
3 p.m. -- Trinidad State vs. WNCC, if necessary

Special thanks to Jeremy Woznick, of the Star-Herald for taking the phone call.

LAMAR, Colo. — The Western Nebraska Community College baseball team will play for a Region IX championship after picking up two more wins Saturday in the Region IX tournament in Lamar, Colo.

The Cougars earned the right to play for the championship because of some outstanding performances. In the first game on the day, freshman Greg Crowe struck out nine in a 4-2 victory over McCook Community College. WNCC then defeated Northeastern Junior College 11-6 behind a 13-hit attack.

The wins advance the Cougars into a matchup with Trinidad State Junior College today at noon. The Trojans beat NJC 6-5 on Saturday and are unbeaten in the tournament. WNCC will have to beat the Trojans twice today to capture the tournament title.

“These guys have big hearts and they’re going to go out and give it everything they’ve got,” WNCC coach Mike Jones said. “I know they’re going to be tired. It’s going to be tougher on us than it will be on Trinidad, but I like their attitude and I think we have a great chance.”Against NJC, the Cougars erupted for nine runs on eight hits in the third inning to break the game wide open. Richie Stewart’s three-run double was one of a number of big hits in the inning.

Stewart, who went 2-for-4, was one of four Cougar hitters that finished the game with multiple hits. Daniel Martinez led WNCC’s hitting attack with a 3-for-4 performance at the plate, including a double and three runs scored. Pedro Suarez added two hits and two runs scored and Abraham Cervantes finished the game going 2-for-4 with two runs batted in and a run scored.

Todd Stachura pitched eight strong innings to earn the victory on the mound. Stachura struck out eight before Chadron’s Eric Bissonette came out of the bullpen to pitch a scoreless ninth. Against McCook, Crowe didn’t need much offensive support as he struck out a career-high nine McCook hitters in eight innings of work. Dan Bauer worked the ninth to record the save.

Offensively, WNCC scored all four of its runs in the bottom of the second. The inning was highlighted by a run-scoring triple off the bat of Gilbert Gonzalez and a RBI-single from Cervantes. Both players went 2-for-4 in the contest.

Game 1
McCook 000 002 000 — 2 6 1
WNCC 040 000 00x — 4 8 0
WP — Greg Crowe; S — Dan Bauer. 3B — Gilbert Gonzalez.

Game 2
NJC 013 001 010 — 6 8 2
WNCC (27-27) 209 000 00x — 11 13 5
WP — Todd Stachura. 2B — Daniel Martinez, Richie Stewart.

WNCC still alive at regional tournament; defending champs eliminated from tournament

Friday's Scores
Northeastern Colorado 8, Lamar 6 (12 innings)
Trinidad State 2, WNCC 1
WNCC 9, Lamar 6
Saturday's Games
WNCC vs. McCook, 11 a.m.
NE Colorado vs. Trinidad State, 2 p.m.
Winner 11 a.m. vs. Loser 2 p.m., 5 p.m.
Sunday's Games
Championships Noon and if necessary 3 p.m.

LAMAR, Colo. — The Western Nebraska Community College baseball showed plenty of character during the second day of the Region IX baseball tournament in Lamar, Colo., and it was the bat of sophomore Abraham Cervantes, who belted two home runs and five RBIs, to keep the Cougars title hopes alive.

The Cougars opened the day falling in a heartbreaker to Trinidad State Junior College 2-1 in the winner’s bracket on a walk-off 2-run home run. WNCC quickly regrouped by eliminating host and defending champs Lamar Community College 9-6.

WNCC will play McCook Community College today in an elimination game at 11 a.m. If they win, they will face the loser of the Trinidad State and Northeastern Junior College at 5 p.m. The championship is slated for Sunday.

“A lot of teams would have folded after they [TSJC] hit that walk-off home run, but not this group,” WNCC coach Mike Jones said. “We have a group of guys with strong character, big heart, and they came right back and put up four runs in the first inning against the next game.

“Even though we split, I don’t know if it was the best I have ever seen us play, but it might be real close. I saw us play with a lot of heart and I saw us play great defense on both games and we played as a team.

The loss to Trinidad State was a heartbreaker not only for the team, but also for starting pitcher Phillips Orta. Orta went the distance, striking out 11. Trinidad State Jones said it was the best he has seen the sophomore right-hander throw.

The only difference was a two-out walk-off home run in the bottom of the ninth that the Trinidad batter took a 1-2 count, slider out of the ball park.

“Our team was just crushed after that game,” Jones said. “But, oh my gosh, it was one of the best ball games I have seen. Their pitcher was good and ours was great.”

WNCC manufactured a run in the seventh inning. Travis Lindhorst led off with a walk and then went to second on a Daniel Martinez bunt. Lindhorst then went to third on a Pedro Suarez groundout, before scoring on a while pitch.

WNCC managed just six hits in the game – all singles. JC Perez was the only Cougar finish with two hits. Trinidad finished with four hits with two coming in the ninth inning.

WNCC quickly rebounded with authority against Lamar Community College, who lost a 12-inning thriller to Northeastern Colorado earlier in the day 8-6. Jones said his team came out hitting, collecting four hits and four runs in the opening inning.

Martinez started things by blasting a double followed by a Suarez single. Suarez then stole sec to put runners in scoring position. Perez came through with a 2-RBI single. Gilbert Gonzalez walked and then Cervantes reached base on an error to score Perez. Marco Moreno then singled in the fourth run.

Lamar came right back with three runs in the second inning to close the gap to 4-3, only to see the Cougars put up three runs in the third inning. Perez started things with a walk followed by a Gonzalez single. Cervantes then delivered a 3-run home run, the first of his two for the game. Cervantes came back with a 2-run blast in the 8th inning to put WNCC up 9-4.

“Abe was the difference in that game,” Jones said. “Abe was huge for us and those home runs carried us to the victory.”

The pitching also was stellar. Jeff McDonald picked up the win striking out eight, while Bauer took the save, while striking out two.

WNCC pounded out 10 hits on the day, led by Cervantes’ 3-for-4 day, which included five RBIs and two home runs. Also collecting extra base hits were Martinez and Suarez each with a double.

Jones said his team needs to keep the offensive cranked in today’s contest against McCook. Greg Crowe will get the start on the mound.

“We need to put up some runs on McCook and keep our offense rolling,” Jones said. “We need to have really good at bats and put up some runs, and give Crowe an opportunity to go out there and pitch.”

Jones doesn’t know what to expect from McCook today.

"I am curious who McCook is going to pitch,” he said. “Their right-hander that beat us at McCook only pitched two innings against NJC [on Thursday] and their left-hander that beat us at McCook has thrown way too much and he is not coming back. I don’t know if he will try to bring the right-hander back or throw someone else that we have beat.”

In other Cougar news, five players were named to the all-region team. Perez was a first-team third-baseman, Suarez first-team outfielder, Richie Stewart first-team first-baseman, Gonzalez second team second baseman, and Carson Cook second team catcher.

First Game
WNCC 000 000 100 — 1 6 0
Trinidad State 000 000 002 — 2 4 0
LP — Orta.

Second Game
WNCC (26-27) 403 000 020 — 9 10 0
Lamar 030 001 011 — 6 7 1
WP – McDonald; 2B — Martinez, Suarez; HR — Cervantes (2).

WNCC baseball team wins opener over Otero

LAMAR, Colo. — Western Nebraska Community College’s Eneldis Vazquez came off the bench and delivered a pinch-hit single to lift the Cougars to a thrilling 4-3 win over Otero Junior College in the first round of the Region IX baseball tournament Thursday.

Vazquez’ came in with the bases juiced in the bottom of the ninth inning and delivered a single to score Marco Moreno from third for the game-winner. Vazquez, though, was just one of the Cougars’ outstanding performances. The others were pitchers Chris Cuadra and Dan Bauer.

WNCC coach Mike Jones said Cuadra had a no-hitter going through four innings before giving up his first hit in the fifth. Cuadra was then rouged up with three runs in the seventh as the Rattlers tied the score. Cuadra finished the game with four strikeouts before he was pulled for closer Dan Bauer.

Bauer then came in and mowed the Rattler hitters down in collecting the win. Bauer allowed one hit, while striking out three.

“Today we did enough to get the win,” Jones said. “Chris pitched really well and controlled them until they were able to get three runs off of him. Bauer then came in and held them down to get the win.”

The Cougars opened the scoring with one run in the second and two in the third. JC Perez got things started in the second with a walk followed by a single by Gilbert Gonzalez. After a double steal, Perez scored on a sacrifice fly.

WNCC opened up their offense in the third inning, where they recorded three of their game-high five hits. Travis Lindhorst and Daniel Martinez led off with back-to-back singles. Richie Stewart followed with a 2-run scoring double to put WNCC up 3-0.

Stewart had the only extra base hit for the Cougars.

WNCC will now face Trinidad State Junior College today at 2 p.m. Jones said the Trojans are a team that has the potential to score a lot of runs. Phillips Orta will get the start on the mound for WNCC.

Other scores in the regional tournament saw Northeastern Junior College defeat McCook Community College 10-2. McCook then came back and eliminated Otero 5-1.

Otero 000 000 300 — 3 5 2
WNCC (25-26) 012 000 001 — 4 5 4
WP — Bauer; 2B — Stewart.

SCottsbluff's Dallas Liptac signs with WNCC baseball

Scottsbluff’s Dallas Liptac will play continue to play his college baseball on the same field that he did in high school, Cleveland Field, after signing to play at Western Nebraska Community College.

Liptac, who starred for the Twin Cities Zephyrs helping them to the state tournament the past two seasons, is looking forward to playing for the Cougars next season.

“I looked at some other schools and WNCC was just as good in every aspect with those other schools. It has just been great that coaches [Mike] Jones and [Ryan] Burgner have helped me along the way. My swing is because of them."

WNCC coach Mike Jones is excited to get someone of Liptac’s caliber in his program. “We have seen Dallas grow up as a player since we started the program here six years ago. He has been coming to our camps and he has been active within our program. His parents have been active as dorm parents. It is nice to see him grow into the player he has become. He will contribute to us for two years.”

Jones expects Liptac to see time behind the plate as well as some outfield position. And, while Liptac is known for his presence behind the plate, he also mans the mound with authority. Last season for the Zephyrs, Liptac had a 6-1 record with a 2.37 earned run average.

He also was one of the leaders from the plate, leading the team with 40 runs batted in and second on the team in home runs and doubles.

Zephyr coach Mark Moran said Liptac will have success at WNCC.

“Dallas has a real good work ethic and has a high baseball IQ,” Moran said. “He is a solid player and works to get better. He is a real quality hitter at this level and works hard hard to be a good player. He will contribute at the next level.”

Liptac started playing for the Zephyrs his sophomore year and will be in his third year with the upper American Legion this year. Moran said they are expecting a lot from the senior, who will graduate from Scottsbluff on Sunday. Liptac and the rest of the Zephyrs will open the season May 19 at home.

“He is definitely a guy to come out and put up big numbers for us,” Moran said.

Moran said that Liptac is the 43^rd player from the organization to play college baseball, and there have been some really good players to come out of the organization. JT Koncaba and Leroy Crable should also sign to play baseball somewhere later.

Liptac said it will be sweet to keep playing at Cleveland Field for another two years.

“It has been a real good experience with coach Moran guiding me. It will be a big difference in each step from Express to Zephyrs, and now college,” he said. “It will help knowing the field that I am familiar with it. It will help the adjustment not going to a new place and meet new people. Plus, I will have the community around.”

Jones said Liptac could make an immediate impact when he joins the Cougar squad in the fall.

“Dallas knows the game and I have seen him catch now for three years now. I have paid attention to how well he understands the game,” Jones said. “The college game is a big adjustment with the speed and power of the game, but he has all fall to catch on what is going on.

“The biggest thing he will bring to the game is his work ethic. He is a hard-nosed guy who works hard. He will be out there in practice games giving us 100 percent. Guys will follow that type of attitude and that is what we need in our program. That is something we can build on.”

Baseball splits with Otero on Sunday

The Western Nebraska Community College baseball team’s bid for an Empire Conference championship just became interesting after the team split a doubleheader Sunday at Cleveland Field.

The Cougars, who were in control of winning the conference title and hosting next month’s regional tournament, are now tied with Trinidad State Junior College at 14-8 in conference standings. That was made possible after Trinidad State swept McCook Community College and Northeastern Junior College over the weekend.

WNCC, on the other hand, fell to Otero Junior College 7-0 as Otero’s Dillon Meanie threw a 2-hitter against the Cougars. WNCC did rebound in game two, winning 7-5 behind a 3-for-3 and four RBI performance from sophomore Pedro Suarez.

“We were swinging the bats the whole game, but the first game nothing was falling and they were getting all the hits in front of us. There was nothing we could do about that,” Suarez said. “The big key in the second game was pitching. It kept us in the game. Five runs is not a lot for our hitting. We can explode any inning. We can score six or seven runs any time we want. We did it today.”

The Cougars did explode offensively, collecting eight eights compared to just two in the first game. Suarez was the big stick, especially in the fifth and sixth innings when the Cougars score five of their seven runs. Suarez collected a 2-RBI double to give tie the game at four. He later scored on a Richie Stewart first-pitch double to right-centerfield to put WNCC up 5-4.

Otero bounced back tying the game at five with a single run in the sixth, but it didn’t last long as WNCC scored two runs in the bottom of the sixth. After Gilbert Gonzalez and Travis Lindhorst and Daniel Martinez all walked to load the bases, Suares pounded a two run-scoring single to put WNCC up 7-5.

Chris Cuadra then came in of relief of Todd Stachura, who pitched six strong innings striking out four.

Also collecting multiple hits for WNCC in the win was Martinez, who went 2-for-3 with a runs scored and a walk. Lindhorst finished with 1-for-1 with a walk, sacrifice, a RBI and two runs scored.

Suarez said the key for the remainder of the season is to start hitting early and not waiting until the late innings, especially when they host Northeastern Junior College on Wednesday in a doubleheader.

“We have to take it real strong from the beginning and we can’t wait until the seventh inning to get our bats going,” he said. “We have to come out from the first inning, get on it, and get the horse going. Wednesday’s game is bigger then big. We have to come out and do our jobs and make sure we are number one in the conference.”

The first game, it wasn’t a matter of the Cougars not hitting, they only had two strike outs, it was more of a matter of hitting the ball right at the Otero defenders. Suarez did, however, collect one of the team’s two hits. The other hit came from Stewart.

But, the game wasn’t a blow-out at the beginning as Cougar starter Greg Hitter had a perfect game going through the first three innings. Then, Otero picked up an unearned run in the fourth and then scratched across another run in the fifth for a 2-0 lead before going onto the 7-0 win.

Suarez credited Otero’s pitcher for pitching an outstanding game.

“He was in his rhythm,” he said. “When I was at the plate, I felt uncomfortable. He was quick pitching me and I should have called timeout. He pitched a great game.”

Suarez said that they realize they have to put these games behind them and be ready to Wednesday against a talented NJC team.

“That first game we lost was very tough on us but we have NJC coming up on Wednesday and we have to take two from those guys to get back where we want to be,” he said. “We have a great ball club this year. All the guys are real tight together. We do a lot of things together and we like where we are at.”

First game
Otero 000 113 2 – 7 7 0
WNCC 000 000 0 – 0 2 3
WP – Meanie, LP – Crowe; 2B – Otero (Casey Taylor, Kyle Pieta).

Second game
Otero 020 201 0 – 5 9 1
WNCC 020 032 x – 7 8 1
WP – Stachura, LP – Brandon Buchanan, Save – Cuadra; 2B – WNCC (Suarez, Stewart), Otero (Mikey Raudenbush); 3B – Otero (Brandon Alvaras).