WNCC softball take two from McCook, breaks school record for wins in a season

Western Nebraska Community College freshman Jessica Pexton not only pitched the team to two victories Friday, she also provided some offense from the plate as the Cougars defeated McCook Community College 15-1 and 11-3

Friday’s two wins also set a school record for wins in a season, eclipsing last year’s season total of 27.

The Cougars, now 28-15 on the season, still have three weekends of games to left in the season, including this weekend’s games at the Colby Community College Invitational.

Jessie McNabb, who finished the doubleheader going 4-for-7 with a double and triple, said they can’t be satisfied with just 28 wins.

“We are happy with setting the record, but I don’t think it is time to be satisfied,” she said. “We have to keep working towards more. Forty wins is our goal, now.”

McNabb was also happy with the way Pexton pitched, holding the McCook hitters at bay. Pexton allowed seven hits and four runs, while striking out six and walking just four in the two games.

“Pex pitched really well and we are all happy for her [to get the home run],” McNabb said. “We played alright as a team. We are starting to come together as a team and make the plays, Kara and I turning a nice double.”

Pexton said they are starting to regain their focus from early this season when they won 11 straight games.

“I thought we played really well. We came out strong and finished strong,” she said. “We just have to keep our focus and composure and finish the season strong.”

But, it was Pexton’s first collegiate home run in the second game that sparked the team, and it came to a surprise to her.

“I thought I popped up,” she said. “I was just thinking I didn’t want to strike out; I just want to hit the ball.”

Pexton’s hit came in the second inning, and with a two-strike count on her, she said she was looking to kist make contact. She did, taking a fastball over the outfield fence for a 2-run shot to give the Cougars a 3-0 lead.

WNCC added two more runs in the third to lead 5-0 before adding three in the fourth and fifth for the win.

Pexton, McNabb and Jessica Ventoza paced the Cougars from the plate with 3-for-4 performances. Pexton finished with a home run, two runs scored and two RBIs, while McNabb had a double and two RBIs. Ventoza finished with two singles, three runs scored and one walk.

WNCC finished with eight hits in the second game, their 28^th win, but they pounded the ball even better in the opener, where they finished with 18 hits, including four extra base hits. McNabb had two of the extra base hits, collecting a double, triple and three RBIs. Whittany Foster and Amanda Hensley each collected a double in the second inning.

In fact, Foster’s shot to leftfield scored two runs to break a 1-1 tie. After that, the Cougar bats exploded as Ventoza and Ashley Eichelberger each had RBI singles followed by Hensley’s 2-RBI double for a 7-1 lead.

WNCC added eight more runs in the fourth inning, with Ventoza and McNabb each collecting two hits in the inning. Ventoza started the inning with a single and then scored on McNabb’s triple. The Cougars followed with five straight singles on their way to the 15-1 win.

Ventoza paced the Cougars with a 4-for-4 performance, including four runs scored, two RBIs and four stolen bases. McNabb went 2-for-4 with three RBIs followed by Kara Ryman with a 2-for-4 game.

Also collecting multiple hits were Eichelberger with a 2-for-4 performance, Hensley with a 2-for-3 performance, Amanda Torimaru at 2-for-3, and Lauren Mills going 2-for-2.

First Game
McCook 010 00 — 1 5 1
WNCC 160 8x — 15 18 1
WP — Pexton, LP — Brianne Nutty; 2B — WNCC (McNabb, Foster, Hensley), McCook (Stacy Gernelli); 3B — WNCC (McNabb).
Second Game
McCook 000 12 — 3 2 2
WNCC (28-15) 140 33 — 11 8 1
WP — Pexton, LP — Courtney Nevarez; 2B — WNCC (McNabb), McCook (Nutty); 3B — WNCC (Ventoza); HR — WNCC (Pexton).

WNCC wins 26th game of year, downs McCook, splits with North Platte

The Western Nebraska Community College softball team finally awakened offensively Sunday in game two against North Platte Community and Monday against McCook Community College to earn their 26th victory of the season, just two short of a school record set last season.

The Cougars split a doubleheader with North Platte on Sunday falling 4-0 before winning 12-2, on a 3-run walk-off home run by Lauren Mills. The team then traveled to McCook on Monday and swept the Indians 5-2 and 15-2.

The two wins Monday locked up the No. 2 spot in the regional tournament, and it was a contrast of styles in the wins. In the first game, the Cougars managed just five hits in getting the 5-2 win. Natasha Dypchey picked up the win striking out six and walking two.

Ashley Eichelberger led the offense going 1-for-3, including a double in the first to score two runs. She finished the game with three RBIs. Kara Ryman also stepped up with a 1-for-4 performance and two RBIs. Jessica Ventoza continued her march to the stolen base record notching two stolen bases in a 1-for-4 game.

The second game was much different then the first. WNCC pounded out 15 hits in the 15-2 win. Jessica Pexton picked up the win, striking out one and scattering eight hits.

WNCC took control of the game early scoring four times in the opening inning on singles by Ventoza, Jessie McNabb, Eichelberger and Amanda Torimaru. Lauren Mills then delivered a big double to put the Cougars up 4-0. The score ballooned to 8-1 after three innings and then 13-2 after four.

McNabb finished the game going 4-for-4 with two doubles, an RBI and two stolen bases, followed by Torimaru with a 3-3 performance and three RBIs. Ventoza finished 2-fo4 with three stolen bases, followed by Mills with a 2-3 game and two RBIs, and Eichelberger going 2-for-4 with an RBI.

Monday’s contests were very similar to Sunday’s contests – the team starts slow in the first game and heats up in the second. In fact, on Sunday, the Cougars limped into the second game having been shut out for 19 innings in the weekend’s homestand. After two innings of the second game, the scoreless streak ballooned to 21 innings. Finally, the Cougars broke the ice and once they did, they rattled off 12 runs on 15 hits for the victory.

The runfest started in the third inning as Whittany Foster rocketed a double off the fence. After an error to put Ventoza on base, and with two outs, the Cougars recorded three straight hits by Ryman, McNabb and Eichelberger for a 3-1 lead.

WNCC added another run in the fourth as Lauren Bourdon scored. They then put up four runs in the fifth inning as McNabb and Eichelberger recorded singles followed by Torimaru loading the bases after being plunked by a pitch. Bourdon and Foster followed with back-to-back 2-run scoring doubles to push the lead to 8-1. All the Cougars needed was one more run to call the game because of the 8-run rule, but they couldn't get the run across.

That allowed North Platte to score one run in the sixth inning, but it also gave Lauren Mills an opportunity for some dramatics. After Eichelberger and Torimaru recorded back-to-back singles, Bourdon loaded the bases by getting hit by a pitch. Foster came through with a run-scoring groundout, before Mills unleashed on a towering 3-run home run that easily sailed over the scoreboard in left field to end the game.

Eichelberger led the team with a 4-for-4 performance including two runs scores. Foster finished the game 3-for-4 with two doubles and three RBIs. Also collecting multiple hits included Bourdon with a 2-for-3 performance including a double, 2 RBIs and three runs scored, McNabb 2-for-4, and Ventoza with a 3-for-4 effort.

WNCC will next be in action Friday when they host McCook Community College in the team’s final home game of the season at volunteer Field beginning at noon.

Sunday’s Games
Game 1
NPCC 000 400 0 – 4
WNCC 000 000 0 – 0
LP – Dypchey
Game 2
NPCC 100 001 – 2 8 1
WNCC 003 144 – 12 17 0
WP – Dypchey. 2B – Foster 2, Bourdon 1; HR – Mills.

Monday’s Games
Game 1
WNCC 220 010 0 – 5 5
McCook 200 000 0 – 5 9
WP – Dypchey; 2B – Ryman, Eichelberger.
Game 2
WNCC (26-15) 404 52 – 15 15
McCook 001 10 – 2 8
WP – Pexton; 2B – McNabb 2, Mills, Ryman.

Cougar baseball team splits with Trinidad in two wild games at Cleveland Field on Sunday

It was a wild Sunday at Cleveland Field on Sunday between Western Nebraska Community College and Trinidad State Junior College. The two teams combined for 45 runs and 54 hits as the two teams split a doubleheader.

Trinidad raced to a 9-2 lead and then held on for the 12-8 first game victory. The second game saw the Trojans vault to a 10-3 lead and then saw the Cougars score 10 straight runs to grab the 13-12 win.

The second game saw some big hits, but none were bigger then JC Perez' 2-run bomb in the third inning and then Eneldis Vazquez' 3-run shot in the fifth to bring the Cougars back to grab a 12-11 lead.

WNCC added another run in the sixth as Gilbert Gonzalez walked and scored for the 2-run lead. Trinidad came back and scored one run in the seventh and the tying and winning runs at the corners before WNCC's closer Dan Bauer shut the door on the Trojan oomeback earning a split of the two games.

Several players had multiple hits for the Cougars. Vazquez led the way with a 3-for-4 day including a home run and three runs scored and four RBIs. Perez was also 3-for-4 with a home run, two runs scored and three RBIs. Also, Daniel Martinez was 2-for-4 with two singles, two runs scored and a walk and Travis Lindhorst was 2-for-4 with two singles and an RBI.

Lindhorst also had a huge game in the first game. The Gering graduate went 3-for-4 with two doubles and a single. Lindhorst also had three runs scored and two RBIs. Also for the Cougars in the first game, Chris Hook had a big fourth-inning 2-run double; Perez was 3-for-5 with three singles, and Martinez was 2-for-3 with two doubles, one RBI, one run scored and two walks.

The Cougars will be back in action Wednesday when they host McCook Community College in a 2:30 start at Cleveland Field. WNCC now stands 18-17 on the year and still holds the lead in the Empire Conference with a 11-5 record over Lamar Community College and Northeastern Junior College.

WNCC softball splits with North Platte

The Western Nebraska Community College softball team split a doubleheader with North Platte Community College on Sunday. The Cougars fell 4-0 in the first game and then came back and downed North Platte 12-2 on a 3-run walk-off home run by Lauren Mills.

In fact, the Cougars victory in the second game was dramatic. Before that game, the Cougars had 19 innings of scoreless innings. After two innings in the second game against North Platte, that streak ballooned to 21 innings. Finally, the Cougars broke the ice and once they did, they rattled off 12 runs on 15 hits.

Things started in the third inning as Whittany Foster rocketed a double off the fence. After an error to put Jessica Ventoza on base, and with two outs, the Cougars recorded three straight hits by Kara Ryman, Jessie McNabb an Ashley Eichelberger for a 3-1 lead.

WNCC added another run in the fourth as Lauren Bourdon scored. They then put up four runs in the fifth inning as McNabb and Eichelberger recorded singles followed by Amanda Torimaru loading the bases after being plunked by a pitch. Bourdon and Foster followed with back-to-back 2-run scoring doubles to push the lead to 8-1. All the Cougars needed was one more run to call the game because of the 8-run rule, but they couldn't get the run across.

That allowed North Platte to score one run in the sixth inning, but it also gave Lauren Mills an opportunity for some dramatics in the bottom of the inning. After Eichelberger and Torimaru recorded back-to-back singles, Bourdon loaded the bases by getting hit by a pitch. Foster then came through with a run-scoring groundout followed by Mills' towering home run that easily sailed over the scoreboard in left field to end the game.

WNCC, 24-15, will next be in action Monday when they face McCook Community College on the road. After that, they will face McCook in their last home game on Friday.

WNCC, Trinidad split games Saturday

Western Nebraska Community College's Richie Stewart didn't want to lose twice to Trinidad State Junior College Saturday at Cleveland Field.

After the Cougars dropped their first game 8-2, Stewart responded with a 3-for-3 performance, which included the game-winning hit in the sixth inning for the 5-4 win. Stewart also scored two runs in the nightcap.

"We got some really good clutch hits. Richie Stewart has been a guy for us all season long and he got one today with two outs," WNCC coach Mike Jones said. "Offensively, we have been able to do that most of the season and come up with some big hits when we needed to."

WNCC still sits atop the Empire Conference standings with a 2-game lead over Lamar. WNCC is 10-4 in regional play after the split on Saturday. Lamar and Northeastern Junior College split a doubleheader Sunday as NJC won the first game 2-0 before Lamar won the second 2-0. WNCC and Trinidad will be back at Cleveland Field today at noon for another doubleheader.

"It's two more big games and the pressure isn't going to let up," Jones said. "We have to get some good pitching. [Greg] Crowe and [Todd] Stachura have been good for us throughout the season and I hope to see that Sunday. It will be important for us to come out and shut their offense down for a while and allow us to score some runs early."

The Cougars played better in game two compared to the opener, where they managed seven hits and left several runners in scoring position. In the second game WNCC also had seven hits, but took advantage of five Trinidad State walks for the win.

WNCC had a 2-1 lead after one inning before Trinidad forged ahead 3-2 after two. The Cougars knotted things up after Stewart hit a one-out single. A walk followed Stewart's single and Gilbert Gonzalez's single loaded the basesa. Chris Hook then came through with a sacrifice fly to tie the game.

It stayed that way until the fifth when WNCC struck for a single run. Stewart started things again with a single and then scored from third after a pick-off play to second base sailed to centerfield to take a 4-3 lead.

Trinidad came back with one run in the sixth to tie the game but the Cougars came answered by manufacturing the winning run. JC Perez led off by drawing a walk. Perez stole second and then Travis Lindhorst laid down a sacrifice bunt to advance Perez to third.

With two outs, Stewart came through with a shot up the middle to score Perez with the winning run.

Dan Bauer pitched the seventh inning, striking out two and walking one to get the save.
Eric Bissonette, who pitched the sixth inning, picked up the win in relief of Jeff McDonald.
Stewart led the Cougars from the plate with three hits. Gonzalez also finished with multiple hits, getting two singles and an RBI.

WNCC couldn't get anything going in game one as Trinidad pitcher Shawn Burnette pitched a gem, allowing just one run and six hits in six innings of work. Burnette struck out three Cougar batters.

"Burnette pitched a real good ball game," Jones said. "He mixed it up and was throwing back-to-back change-ups against us and was throwing some off-speed stuff on us. He wouldn't let us settle in and find a good pitch to hit."

The Cougars' Phillips Orta took the loss but pitched well for four innings. He struck out five and allowed two hits and one run, but it was the fifth inning that did Orta in as he allowed three runs on two hits. He also walked three and hit one batter in the inning.

Trinidad added another four runs in the sixth inning on five straight hits to take an 8-1 lead.
Perez paced the Cougars from the plate with a 3-for-3 performance including a double. Also collecting hits for WNCC were Martinez, Lindhorst, and Pedro Suarez.

Game One
Trinidad 000 134 0 - 8 10 0
WNCC 000 010 1 - 2 7 0
WP - Burnette, LP - Orta; 2B - WNCC (Perez), Trinidad (Cody Henry, Christopher Solarek).

Game Two
Trinidad 120 001 0 - 4 5 2
WNCC (17-16) 201 011 x - 5 7 0
WP - Bissonette, LP - Mario Mattivi; 2B - Trinidad (Tyler Zonella).

Otero drops WNCC softball in doubleheader

It wasn't a good day offensively for the Western Nebraska Community College softball team Saturday in their doubleheader against Otero Junior College.

The Region IX leading Rattlers shut down the NJCAA fourth-best Cougar hitters in the tune of 4-0 and 12-0 victories, which gave Otero the right to host next months regional tournament.
As much as Otero delivered two shutouts Saturday, the Cougars had opportunities to break the ice.

Freshman Lauren Bourdon, who recorded one of the team's combined nine hits in the contests, said it's hard to explain what happened. All she knows is they need to put these two games behind them and come out today against North Platte Community College with fire.

"We just need to put these games behind us because it is in the past and you can't do anything about the past," she said. "We just need to all come together and beat them (Otero) when it counts at regionals. At their place we can beat them, we know we can, we just need to all come together like we usually do."

WNCC definitely will need offense in today's doubleheader against North Platte, which begins at 2 p.m. at Volunteer Field. It will also be sophomore appreciation day for the only two sophomores on the team Ashley Eichelberger and Jessica Ventoza. Bourdon said they have to be ready offensively.

"We have to come out to play for sure," she said. "We especially need to come out on our bats."
Saturday, it wasn't so much the team not getting base hits, it was a matter of stringing together enough hits to get a run across the plate.

In game one, the Cougars left the bases loaded in the second inning after getting back-t0-back walks and a single before stranding all three runners. Then, in the sixth, the Cougars started a rally as Amanda Hensley recorded her third single of the game followed by a 2-out walk by Torimaru. WNCC, though failed to score.

Otero, meanwhile, scored twice in the second and third, while pounding out four hits in those two innings. The blow was a solo home run by Megan Richardson in the third.

Natasha Dypchey took the loss, despite scattering seven hits while striking out nine. Dypchey also walked four in the seven innings.

Hensley led WNCC from the plate with a 3-for-3 performance, while Lauren Mills was 2-for-3.
Otero quickly took control in game two scoring six times in the first and two more in the second for an 8-0 lead. Otero added three more in the third inning as Richardson had a 2-run home run to put the Rattlers up 11-0.

WNCC managed just four hits in game two from Bourdon, Torimaru, Jessie McNabb, Kara Ryman.

The Cougars' best chance to break the goose-egg on the scoreboard came in the fifth inning. Torimaru started things with an one-out single followed by a Bourdon single up the middle, but that was as close as they could get to scoring.

Dypchey took the loss going 2 2/3 innings and giving up 11 runs on 11 hits. Jessica Pexton then finished off the game holding Otero to just one run and two hits, while striking out two. WNCC, 23-14, will have one more home game after today's contest when they host McCook Community College on Friday in a rescheduled game.

Game One
Otero 022 000 0 - 4 7 0
WNCC 000 000 0 - 0 5 2
WP - Jessie Lessard, LP - Dypchey; 2B - Otero (Stephanie Quintana); HR - Otero (Ricahrdson).

Game Two
Otero 623 10 - 12 14 0
WNCC 000 00 - 0 4 2
LP - Dypchey; 2B - Otero (Becca Diede, Jeana Hancock); HR - Otero (Richardson).

WNCC Cougar Golf Classic set for June 9

Western Nebraska Community College’s athletic department will host the fourth annual Cougar Golf Classic Saturday, June 9 at Monument Shadows Golf Course.

The event is a four-person scramble with a shotgun start at 8 a.m. Entry fee is $50 per person, and there is a limit of 36 teams. Entry deadline is June 1. The entry fee includes green fees, cart and a Runza lunch. All proceeds will benefit athletic and Ron Brillhart scholarship funds.

There will be a payout for first, second and third places. There will also be hole-in-one prizes sponsored by Scottsbluff Screenprinting, Safetyline Consultants and Roy’s Plumbing and Heating, as well as hole prizes.

Registration forms can be picked up at the college and Monument Shadows Golf Course.

Hole sponsorships are available for $100, as well as a Fairway and Green Sponsorship.

For more information on the golf classic or for sponsoring opportunities, contact athletic director Jennifer Pedersen at 308-635-6798 or Pedersen@wncc.net.

WNCC softball claims two from Dawson Thursday

Natasha Dypchey pitches against Trinidad State earlier this season. Dypchey pitched a complete game, shutout against Dawson Community College on Thursday

Dypchey, Pexton pick up wins in the circle in 8-0, 13-6 wins

Natasha Dypchey not only shutout Dawson Community College from the circle, but she also provided plenty of offense from the plate in helping the Cougars to an 8-0 game one win against Dawson in Glendive, Mont.

WNCC finished off Dawson in game two collecting 13 runs on 16 hits for the 13-6 win to run their record to 23-12 overall, just five wins from setting a new school record for most wins in a season. The team also improved to 13-3 in Region IX play heading into this weekend’s games at home against Otero Junior College and North Platte Community College.

WNCC coach Maria Winn-Ratliff was pleased with how her team played for not playing a game in over a week.

“It is nice to be back on the field and playing,” she said. “The first game we played pretty good and in the second game we played really well going into the sixth inning and the we lost focus and let them score five runs. But, then we came bounced back in the seventh and shut the door.”

WNCC controlled game one from the get-go, especially behind the 6-hit, 3-strikeout pitching of Dypchey.

Offensively, the Cougars were just as sharp in the cold, snowy weather in Montana, where they quickly took control with two runs in the first and one in the second for a 3-0 lead. WNCC added to the lead with two runs in the fourth on singles by Dypchey, Lauren Bourdan and a 2-RBI double by Jessica Ventoza.

WNCC added another run in the fifth and then posted two wins in the seventh on four hits. The big hits were RBI singles by Dypchey and Ashley Eichelberg.

Ventoza went 3-for-3 from the plate with three RBIs and a run scored followed by Dypchey with a 3-for-4 performance and two runs scored. Amanda Hensley also went 2-for-3 with two doubles and a RBI.

WNCC continued swinging a hot bat in game two, pounding out 16 hits. Like the first, the Cougars struck early, scoring three times in the first and four times in the third to hold a 7-1 lead after three.

The Cougars added another run in the fifth as Bourdan unleashed a solo home run to put the team up 8-1. WNCC added another four runs in the sixth inning to hold a commanding 12-1 lead.

Dawson sliced the lead in half, scoring five times in the sixth inning, but it wasn’t good enough as Pexton came back out in the seventh inning shut down the Bucs’ bats.

Pexton picked up the win going seven innings while scattering eight hits and striking out three.

Jessie McNabb paced the Cougars from the plate with a 4-for-5 performance, including three runs scored, two RBIs and two doubles. Eichelberger finished the game with a 3-for-4 performance including two runs scored, two RBIs and three singles, while Ventoza went 2-for-5 with a run scored and three stolen bases.

Winn-Ratliff said that the one area that she was extremely pleased with was the team’s baserunning, where they were 8-for-8 on the day. Ventoza finished the day with four stolen bases to pace the Cougars.

The Cougars will next be in action Saturday when they host Region IX leading Otero Junior College at 2 p.m. at Volunteer Field, followed by a home contest against North Platte Community College on Sunday.

Game 1
WNCC 210 210 2 – 8 14
Dawson 000 000 0 – 0 6
WP – Dypchey (16-5); 2B – Ventoza, Hensley.

Game 2
WNCC (23-12) 304 014 1 – 13 16
Dawson (4-22) 001 005 0 – 6 8
WP – Pexton (7-5); 2B – McNabb 2; HR – Bourdon.

WNCC baseball clips Colorado State 4-2

The Western Nebraska Community College baseball jumped above the .500 mark for the first time this season after earning a 4-2 win over Colorado State University Tuesday evening at a chilly Cleveland Field.

WNCC is now 16-15 on the season. The Cougars will play Trinidad State in a key, four-game series Saturday and Sunday.

"This is not baseball weather, but it was good for us to get a chance to play before we play Trinidad," WNCC coach Mike Jones said. "It is a big weekend for us coming up so it was important for us to get back into the game speed a little bit."
Jones and the Cougars were also glad they had the opportunity to get on the field since weather has forced several postponements.

"We had that real bad cold snap and we couldn't do much. We gave the guys plenty of time off and it was just important for us to get out and play again," he said. "We just needed to see pitching and we had nine pitchers that went out there and got to face live hitters. It was just good for us get back into action."

Even with the extended delay between games, the Cougar pitching staff sparkled by combining for 13 strikeouts in the nine-inning game. Ilich Santos picked up the win and nine total pitchers went to the mound each inning.

"I was really proud of the way all nine of our guys went out and threw today," Jones said. "It is cold. They got prepared down in the bullpen and they took their time and they did what they needed to do to get ready to pitch."

The pitching staff was stellar as five different pitchers struck out at least two batters in one inning of work - Phillips Orta, Stantos, Cesar Perez, Eric Bissonette and Dan Bauer - each fanned at least two. The staff also scattered seven hits and walked just five batters.

While the pitchers were flourishing, the Cougars' bats quickly took command of the game by scoring three runs in the first inning on one hit and four walks. The big hit in the inning was a double by JC Perez, which scored two runs.

Both teams added one run in the fifth inning. Colorado State scored on a leadoff walk and then a two out single by Caleb Bond.

WNCC responded in the bottom of the frame. Pedro Suarez led off the inning by reaching base on a throwing error. Two batters later, Suarez scored on an Eneldis Vazquez groundball out for a 4-1 lead.

Colorado State sliced the lead in half with a run in the eighth inning, but the Cougars' final two pitchers, Chris Cuadra and Dan Bauer, shut down the Rams' by striking out three of the final six batters.

WNCC managed five hits on the night. Perez went 1-for-3 with a double and two RBIs to lead the team. The other hits came from Daniel Martinez, Richie Stewart, Carson Cook and Travis Lindhorst.

The Cougars, who have won three straight, will look to keep winning this weekend against Trinidad State in Empire Conference games. WNCC sets on top of the conference standings at 9-3 followed by Lamar at 10-4 and Northeastern Junior College at 8-4. The winner of the conference hosts regionals in May.

"These are really big games for us," Jones said about the Cougars' doubleheaders with Trinidad State. "We have a chance to take some big strides in the conference standings. We're in the driver's seat right now and we just have to make sure we play our game."

CSU  000 010 010 - 2 7 3
WNCC (16-15) 300 010 00x - 4 5 2
WP - Stantos, LP - Bobby Moller. 2B - WNCC (Perez). 

Harlem Globetrotters invade Cougar Palace

Huntington, Merkey sign with WNCC women's soccer

Huntington, Merkey sign with WNCC soccer

Western Nebraska Community College women’s soccer coach Todd Rasnic will be adding more talent to next year’s team after signing two soccer players recently.

Lara Merkey of Windsor, Colo., and Terri Huntington, of Bluffdale, Utah, are two of the first signings for Rasnic for next year with more signings announced next week.

Both players bring plenty of soccer experience to the Cougar soccer program, which went 6-8 last season in its first season back after being suspended for a season.

Huntington comes to the Cougars from Riverton High in Utah, where she was first team all-region her junior year and second team all-state as a goalkeeper. Huntington, a 5-foot-8 3-sport star, decided to come to WNCC because of three reasons.

“It sounded like they have a good nursing program and will have a good soccer team. Also, my best friend [Kiwi Wiegert] plays there,” she said. “I am hoping to become a better keeper and have a fun time as I get closer to my degree.”

Merkley also brings plenty of soccer talent to the team. Merkey, who also ran track and field at Windsor High, lettered four years in soccer and double lettered in both soccer and track for two seasons. Merkey, who is just 5-1 and plays defense, was also looking at the University of Northern Colorado.

“I really liked the coach and was offered a scholarship to play,” she said. “It will also get me to where eI want to be in two years.”

Merkey, who is planning on majoring in journalism, said one of the reasons she choice WNCC was because of the friendliness of all the people at WNCC.

“The campus is really nice and the gym is amazing,” she said. “The weight room is also very nice, and I also enjoyed looking at the future field I will be playing on.”

Merkey had many highlights during her playing days for Windsor, including being the only freshman on the varsity team to letter.

“I was also one of the captains this year and I will remember the girls I have played with,” she said. “Also, I remember being in the newspaper at least once every year for games against Greeley West.”

Huntington also had many highlights including getting a chance to play the field in some games besides being in net.

“I always loved to play field when our team would get up enough to let me out of goal,” she said. “We were playing a team that wasn’t good so I was able to play field and everyone always thought it was cool when I would get close to scoring because I was a keeper. Well, we had a penalty kick and I got to take it. As the referee sat the ball down, he put it in a hole. I didn’t know I could move it so I didn’t think much more about the ball, just where I was going to shoot it and how to play the little tricks on the keeper. Everyone was ready and as I go to kick it, I tripped on the ball and it didn’t go anywhere but a few inches.”

Huntington was stellar in net helping the Silverwolves to a 10-7 before falling in the first round of the 5A state tournament last fall.

More women’s soccer signings will be announced in the coming weeks.