WNCC softball offering winter pitching and hitting academies

The Western Nebraska Community College softball team will hold winter pitching and hitting academies for girls in grades Kindergarten through the 12 grade this winter.

The academies will be held Nov. 4, 11, 18 and Dec. 9. The cost is $40 per session or $30 if attending two or more sessions. The academies will be held at WNCC’s indoor softball/baseball facility located at 1209 2^nd Avenue in Scottsbluff.

The pitching academy will be held for beginning pitchers from 3-4 p.m. and advanced pitchers from 6-7 p.m. The hitting academy will be held from 4-5 p.m. for beginning hitters and 7-8 p.m. for advanced hitters. There is a limit to the number of participants in each session.

To download a flyer for the winter academies, go to the WNCC athletic website at sports.wncc.net.

WNCC softball team finish Triple Crown tourney 2-2-1

For more photos of the softball team at the Triple Crown Classic on Sunday, visit the Cougar Athletic Photo Album at wncccougars.albumpost.com

The Western Nebraska Community College softball team wrapped up its fall season with a nice showing at the Triple Crown Fall College Classic on Sunday.

The Cougars, after going 1-2 on Saturday, finished the tournament Sunday by downing Metro State University 7-4 before tying Regis University 5-5. The Cougars finished the fall season 10-7-1. WNCC was the only junior college team at the 9-team tournament.

Against Metro State, who is coached by former Otero Junior College Jen Fisher, the Cougars used the long ball in defeating Metro State. Metro State led 2-1 heading into the fourth when the Cougars offense shined.

Amanda Torimaru started the power with a 2-run shot over left centerfield to put WNCC up 3-2. Later, after singled by Lauren Bourdon and Mandy Pound, freshman Allie Griffin blasted a shot over the centerfield fence for a 3-run dinger to put WNCC up 6-2.

Metro answered with two runs in the bottom of the inning, slicing the lead to 6-4. WNCC came back and added an insurance run in the fifth. Jessie McNabb was hit by a pitch and scored on a Torimaru sacrifice fly to right field.

Natasha Dypchey picked up the win in the circle striking out seven and scattering seven hits. The sophomore from British Columbia, Canada, walked just one batter.

WNCC pounded out 12 hits to Metro’s 8. Griffin paced the Cougars with a 2-for-3 performance, including a home run, double, three RBIs and a run scored. Also collecting multiple hits was Alec Voci with a 2-for-4 day performance with a double.

In the Regis contest, WNCC left the bases loaded in the first three innings and had to settle for the 5-5 tie, even though they should have picked up the win. Still, the Cougars offensive attack was strong, pounding out 15 hits.

WNCC scored all their runs in the middle innings, adding two runs in the third and three runs in the fourth. McNabb and Amanda Hensley led off the third with singles. Both runners cored on singles by Torimaru and Lauren Bourdon to put WNCC up 2-1.

WNCC went up 5-1 with a 3-spot in the fourth inning. Lauryn Smith led off with a sharp-hit double down the rightfield line. She later scored on a 2-out double by Kara Ryman, after fouling off 10 balls. Torimaru plated the last two runs on a hit error by the first baseman for the 5-1 lead.

Regis came back with single runs in the fifth and sixth, and then tied the game in the seventh. WNCC, though, was primed to pick up the win, but Regis scored two runs with two outs to earn the tie.

Still, freshman Kelsey Garner pitched well scattering 10 hits, striking out three.

WNCC had several players register multiple hits. Smith finished the game 2-for-4 with a run scored and double; Voci was 2-for-4; McNabb was 2-for-3 with a run scored; Hensley was 2-for-3 with two runs scored; Kara Ryman was 2-for-3 with a double, run scored and an RBI; Bourdon was 2-for-4 with a double and RBI; and Torimaru finished with three RBIs.

Game One
WNCC 100 510 – 7 12 2
Metro State 020 200 – 4 8 0
WP – Dypchey; 2B – Voci, Griffin; HR – Torimari, Griffin.

Game Two
WNCC 002 300 0 – 7 15 1
Regis U. 100 011 2 – 7 11 1
WP – Garner; 2B – Smith, Ryman, Bourdon.

WNCC softball goes 1-2 at triple crown

The Western Nebraska Community College softball team went 1-2 in the first day of the Triple Crown tournament in Ft. Collins, Colo., Saturday.

The Cougar women fell 8-5 to the University of Montana State-Billings and 3-0 to the Colorado School of Mines, before defeating Chadron State College 3-0.

In the win against Chadron, the Cougars put together a 3-run third inning and then had a strong sixth-inning defensive stand to claim the win.

Chadron scored first on a first-inning solo home run by Allison Hendrickson. The Eagles stayed on top until the top of the third when WNCC scored three times with two outs to go up 3-1. Kelsi Baldwin started things with a single. Baldwin scored the Cougars first run on a Lauryn Smith 2-out single.

After Alec Voci walked, Amanda Hensley delivered a 2-strike double to score Smith and Voci to put WNCC up 3-1.

Neither team scored again as winning pitcher Natasha Dypchey shutdown the eagles with a 9-strikeout performance, including being a part of the final three outs in the sixth inning to stop a Chadron State potential tying threat getting Katelyn Moore to strikeout with runners at second and third to end the game.

In the previous games, WNCC led 5-3 over Montana State-Billings on a Lauren Mills 2-run home run in the fifth inning. Jessie McNabb started things in the inning with a lead-off triple followed by a run-scoring double by Hensley, before Mills had the two-out homerun.

WNCC couldn’t keep the lead, giving up five runs in the bottom of the inning on five hits as the time limit expired.

Kelsey Garner took the loss despite striking out five and scattering 10 hits. WNCC had two players record double-figure games. Smith went 2-for-3 with a double; and Hensley went 2-for-2 with a double, two RBIs and a run scored. McNabb and Mills each had two runs scored.

Against the Colorado School of Mines, Allie Griffin picked up the loss despite allowing three runs. WNCC just couldn’t manage a run despite getting five hits and stranding three runners in scoring position in the second and fourth inning. McNabb led the team with two hits, both singles, on 2-for-3 hitting.

WNCC will finish the Triple Crown tournament today when they face two more RMAC teams in Metro State at 12:30 and Regis University at 2:30.

WNCC softball team wins North Platte Fall Classic

The Western Nebraska Community College softball team put together a stellar defense en route to winning the North Platte Fall Classic tournament Sunday. The Cougars, in getting the tournament title, defeated Lamar Community College 6-3, the University of Nebraska-Kearney 2-0 and then Chadron State College in the championship 4-2.

“We played really well,” Cougar coach Maria Winn-Ratliff said. “We had timely hitting and played good defense. The pitchers really stepped up their game.”

WNCC, who went 2-1 in pool play on Saturday, opened the upper bracket play with a 6-3 win over Lamar. The Cougars trailed 3-2 after one inning after giving up a 3-run home run. But, they didn’t fold tying the game with a single run in the second and then adding two runs in the fourth and one run in the fifth for the win.

Sophomore Natasha Dypchey earned the win in the circle, scattering five hits. The right-handed thrower from Surrey, British Columbia, also struck out four and walked three.

Amanda Torimaru paced the Cougars with a huge game from the plate. The sophomore from Ft. Collins, Colo., went 3-for-3 with three RBIs, a run scored and a double. Lauryn Smith chipped in a 2-for-3 performance with runs scored. Lauren Mills went 2-for-2 with two runs scored.

WNCC then faced UNK, who defeated the Cougars 9-2 on Saturday, in the semi-finals. This time, freshman pitcher Kelsey Garner of Regina Saskatchewan, threw a strong game, scattering six hits while striking out six and not walking a batter.

The Cougars scored all the runs they needed in the first inning on RBI hits by Torimaru and Kara Ryman. Torimaru finished the contest with a 2-for-3 performance.

WNCC finished off the tournament with a 4-2 win against Chadron State. Freshman pitcher Allie Griffin picked up the win scattering seven hits, while Garner picked up the save getting the final out of the game. Chadron’s Casey Williams took the loss.

The Cougars scored first getting two runs in the fifth inning before scoring two more in the seventh inning. In the seventh, it was singles by Smith and Jessie McNabb collected run-scoring singles to score the runs for a 4-0 lead.

Chadron State came back and scored two runs in the seventh and the tying run at the plate before Garner came in for the final out.

McNabb, who had a eye-popping seventh-inning catch, led the team with a 2-for-4 day including three RBIs and a run scored. Griffin went 1-for-1 with a walk, sacrifice and a run scored.

The Cougars, 8-3 during the fall season, will return to action Friday when they face the University of Northern Colorado in a doubleheader in Greeley, Colo.

WNCC softball team wins two at North Platte tourney

The Western Nebraska Community College softball team hit three home runs in winning two of three games during the first day of the North Platte tournament Saturday.

The Cougars opened by dropping a 9-2 decision to the University of Nebraska-Kearney. They bounced back by blanking Barton County Community College 13-0 and then defeating Garden City Community College 6-3.

In the loss to Kearney, freshman Lauryn Smith blasted a solo home run among her two hits. Alex Voci also went 2-for-3. Sophomore Jessica Pexton picked up the loss.

WNCC coach Maria Winn-Ratliff said the team had two bad innings, giving up five runs and then a 3-run home run. Otherwise, they would have won 2-1.

The Cougars did, however, rebound with two victories. Freshman Kelsey Garner picked up the win in the shut-out against Barton County. Garner, of Regina, Saskatchewan, struck out four.

Offensively, Lauren Bourdon blasted a 2-run home run. Smith continued her torrid hitting with a 3-for-4 game, including a double, triple, two runs scored and two RBIs. Kara Ryman also went 3-for-3 with two doubles, and Voci went 2-for-3.

WNCC finished the pool play with a 6-3 come-from-behind win over Garden City. The Cougars scored two runs in the fourth inning to grab a 2-1 lead before Garden City went ahead 3-2 in the fifth. WNCC came right back with a four spot in the sixth inning for the win.

Sophomore Natasha Dypchey earned the win with a three strike-out performance. Bourdon blasted her second home run of the day – a 2-run shot. Freshman Mandy Pounds also had a great game with a 1-2 for game, including two walks and a stolen base.

WNCC, 5-3, will enter the bracket portion of the tournament today.

WNCC softball picks up two wins in final day of Fall Classic; tean will head to North Platte this week

The Western Nebraska Community College and Chadron State College softball teams finished the final day of the WNCC Fall Classic with two wins. Chadron State earned two shutouts downing Weber State 8-0 before blanking McCook Community College 6-0.

The WNCC women rebounded from two opening tournament losses to Weber State on Friday and Chadron State Saturday morning, to finish out the tournament with three wins. The Cougars started the win streak with a 14-4 win Saturday night and then claimed two wins on Sunday.

The Cougars started Sunday with a 10-1 win over the Air Force Academy and then blanked the University of Wyoming 11-0. Freshman outfielder Mandy Pounds said they played well despite mixing the freshmen and sophomores together..

“The played very well for this being our very first tournament together. Half of our team has never played together before and by the way we played this weekend you would never known,” the freshman outfielder from Colorado Springs said. “The positives of this weekend were we able to see the potential of the team and learn each others way of playing.”

The Cougars will next be in action this weekend when they head to a tournament in North Platte when they play three games on Saturday before bracket play on Sunday. Pounds said this weekend’s play should help when they play UNK, Barton County and Garden City Community College on Saturday.

“The outlook on next weekend’s game are to go in knowing we’re the best team, giving 110 percent and going the extra one degree,” she said. “We need to continue to improve on learning each other’s tendencies and styles while playing, such as who needs to be picked up when they are down.”

The Cougar women definitely received the opportunity of how to play together starting with Saturday night’s win against McCook. The Cougars erupted for 10 runs in the fourth inning to open up a close game. In that fourth inning, the Cougars scored 10 runs on 10 hits, including two hits each by freshmen Lauryn Smith, who had two run-scoring singles, and Kayli Allen, who had a two RBI single and a run-scoring double to open the inning.

WNCC continued the run support on Sunday by scoring 21 runs in two games. In the first game, the 10 runs were all scored from the bottom of the order. After being blanked in the first inning against Air Force, the Cougars put up four runs in the second inning. Kelsi Baldwin led things off by drawing a walk followed by an Alec Voci bunt single. Allen then scored a run by reaching base on an error. Pounds, Smith and Jessie McNabb each had RBIs in the second inning.

WNCC plated another three runs in the fourth inning. Voci led off with a double and she scored on a Pounds hit. Allen and Pounds scored the other two runs for the Cougars in the inning for a 7-0 lead.

WNCC added another three runs in the next inning. Voci and Kayla Hall scored on a Smith double to leftfield. Smith scored the final run on a Amanda Torimaru base hit for the 10-1 win.

Jessica Pexton picked up the win in the circle, going three innings andn allowing one run and two hits. Natasha Dypchey pitched the final two innings allowing one hit and two walks.

Sunday's game two was all WNCC as the Cougars pounded out 10 hits in scoring 11 runs in just four innings. WNCC got on the scoreboard first with a 6-run first inning. Smith, Pounds and Voci led off with base hits. Voci's was a run-scoring double to score the first run of the game. After that, the Cougars utilized two Wyoming errors and singles by Lauren Mills and Torimaru for the 6-0 lead.

WNCC added another four runs in the third inning. Torimaru and Allen each delivered singles, while Smith had a 2-run double.

Torimaru led the team with a 3-for-3 game, including two RBIs and two runs scored. Also collecting multiple hits were Smith going 2-for-3 with a double, and Allen going 2-for-3 with two singles and two RBIs.

Ashley Patton and Kelsey Garner combined on the shutout. Patton got the win pitching three strong iinnings and striking out four and walking one. Garner finished off the tournament pitching two innings, striking out three.

Chadron State was the only team to finish the tournament unbeaten with a dominating performance on Sunday. The Eagles opened the tournament with an 8-0 win over Weber State, a team that won the National Club tournament last year. In the game, Casey Williams was sizzling in the circle, allowing three hits and striking out eight. Chadron scored one run in the first inning and exploded for seven runs in the fifth for the win.

In the Eagles' game against McCook, Chadron State received a dazzling pitching performance from Cassie Humphrey. The Eagles just scrapped across runs throughout the contest. But, while the Eagle bats and pitchers were on, the defense was also stellar. In the sixth inning, McCook made a run to avoid the shutout. With one out and runners at second and third, leftfielder Sasha Catches made a diving catch and the McCook runners passed each other on their track back to the bases.

Second day of WNCC Fall Classic Softball tournament

The second day of the WNCC Fall Classic softball tournament started with a bang Saturday with a down-to-the-wire game between WNCC and Chadron State College.

The Eagle women used a first-inning, 3-run home run from Kristy Long to defeat the Cougars 3-2. WNCC, though, kept fighting to tie the game but had a fifth-inning rally fell short before the time-limit ran out. WNCC rebounded in the nightcap to earn a 14-4 win over McCook.

Against Chadron, the Eagle's Britt McEndaffer and Cassie Humphrey started the rally by getting on base via a single and a fielding error. Then Long belted a pitch over the centerfield fence for the 3-0 lead.

WNCC came right back in the first inning to score a run as well. Lauren Mills lead off with a double to leftfield. After stealing third, she scored on a dropped third strike throw to first base.

Both teams then missed out on scoring opportunities the next four innings. Chadron had just two runners reach scoring position the rest of the way as the Cougar defense stepped up. In the second, Blair McEndaffer led off with a single, but was stranded at second.

Then, in the fifth, Melissa Lohr reached base on a error, but ended up being stranded at third base.

WNCC had plenty more times to score the tying or go-ahead runs. It wasn’t until the fifth that the Cougars had the biggest threat to tie the game. With one out, Kayli Allen drew a walk. Allen was then lifted for pinchrunner Kayla Hall. With two outs, Jessie McNabb singled to put runners on the corner.

Amanda Torimaru then singled in WNCC’s second run with a shot to rightfield, but both McNabb and Torimaru were stranded in scoring position to end the game.

Both pitchers threw well. CSC’s Casey Williams picked up the win allowing four hits, while striking out seven in five innings of work. WNCC’s Kelsey Garner also pitched well despite giving up the first-inning three runs. Garner, the freshman from Regina, Saskatchewan, allowed four hits, while striking out five Eagle batters.

In the win against McCook, WNCC scored one run in the first as Lauryn Smith launched a triple and came around to score. WNCC added three more runs in the third inning on a double by Kayli Allen and singles by Smith, McNabb and Torimaru.

WNCC put the game away in the fourth when they notched 10 runs on 11 hits. Allie Griffin started the run-scoring spree with a single. From there several players got base hits. Allen and Lauren Bourdon each had two hits in the inning. Allen had a double and a single, while Bourdon had two singles. Also collecting big hits was Jessica Pexton with a two-out run-scoring, pinch-hit double.

Action in WNCC Fall Classic continues today at Volunteer Field with six games. Chadron State will play Weber State at 8 a.m. and then McCook Community College at 11:30 a.m. WNCC will finish out the Classic with at 3 p.m. against Air Force and then Wyoming at 4:45.

Other scores in the Classic saw Weber State defeat WNCC 3-2 and North Platte 6-1 on Friday. Saturday’s other action saw Chadron State register a 7-5 win over North Platte. Other winners include Weber State beating North Platte and University of Wyoming, McCook Community College beating Wyoming, Air Force over North Platte, Air Force over McCook. and WNCC over McCook 14-4.

WNCC softball hosts Fall Classic this weekend

Softball enthusiasts will enjoy this weekend in Scottsbluff. Not only will there be high school softball action at Lacy Park, but Western Nebraska Community College will kick off the fall season with the Fall Classic Friday through Sunday at Volunteer Field.

The Fall Classic will feature seven teams, including four 4-year schools – University of Wyoming, Air Force Academy, Weber State in Idaho and Chadron State College – during the three days of action. The three junior colleges in attendance include WNCC, North Platte Community College and McCook Community College.

“I hope to see some really exciting games,” fourth-year WNCC coach Maria Winn-Ratliff said. “With four, 4-year schools coming I think we will see some really good talent and leadership by having upper classman. Region IX continues to improve and I think we will see a new look out of McCook with new coaches and new recruiting area, and North Platte always comes to play.”

Action opens Friday night with WNCC taking in Weber State at 7 p.m. followed by North Platte Community College meeting Weber State at 9 p.m.

Saturday’s action will include eight contests at Volunteer Field behind Cleveland Field in Scottsbluff. WNCC and Chadron State will kick off the day at 8 a.m. Chadron State will also play at 9:45 a.m. against North Platte, while WNCC will finish the day at 8:15 p.m. against McCook Community College. Other games will be start at 11:30 a.m., 1:15 p.m., 3 p.m., 4:45 p.m. and 6:30 p.m.

Sunday’s action will begin at 8 a.m. with Weber State taking on Chadron State at 8 a.m. The Eagles softball team, who already faced North Platte and McCook last weekend, will take on McCook at 11:30 a.m. The Cougars will play at 3:30 p.m. against Air Force and then again at 4:45 p.m. against Wyoming. Other action will be at 9:45 a.m. and 1:15 p.m.

“In the fall you usually see a lot of runs or no runs,” Winn-Ratliff said. “Some teams are still trying to get their coaches’ hitting styles down and the pitchers are working out the kinks. I think this weekend you will see a lot of underclassman get playing time this weekend for all programs.”

WNCC will open the fall season with plenty of experience, returning 10 players from last spring’s 36-21 team that set a school record with most wins and a second straight Region IX runner-up finish.

“We return 10 sophomores that saw a lot of playing time last year and need to step up and be leaders for our newcomers,” Winn-Ratliff said. “I believe defense wins games so if we can take care of business on the defensive end and provide our pitching staff with a couple of runs, I think we should have a good shot at coming away with victories.”

In fact, the Cougars will be will flash plenty of depth, not only with the returning players but also the freshmen. Leading the least is a pitching staff that will be well-rounded. Back are sophomores Natasha Dypchey of South Surrey, British Columbia, and Jessica Pexton of Douglas, Wyo. Also returning will be Ashley Patton of Delta, Utah.

Other sophomores returning include Lauren Mills of Birch Hills, Saskatchewan; Kara Ryman of Westminster, Colo.; Jessie McNabb of Davidson, Saskatchewan; Amanda Torimaru of Ft. Collins, Colo.; Amanda Hensley and Whittany Foster of Greeley, Colo.; and Lauren Bourdon of Duck Lake, Saskatchewan.

WNCC will also feature plenty of depth in the circle with freshman talent, including 5-foot-9 Kelsey Garner of Regina, Saskatchewan, and 6-foot Allie Griffin of Ft. Collins, Colo.

Other freshmen include Kayla Hall of Pueblo, Colo., Mandy Pounds and Alec Voci of Colorado Springs, Colo., Kelsi Baldwin of Riverton, Utah, Lauryn Smith and Kayli Allen of Berthoud, Colo., and Lindsay Paulson of Castle Rock, Colo.

“We have a great mix of sophomores and freshmen this year,” Winn-Ratliff said. “We have a couple of players injured right now, so we are getting different looks from some players in different positions. We have a lot of versatility in all nine positions.”

Winn-Ratliff said the fall season games are a tune-up for the spring season. While it is not always about wins and losses during the fall season, she said it is an opportunity to get the players a chance to show what they can do for the team in game situations.

“The fall is very important to our program because it provides our staff an opportunity to get to know the student athletes better on a playing level and in turn gives them an opportunity to get to know our coaching style and our expectations for them on the field as well,” she said. “It also gets our young players playing time right away and gives us a chance to evaluate our progress through the fall and determine what we need to work on individually as a team over the winter.”

Tournament Schedule Friday’s Games
7 p.m. – WNCC vs. Weber State, 9 p.m. – Weber State vs. North Platte
Saturday’s Games
8 a.m. – Chadron State vs. WNCC, 9:45 a.m. – North Platte vs. Chadron State, 11:30 a.m. – Weber State vs. North Platte, 1:15 p.m. – Wyoming vs. Weber State, 3 p.m. – McCook vs. Wyoming, 4:45 p.m. – North Platte vs. Air Force, 6:30 p.m. – Air Force vs. McCook, and 8:15 p.m. – McCook vs. WNCC.
Sunday’s Games
8 a.m. – Weber State vs. Chadron State, 9:45 a.m. – McCook vs. Weber State, 11:30 a.m. – Chadron State vs. McCook, 1:15 p.m. – Air Force vs. Wyoming, 3 p.m. – WNCC vs. Air Force, 4:45 p.m. – Wyoming vs. WNCC.