WNCC, NJC split doubleheader; Cougars fall to second in Empire Conference play

The Western Nebraska Community College baseball team dropped from first to second after splitting a doubleheader Wednesday evening at Cleveland Field against Northeastern Junior College.

The Cougars fell 7-3 in the opener as Plainsmen pitcher Ty Cardona held the Cougar’s run to a minimum in collecting the win. WNCC rebounded in game two, pounding out 12 hits to secure a 12-4 win.

WNCC is now tied with Lamar Community College for second with a 15-9 record in Empire Conference play. Trinidad State Junior College leads the region with a 14-8 record. WNCC and Trinidad will square off in a contest in Trinidad on Saturday.

The Cougars could have taken control of the conference race if they would have swept. That didn’t happen as the team missed too many scoring opportunities. WNCC left runners in scoring position in the first four innings.

The second game was a different story as WNCC pounded the ball and took advantage of a numerous NJC mistakes to earn the split. The Cougars took control early, scoring four runs in the second on three hits. They also scored all four runs with two outs, including a double by Pedro Suarez for a 4-0 lead.

The Cougars added two more in the third as Moreno, Carson Cook and Travis Lindhorst all hammered singles for a 6-0 lead.

NJC responded with four runs in the fourth inning on just two hits to slice the deficit to 6-4. Jeff McDonald then took to the mound in relief of Eneldis Vazquez, and shut down the Plainsmen bats striking out four of the final 12 outs.

WNCC, in the meantime, gave McDonald some breathing room with six runs in the fifth inning, including six singles. Moreno’s 2-RBI bloop single that fell between three players ignited the Cougars. After that, the flood gates opened to allow WNCC to take a 12-4 lead.

The Cougars had four players collect multiple hits. Moreno and Cook led the way with 3-for-4 efforts. Moreno also had four RBIs and two runs scored, while Cook had three singles and three runs scored.

Also collecting multiple hits were Lindhorst going 2-for-3 with a run scored and Suarez with a 2-for-4 day, including a double.

The second game win was needed after the way the Cougars played in game one, not being able to capitalize on prime scoring chances. WNCC did, however, get hits, but not when needed.

WNCC had three extra base hits in the first game – all doubles. Richie Stewart ripped a first-inning two-bagger only to get stranded. Then, in the fourth, Abraham Cervantez doubled to put two on with no outs. But, Cervantez was the only runner to score in the inning to keep NJC ahead 5-2.

Gilbert Gonzalez recorded the final double to lead off the sixth inning. Gonzalez finally came racing home on a sacrifice fly by Marco Moreno for the team’s final run.

Chris Cuadra picked up the loss on the mound, going five innings and giving up seven runs and eight hits. The sophomore also struck out six Plainsmen.

First Game
NJC 002 320 0 – 7 9 1
WNCC 001 100 0 – 3 8 2
WP – Cardona, LP – Cuadra; 2B – WNCC (Stewart, Gonzalez, Cervantez), NJC (Warren, Welsh).

Second Game
NJC 000 400 0 – 4 4 3
WNCC 042 060 x – 12 12 1
WP – Vazquez, LP – Colon; 2B – WNCC (Suarez), NJC (Feiner).

WNCC baseball team plays NJC Wednesday at 4 p.m.

The Western Nebraska Community College baseball team will have their regular season home finale Wednesday at Cleveland Field against Northeastern Junior College. The doubleader has a first pitch start time of 4 p.m.

The Cougars, 21-20 overall, are currently tied for first place in the Empire Conference regional baseball standings with a 14-8 mark along with Trinidad State Junior College. Northeastern Junior College is 10-10 in conference play and 22-16-1 overall. The winner of the conference hosts the Region IX tournament May 10-13.

After Wednesday's contests, the Cougars will have six regional games left -- all on the road. They will face Trinidad State in a doubleheader on April 28 and then play McCook Community College in a four game series May 4 and 5.

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).

WNCC baseball splits with Lamar, still leads Empire Conference

The Western Nebraska Community College baseball team pounded out 17 hits and scored 14 runs to defeat Lamar Community College 14-6 in the second game of a doubleheader.

The second-game victory was sweet for the Cougars as they rebounded from a tough 9-2 first-game defeat to the Runnin’ Lopes , which helped them remain atop the Empire Conference standings by two games over Northeastern Junior College and Trinidad State Junior College.

WNCC is now 13-7 in conference play, while NJC and Trinidad State are at 10-8. Lamar drops to 15-9 in the conference. The Cougars will be back in action today when they host Otero Junior College at noon at Cleveland Field. Lamar, in the meantime, will travel to McCook for a doubleheader. The other game with Region IX barring today has Trinidad State traveling to NJ

“[Leading the conference] is a good feeling and we have two games against Otero [today] and we need to come out and play hard and finish up the year strong and hopefully we can have the conference tournament here at the end of the year,” sophomore Richie Stewart said. “We want to host the regional tournament bad.”

WNCC coach Mike Jones said that second game win was huge, especially since his team was flat in game one. “We made some mistakes early and we didn’t panic. We didn’t get down on ourselves. We just kind of stayed with it,” Jones said. “We understood that we are good enough to come right back and that is what happened. I thought we put really good swings on the ball and we got guys on base. We created a lot of scoring opportunities. Even like today with the wind blowing on it is hard to come back with hits, but we were able to get things done.”

The Cougars scored runs in every inning but one. The big inning was the sixth inning, which the team pounded out seven hits and scored eight runs to break a 6-6 tie. The big blow was a 2-RBI double by Stewart that ignited the team. “I went up there looking right-center,” Stewart said. “I got my pitch and hit it right-center.”

Stewart’s double scored Daniel Martinez and Pedru Suarez, who collected singles to rightfield right before Stewart. Then, After Stewart’s bit hit, the Cougars connected on three singles and took advantage of two walks, to add to the run explostion and the 14-6 lead.

“We really stepped up offensively and got it done,” Jones said. “We got guys in scoring position late in the game and came up with really big hits. Richie Stewart has been a guy for us two years now and he stepped up and hit that double that opened up the gates. Our bullpen was also outstanding. [Jeff] McDonald walked some guys and gave them some scoring opportunities, but he pitched well. Then, Cuadra, out of the bullpen, and Bauer were outstanding.

McDonald went four innings, striking out six and allowing three hits. Cuadra came in and pitched the fifth and sixth striking out one and giving up two hits, before Dan Bauer closed out the Runnin’ Lopes’ bats.

Offensively, the Cougars were golden at the plate. Martinez led the way with a 3-for-4 performance, including three runs scored, a walk and three singles. Stewart finished the game going 2-for-3 with a double, three RBIs, a run scored and a walk.

Also collecting multiple hits were Travis Lindhorst with a single and triple; Gilbert Gonzalez with two singles and an RBI, and Suarez with three singles, two RBIs and two runs scored.

As much as the team hit the ball in game two, they team fell flat in game one. WNCC managed just six hits compared to 15 for Lamar. Lindhorst and Suarez each collected two hits. Lindhorst had two single, a run scored and a stolen base, while Suarez had a double, single, run scored and RBI.

Phillips Orta collected the loss on the mound, going seven innings. Orta struck out just one, while walking five.

Jones said that the split keeps the Cougars in control of their own destiny in hosting the regional tournament. Now, they have to take care of business today when Otero comes to town.

“We are still two games up and that second game was really big for us and it puts us in a real good position from here on out,” he said. “We made that mistake last week and we can’t take Otero lightly. We just need to continue playing well offensively and get some good pitching [today].”

First Game
Lamar 131 101 2 — 9 15 1
WNCC 100 010 0 — 2 5 0
WP – Willy Kesler; LP — Orta; 2B — Lamar (Austin Buck, Keegan Bassett).

Second Game
Lamar 104 010 0 — 6 5 1
WNCC 221 108 x — 14 17 2
WP — Cuadra; LP — Jim Morgan; 2B — WNCC (Stewart), Lamar (Morgan); 3B — WNCC (Lindhorst).

Cougar softball goes 1-2 at Colby Tourney

The Western Nebraska Community College softball team went 1-2 in the first day of the Colby Invitational Saturday in Colby, Kan.

The Cougars women opened the tournament with a 7-5 win over Cloud County Community College behind the long-ball hitting of Jessie McNabb and Amanda Hensley. The team dropped a 13-6 game to Barton County Community College and a 9-0 game to Garden City Community College.

WNCC’s win was highlighted by freshmen McNabb and Hensley, who blasted seventh-inning, 2-run home runs to propel the team to the victory. McNabb led the team going 3-for-4, including two runs scored, three RBIs, two doubles and a home run.

Jessica Ventoza went 2-for-3 with a triple, followed by Whittany Faster going 2-for-3 with a double and RBI, and Hensley going 2-for-4 with a home run, runs scored and two RBIs.

Natasha Dypchey picked up her school-record 19^th win of the season pitching the final 3 2/3 innings. Dypchey struck out nine, including the first five batter she faced. Dycchey is also two wins from tying the career win record for pitchers, set by Kassie Killion at 21 games. Dypchey is also nearing the season strikeout record of 109 set last year by Holli Pratt.

After the opening game win, things didn’t go the Cougars way in the next two games against Barton County and Garden City. Dypchey took the loss in game two, while Jessica Pexton picked up the defeat against Garden City.

WNCC coach Maria Winn-Ratliff said they had Barton County, leadin g3-1 before the wheels fell off in the third inning with Barton County scoring nine runs. WNCC tried coming back slicing the deficit to 10-6 in the fourth, but it wasn’t enough.

The Cougars pounded out 12 hits in the loss, led by McNabb and Ashley Eichelberger each going 3-for-3. McNabb finished with three runs, three RBIs and a home run, while Eichelberger had three RBIs and a double. Also for WNCC, Hensley went 1-for-2 with a double and Lauren Bourdon went 2-for-3 with a double.

In WNCC’s final game, Garden City shut down the Cougar bats, holding them to just three hits. Garden City scored nine runs on eight hits.

WNCC will conclude the Colby tournament today when they face Colby Community College at 11 a.m. and Garden City at 1 p.m.

First Game
WNCC 120 000 4 — 7 12
Cloud County 002 010 2 — 5 9
WP — Dypchey; 2B — McNabb 2, Foster; 3B — Ventoza; HR — McNabb, Hensley.

Second Game
WNCC 201 30 — 6 12
Barton County 019 03 — 13 14
LP — Dypchey; 2B — Hensley, Eichelberger, Bourdon; HR — McNabb.

Third Game
WNCC (29-17) 000 00 — 0 3
Garden City 054 00 — 9 8
LP — Pexton.

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).