WNCC volleyball team opens up practice Monday with 13 players

More photos of the first day located at wncccougars.albumpost.com

The Western Nebraska Community College volleyball team entered Monday’s first day of practice with plenty of questions. The team also entered the 2009 season with a lot of expectations to continue the team’s 10-year reign as Region IX champions.

The questions were quickly answered as the Cougars will field another talented team. In fact, this year’s team has just as much, if not more, talent as last year’s stellar team. Last year’s team finished with a 59-4 record and third at the national tournament as well as sending the three sophomores onto Division I programs.

Giovani Melo definitely can see the potential of success in this year’s squad.

“I do see a lot of talent,” the second-year coach said. “I see a lot of kids that have a lot of potential that we can work with and I think it will be a good team.”

What is making this year’s team something to watch for is the way the team is quickly coming together as one. WNCC also has seven players that are 5-foot-10 or taller. WNCC also returns six players, four of which were starters a year ago.

Kaleinani Kabalis, who was an NJCAA all-American last season, is one of those returners. Kabalis, the hard-hitting outside hitter, is definitely excited for the coming season.

“I thought it was a good first-day of practice. Everybody clicked and everybody practiced hard,” the 5-foot-9 outside hitter from Hilo, Hawaii said. “I think we have a lot of talent and we have a lot of height that we didn’t have last year. I think we are a good team. We have good chemistry. We get along great. It is like we knew each other our whole lives.”

The first day actually started Sunday when the team had team meetings, picture session, a picnic with their dorm families, and a five mile run. Monday involved just little conditioning exercises and mini games so Melo could get a feel of where the team is.

“I think it was OK,” Melo said. “We didn’t do much team stuff, I just let them play and see where we were and each player was. It was more of a placement practice to see where they were.”

Kabalis said the toughest part was that mile run.

“The first day was tough just because we had to run the mile the day before [Sunday],” she said. “But overall it wasn’t that bad. The first day was just getting to know the team and everything. We played with everyone with 2-on-2 games.”

There are 13 players that suited up for the Cougars’ first day of practice. Besides Kabalas, five others return from last year’s team in Cami Weimer, 5-8 from Ft. Morgan, Colo., Whitney Roth, 6-1 from Gering, Brook Blomenkamp, 5-9 from Gering, and Sabina and Paulina Piegza, 6-foot twins from Poland.

The incoming freshmen include Kabalis’ younger sister Kuulei, a 5-6 setter from Hilo, Hawaii. The other freshmen include Mckenzie Westphal, 5-10 from Scottsbluff, Sierra Schmidt, 5-6 from Gering, Emily Hoehn, 5-6 from Kearney, Tania Torres, 6-1 from Camuy, Puerto Rico, Kathryn Stock, 6-0 from Thibodaux, La., and Ariel Austin, 6-0 from Woodland Park, Colo.

Melo already sees plenty of plusses from this year’s team.

“They seem to get a long so far, but it is just the beginning,” she said. “I think there are expectations just from us being good for awhile for the past couple of years, so there is some high expectations. We just have to take one game at a time and see where we are at, still get better.”

The Cougars will go through 2-a-days through next week. They will then have three home scrimmages beginning Aug. 14 against Regis University. They will also scrimmage Colby Community College Aug. 15 before having their alumni scrimmage Aug. 22. WNCC will open the season for real on Aug. 27-28 when they compete in the Iowa Western Invite.

“Practices will get harder,” Melo said. “We have a small time to work with them [before our first competition] so we just need to go as hard as we can the next few weeks and see what happens.”

Kabalis is itching to start playing for real to see just how good this team really is.

“I am excited for the season and to see how we do,” she said. “I want to see how well we will play together. I think we have a lot of talent. We have more height on this team. We have more hitters and we have a lot of defensive players, too.”

--
Mark Rein
Photographer,
WNCC SID,
College Relations Assistant

Cell: 308-631-0459
Home: 308-436-2963
Work: 308-635-6057
Email: mrein@wncc.net

Gering's Palomo signs with WNCC baseball

Western Nebraska Community College baseball coach Mike Jones can see a bright future for Gering’s Carlos Palomo on the baseball diamond.

And for the next two years, Jones will get to see the development of his budding superstar as the right-handed pitcher signed a letter-of-intent to play for the Cougars next year last week.

“He’s got what we call a real quick arm. When he releases the baseball, his arm really speeds up and accelerates. I think everyone will see his velocity climb over the next 12-month period,” Jones said. “The thing with him is keeping him healthy because quick-arm guys have a tendency of where they can get hurt because they have so much acceleration in their arm. I am not sure where he will rank. I think it will be up to him with his work ethic, determination and how much he will put into it to see how far he can go.

“I have seen guys like Joba Chamberlain go from 85 and 86 to 99. I have also seen guys that throw 85 mph and they just don’t get there. I am guessing with him, with how fast his arm comes through, he will be an upper 80s guy. He will get there. We just need to keep him healthy and keep him strong, and let him develop and let him grow.”

Palomo, who received plenty of interest from other schools, pretty much had his mind set on attending WNCC.

“It was one of my top choices and it is more convenient,” the Gering Platte Valley Companies senior legion baseball pitcher said. “Coach Jones is an excellent coach. It is a great school. I just want to continue to get better and see far I can go with it. I want to see how much harder I can through and I am going to work hard so I can do that.”

Palomo was a dominating pitcher for the Gering legion program last season where Jones was not afraid to hand him the ball. Jones said he has a few mechanics that need fine-tuned, but he has the potential to be a force on the diamond.

“The first thing we are going to do with him is continue to let him smooth out his mechanics as he delivers the pitch. Sometimes he has a tendency to get in a hurry, and when he gets in a hurry he loses his balance and he loses his stride.

“His biggest attribute is he is just a competitor. When you give Carlos the baseball, he goes out there to win the game. He will do everything he can to get everybody out. He doesn’t back down one bit. When we put him in a pressure situation or tight spot, he doesn’t back down. Those are characteristics that you can’t teach. You got to have that and he has that, so for us it will be a few mechanical things to let him smooth out and develop.”

Palomo also realizes that you can’t win every game. He mentioned the Alliance game at the Area 7 tournament last week when he suffered a heartbreaking 3-2 loss on a walk-off hit. In that game, he struck out nine and allowed just five hits. Leading 2-1 with two outs in the final inning, Alliance’s Brandon Heckman hit a walk-off double to help the Spartans rally for the win.

“Anything can happen in a game like the first game I pitched in the area tournament,” he said. “We were up 2-1 going into the seventh with two outs and there was a runner at first and third. A guy hits a shot in the gap to win the game. Anything can happen, but that is what makes it fun, though.”

Palomo, who started playing baseball at a young age, said he didn’t start to develop as a player until a couple years ago. He was selected to compete in an Under Armour National Baseball Camp last year.

“I knew when I was younger that baseball was what I wanted to do. I went to those [Under Armour] camps because I wanted to get looked at, and they would help me,” he said. “I learned so much at that camp. My control is so much better this year. It was excellent to go to those camps and it It was very helpful.”

Pal0mo’ main pitch is the fastball, where he constantly throws around 82 mph. He also had a 2-seam and 4-seam pitch. The one thing he is hoping to develop his is change-up. He is anxious to had to his repertoire of pitches.

“I just want to continue to get better and see how far I can go with it,” he said. “I want to see how much harder I can through and I am going to work hard so I can do that. All my pitches are pretty good and I dominate a lot with my fast balls. Next year, I will learn how to throw a change-up better and we will go from there.”

Jones said that having coached Palomo this summer has been a plus because he already knows what he can do on the mound.

“It is a big plus and an advantage for me, as well as for him because sometimes in the fall when freshman first walk in here, even though we seen them on the road or on the field and we have a scouting report on them, we still are not comfortable of who they are,” Jones said. “I know Carlos well after spending an entire summer with him. I am not going to be afraid to give him the baseball in pressure situations. I know he can go out there and start a game. I know he can throw his breaking ball for strikes in a lot of different counts. It will be an advantage for both of us. I know I can go and talk to him any time and address mechanical issues.”

Palomo is hoping to move onto a four-year school after WNCC. His long-term goal is to be drafted, and if he is, he doesn’t care where since he watches a lot of baseball and studies the pitchers intently.

“I watch a lot of baseball pitchers and I just learn how they come back from being behind and what they do as far as their mechanics, what pitches they throw and where they locate,” he said. “It would be cool to dominate like a closer like Mariano Rivera.”

“It would be a cool accomplishment [to be drafted out of the junior college ranks],” Palomo said. “But to even go on to a big college after this would be a major accomplishment.”

Beck hired as WNCC men's basketball coach

On Monday, Western Nebraska Community College Athletic Department announced the hiring of a new men’s basketball coach.

Russ Beck knows what it takes to reach the national tournament having had successful stops as an assistant coach at Salt Lake Community College and the College of Southern Idaho. Beck will now get a chance to bring that national tournament knowledge to WNCC. Beck takes over for Brian Joyce, who resigned in June to take an assistant coaching position at Liberty University.

“It is a huge honor to be the head coach at WNCC. The Cougars have a storied history and tradition and I am very excited to be a part of that,” Beck said. “I have worked at some of the best junior colleges in the country, and I am continuing that trend in taking this job at WNCC.”

Beck has had plenty of success on the coaching circuit. Beck was an assistant last season at CSI, helping the Golden Eagles to a 22-9 record and a third-place finish in the Scenic West Athletic Conference.

“It means everything to me that Dr. Ely, Ms. Pedersen, and all the people in the community are giving me the opportunity to continue to head this program in the right direction, back to national prominence.”

Before coming to CSI, Beck was an assistant at SLCC, helping the Bruins to a second-place finish at the NJCAA National Tournament in Hutchinson, Kan. He also recruited NJCAA Tournament MVP, DJ Wright to Salt Lake last season.

Beck also spent a year as an assistant coach at Southern Utah University under head coach Bill Evans, and also coached under former Region 18 coaches Jeff Kidder and Jon Judkins at Dixie State College. While at DSC, he helped the Rebels to a No. 1 national ranking.

Beck hopes to follow in the footsteps of the Cougars’ two legendary coaches – Ron Brillhart and Soupy Campbell – and bring a championship feel back to Cougar Palace. It was that rich basketball tradition that brought Beck to the thought of coaching at WNCC.

“I know we have had two hall of fame coaches, Soupy Campbell and Ron Brillhart. I know we have a great following, great fans, a great booster club, and a great facility,” Beck commented. “The town is very similar to Twin Falls in Idaho. The program is a great source of pride for the community. I know we have had great teams travel to the national tournament many times, and we hope to increase that number many times more.”

Beck is not worried about achieving individual success as much as bringing success to the college and the community.

“Ideally it would be great [to be a Hall of Fame coach], but I think that honor is not just earned by the coach; that is earned by a community and a program,” he said. “I am not too worried about individual awards; I think those come when you have a great program. I think we can continue to build a successful program with what we have, including all the fans, the boosters, all the administrators and faculty. If honors come to the players, to the school, or to me that will all a by-product to winning and doing things the right way.”

Beck has little time to get things ready for the upcoming season since classes start Aug. 19. Returning players as well as the incoming freshman are eager to meet the new head coach.

“I have a few scholarships left and I am going out to find the guys that can complement the returners,” Beck added. “Obviously, the first thing I did was get in contact with all of the players that are returning or that Coach Joyce signed and see if they are still on board. Everything has been very positive. I know Scott Bamforth is really excited and Scott informed me that Paco [Francisco Cruz] will be ready to go and ready to win a regional title.”

Bamforth and Cruz were the leading scorers a year ago for the Cougars, combining for over 1,100 points and 120 3-pointers made. WNCC finished last season with a 25-7 record, which was the best mark in Region IX.

The other thing that Beck has to do is complete a basketball schedule. He is hoping to fill with some top-notch teams. Beck already has been in contact with CSI, Midland College and Indian Hills Community College about scheduling games.

“I know the fans are eager to see great basketball and I would like to fill the gym,” he said. “I am not a believer in having too many all-star teams coming in to play us. I think a little bit of adversity early on makes us stronger in the end. I think when you play the best teams, you know where you are, and I think we are one of the best teams in the country. If WNCC is going to justify that, we need to go out and play some of the best teams in the country.”

“We also intend to put an emphasis on academics and will seek to help all our guys graduate and move on to play at the next level,” Beck added.

Beck will try to make a visit to Scottsbluff to start the building the foundation of a championship program later in the week.

“What a place to start my head coaching career at but Western Nebraska, which is one of the top five jobs in the country with great history and great tradition,” Beck commented. “They had great players come through the program. I am excited about the support the program has and getting out in the community and meeting people.

“We have a young family. My wife, Charity, and I have been married eight years and we have three children, two girls ages 6 and 3 [Leilani and Briana], and a brand new son, Ryker. We are looking to lay down some roots. We would like to be in Scottsbluff as long as we can and hang as many championship banners as we can here.”

WNCC's Balza tabbed Nebraska Female College Player of the Year

WNCC volleyball player Fatima Balza continues bringing the accolades after leading the Cougar volleyball team the past two years to two national tournament appearances.

The latest honor that Balza has be awarded is the Omaha World Herald's Female College Player of the Year. Balza earned the honor over countless other nominees from four- and two-year colleges in Nebraska.

It is also the first time a junior college player from Nebraska as received the Player of the Year honor. It is also the second straight year that someone with ties to western Nebraska received the honor. Last year, Doane Colleges Meagan Bauer, a Gering High graduate, was selected as the top college female.

The complete story, along with a picture of Balza at Penn State, where she will be playing volleyball next year, can be found on the Omaha World Herald website. Follow the following link to read all about Balza and her latest honor.

Click here for the complete story.

Past OWH Player of the Year Winners

2008: Meagan Bauer, Doane College
2007: Katie Kosmos, Doane College
2006: Erin Gudmundson, UNK
2005: Lindsey Bredar, Bellevue
2004: Steph Kirby, UNO
2003: Rochelle Schmidt, Doane College
2002: Kristie Korth, College of St. Mary
2001: Mary Livengood, Doane
2000: April Kockrow, Doane
1999: Darcie Berry, UNK
1998: Stacey Miller, Concordia
1997: Amy Steffel, UNO
1996: Denise Peterson, UNO
1995: Heidi Grappendorf, Dana
1994: Deb Baetsle, UNO
1993: Sandy Skradski, UNO
1992: Cindy Hays, Midland Lutheran
1991: Trudi Veerhusen, Doane
1990: Meri Nienkamp, Doane
1989: Linda Schnitzler, Wayne State
1988: Lori Briscoe, Midland Lutheran
1987: Beth Stuart, Kearney State
1983: Kari Kramme, Midland Lutheran

WNCC’s Groves selected NJCAA Academic All-American

Western Nebraska Community College softball player Katie Groves capped off her freshman season with another honor. This time, though, is not from the field, but in the classroom.

Groves earned Academic all-American honors from the National Junior College Athletic Association, earning a 3.67 grade point average last year.

To be considered an academic all-American, a student/athlete must have at least a 3.6 GPA. Students who have a 4.0 GPA earn Distinguished Academic all-American honors.

Groves also was selected as a third team NJCAA all-American honors as an infielder in June. Groves tied WNCC’s career home run record this season with 17 and broke the season home run record. She also led the team in RBIs (79), runs scored (77) and batting average (.525) this season. The Cougar softball team finished last season 42-18 and as Region IX conference co-champions.

Future Cougar volleyball player Hoehn leads team to win in all-star classic

From the Hastings Tribune as forwarded to WNCC

Brent McCown/Tribune Ashley Schmitz of Doniphan-Trumbull celebrates a point with libero Emily Hoehn of Kearney Catholic during the Tribune Volleyball Classic Thursday night in Lynn Farrell Arena at Hastings College

Madison Pernicek and Melanie Placke won’t officially be teammates for a few more months, but they seem to have the routine of playing together down to a science.
The two future Wayne State College teammates combined for 30 kills to lead the LouPlatte Conference to a 25-22, 25-18, 24-26, 15-25, 15-13 victory over the Tribland All-Stars in the inaugural Tribune Volleyball Classic Thursday at Lynn Farrell Arena.
St. Paul’s Placke posted a match-high 17 kills, while her future college roommate — Pernicek — added 13 kills in the five set victory.
“It’s nice playing with Melanie, because we have gotten the chemistry down and gotten to know each other and know each other’s tendencies,” Pernicek said. “When we go up to college, it will just fit.”
Pernicek, a 6-foot-0 outside hitter from Ravenna, had five of her 13 kills in the decisive fifth set, as the LouPlatte squad held off a strong comeback bid from the Tribland All-Stars.
The LouPlatte team took a 12-7 lead in the fifth set before the Tribland team scored six straight points and took a 13-12 lead on an ace serve by Minden’s Lindsey Sitorius.
Trailing for the first time in the fifth set, the LouPlatte squad reeled off three straight points to win the match — with Pernicek slamming the game winner.
“I think everybody is competitive, so believe me, even if it’s only one set, you don’t want to lose,” Pernicek said. “We wanted to win, so that feels good.”
The LouPlatte team overcame an early 15-12 deficit in the opening set to earn a 25-22 win and then took control of the match with a 25-18 win in the second set.
LouPlatte had match point at 24-22 in the third set before the Tribland team rallied to extend the match.
A Stasia Ott kill cut the lead to 24-23. After a pair of errors gave the Tribland team a 25-24 lead, Lawrence-Nelson’s Mackenzie McCartney forced a fourth set with a kill.
“I really felt like if we found a way to win a game, then maybe they would think they could actually win. When that happened, they did,” Tribland coach Ed Rowse of Minden said. “That is when the fun really started, because the kids just started to loosen up and play.”
The Tribland team took a 6-5 lead early in the fourth set and never trailed again on its way to a 25-15 win.
Giltner standout Stasia Ott had three kills during the fourth set and finished with a team-high 16 kills to lead the Tribland team.
The 2008 Tribland player of the year and Morningside College recruit also added five ace blocks and an ace serve.
“We just kind of loosened up and played,” Rowse said. “They made some errors that we had been making in the first two sets. It wasn’t always pretty volleyball, but I think we relaxed and played.”
The LouPlatte squad jumped to a 5-1 lead in the fifth set and led 12-7 before the Tribland team used a six-point run to take its first lead of the match.
“I was happy that we could come back and fight through to win that fifth set,” LouPlatte coach Abie Ott of Doniphan-Trumbull said. “We had two games in a row that we lagged a little bit. So to come back strong in the fifth was pretty admirable I think for them.”
Ravenna graduate Mallory Irvine added 11 kills for the LouPlatte squad, while high school teammate Ashley Kulwicki finished with eight kills.
Hastings High graduate and Hastings College recruit Allison Kern had nine kills for the Tribland team, while Deshler’s Ashley Dahl and Hastings High’s Taylor Powers each added eight kills.
In its first year, the event raised about $1,000 for the Hastings Family YMCA.

Tribland 22 18 26 25 13
LouPlatte 25 25 24 15 15

44 girls from three states take part in WNCC girl's basketball camp

The Western Nebraska Community College girl’s basketball camp saw nearly 50 girls learn the skills of basketball from shooting, ball handling, conditioning and offensive and defensive situations during a four-day basketball camp at Cougar Palace Monday through Thursday.

There were 44 girls that took part in the camp, ranging in age from six years old to 14. Girls from Omaha, Rapid City, S.D., and many Panhandle communities such as Chappell, Oshkosh, Bayard, Mitchell, Bridgeport, Hemingford, Gering and Scottsbluff, to name a few took part.

The three local women’s basketball players – Hemingford’s Shelby Campbell, Bayard’s Amber Kistler and Scottsbluff’s Maddie Keller helped with the camp along with WNCC women’s coaches Dave Harnish and Jennifer Pedersen, and WNCC men’s assistant coach Gianno Bianconi.

Next week the boys basketball camp will take place as Bianconi along, with Gering High graduate and Kody Christensen, who is now coaching at Fremont, will conduct the camp. Boys interested in attending the camp can still register for the camp on Monday. The boys camp runs through Thursday.

Former WNCC baseball player, Miami-Dade police officer killed while on duty

Gonzalez played for Cougars from 2004-05

For the complete story, visit the Miami Herald Newspaper at http://www.miamiherald.com/news/breaking-news/story/1099398.html

Former Western Nebraska Community College baseball player Giovanni Gonzalez was killed in an automobile accident on Tuesday in Miami.

Gonzalez, 23, was a Miami-Dade police officer. He died after his police car collided with a dump truck on Florida’s Turnpike. Rescuers worked to free Gonzalez, who was trapped in the wreckage. But by the time they pulled him out, it was too late. He was pronounced dead at the scene. Miami police continue to investigate the accident.

Gonzalez played baseball at WNCC during the 2004-05 season.

WNCC baseball coach Mike Jones remembers Gonzalez as a student-athlete that everyone enjoyed being around.

“As a person, he was awesome. He was a great individual and he was a very, very hard-working individual,” Jones said. “He was a little bit undersized for a college baseball guy, but he made up for his size with his big heart.”

After returning home to Miami, Gonzalez coached high school baseball before graduating from the police academy.

“It is terrible. It is tragic. It is tough for all of us,” Jones said. “There have been a lot of phone calls and text messages going on with between everybody that has been involved with Giovanni and our program. He was a great teammate and a great individual to have in the program.”

WNCC boys basketball camp still slated to be held beginning June 22

The Western Nebraska Community College boys basketball camp scheduled for June 22-25 will still take place, despite the resignation of head coach Brian Joyce.

The camp, open to boys from kindergarten through the 12^th grade, will be conducted by WNCC assistant coach Gianno Bianconi and former WNCC and Gering High graduate Kody Christensen. Christensen is now an assistant coach at Sidney High School. Bianconi came to WNCC in 2003 and played under former Cougar head coach Ron Brillhart. During Bianconi’s playing days at WNCC, the Cougars were ranked No. 1 in the country for several weeks.

The camp will feature boys in Kindergarten through 8^th grade attending from 9-11:30 a.m., and then high school-aged boys attending from 1-3:30 p.m. for four days.

Camp registrations can be downloaded from the Cougar athletic website at sports.wncc.edu, picked up at different locations around Scottsbluff and Gering, picked up at the college. For more information contact athletic director Jennifer Pedersen at Pedersen@wncc.net or call the athletic department at 308-635-6151.

Three area Cougar basketball players set to help with girl's basketball camp that begins June 15

The Western Nebraska Community College girl’s basketball camp that begins Monday, June 15 will have a local flavor as the three area Cougar basketball players will help with the camp.

Bayard’s Amber Kistler, Hemingford’s Shelby Campbell and Scottsbluff’s Maddie Keller will help WNCC women’s basketball coaches Dave Harnish and Jennifer Pedersen direct the camp. The three players will be members of the Cougar team next season. Kistler will be a sophomore for the Cougar's next season, while Campbell and Keller will be freshmen.

Harnish said there is still are openings for the camp and still time to pre-register. Also, registration will take place Monday, the first day of camp, at 8:30 a.m. The camp runs from 9-12 noon, Monday through Thursday at Cougar Palace. The camp is open to girls from first to eighth grade.

Download a registration form at sports.wncc.edu or contact Harnish at 308-635-6027 or dharnish@wncc.net.

WNCC men's basketball coach Brian Joyce resigns to take assistant coaching position at Liberty University

In just two seasons at the helm of the Western Nebraska Community College men’s basketball team, Brian Joyce has turned the program around.

Now, Joyce will get the opportunity to contribute to another quality program in Lynchburg, Va., after accepting an assistant coaching position at Liberty University.

“The people in this community, the administration at the school and the dorm parents have really embraced our family as well as our team and for that we are grateful,” Joyce said. “It has been an honor to serve as the head coach at Western Nebraska and in the Scottsbluff community. Our family will miss the relationships through the church, Community Christian School and within the community. God truly blessed us with the opportunity to be with the people in this area. “

WNCC athletic director Jennifer Pedersen understands why Joyce is leaving.

“As a department, we are saddened at the loss of Coach Joyce to Liberty University,” she said. “While we understand the goals that each coach has to achieve at a higher level of intercollegiate athletics, we will still miss his presence on campus and in the community. We wish him well with his new endeavor. As a department, we will work hard to bring in a coach that will continue the winning tradition Coach Joyce has brought back to WNCC.”

Last season, Joyce helped lead the Cougars to one of its best seasons in the last decade. The Cougars finished 25-7 with the best record in Region IX. WNCC also won the East Sub-region and won 21 of their last 25 games. The Cougars also received votes in the NJCAA national polls the last three weeks of the season.

“My goal when my family and I came to WNCC and Scottsbluff was to re-establish the program as one of the premier programs again in Region IX,” Joyce said. “Even though we didn’t accomplish our ultimate goal of winning the region, we definitely proved that WNCC is a force once again in Region IX. Finishing with the best regular season record in the region is an example of the strides we made. These strides would have been impossible without the support of our boosters and most importantly our players. Coaches receive opportunities because players are dedicated to the program. These strides and relationships are a major reason why this is such a difficult decision for me and my family. “

Joyce has experienced plenty of success at the junior college level. Joyce has a 138-59 record as a head coach at WNCC and Northeastern Junior College. Overall, Joyce has over 11 years of college coaching experience, including a stop at Colorado State University and the University of Central Oklahoma as an assistant coach.

Colorado State is where Joyce met current Liberty coach Dale Layer. Layer served as the head coach at Colorado State before serving as an assistant coach at Liberty University in 2007-08 and last season Layer was an assistant coach at NCAA participant and Big East powerhouse, Marquette University. Layer was named Liberty’s head coach in April. Last season, Liberty finished 23-12 and fell in the quarterfinals of the conference tournament.

Joyce said he was offered the job and needed a few days to think about the position, since it will be hard to leave the Midwest for the Eastern states. Joyce is originally from Albuquerque, N.M., while his wife (Tina) is from Castle Rock, Colo.

“We are excited about the next phase of our life, both professionally and personally,” he said. “I have enjoyed the privilege of working with young people who enter college from high school with both anxiety and ambition. Helping them move toward the goal of moving on to a four-year school both athletically and academically has been extremely rewarding. I am equally excited now to see the development of our student-athletes come to fruition by helping them complete the educational cycle by finishing a four-year degree and moving on to the important phase of becoming husbands, fathers, and mentors after graduating and completing their eligibility.”

A search for a WNCC men’s basketball coach will begin immediately.

Bytes Computer wins WNCC Golf Classic

More photos of the event will be located at http://wncccougars.albumpost.com/golfclassic

Twenty-eight teams took part in the 6^th annual Western Nebraska Community College Cougar Golf Classic held Saturday at the Monument Shadows Golf Course in Gering.

The Bytes Computer team of Darrell Lewis, Doug Rupp, Mark Payne and Todd Lewis took home first place in the tournament, collecting the $400 gift certificate to the pro shop.

Second place went to NTC (Phil Holiday, Jared Ross, Greg Trautman, and Brooks Batt), while the WNCC team (Dave Groshans, Dick Douglas, Junior Alvarez and James Chacon) took third.

Fourth went to the Beardogs, the all-female team of Stacy Mitchell, Wendy Goos, Stacy Celli and Joy Arnold, while fifth place went to Roy’s Plumbing and Heating (Roy Robles, Tim Rojas, Rob Robles and Larry Yarnall).

WNCC athletic director Jennifer Pedersen said the golf tournament went well.

“2009 was another excellent year for the Cougar Golf Classic. The weather was good and it was apparent that all of the golfers had a good time,” she said. “We all really appreciate how well the community supports this event and we look forward to another perfect tournament next year.”

Besides team awards, the golfers had an opportunity to win prizes at different holes. The winners of the hole prized included:

Hole 4, Longest Drive – Ron Robles; Hole 10, women’s longest drive, Brooke Dollarhide; Hole 18, Men’s longest putt, Ron Robles; Hole 2, women’s longest put – Becky Randall; Hole 5, closest to the pin in 2 – Matt Filbert; Hole 9, Closest to the water – Stacy Mitchell; Hole 12, closest to the sand – John Einfalt; Hole 8, men’s shortest drive – Tony Branson; Hole 15, women’s shortest drive – Rhonda Roth; Hole 13, Closest to the pin in 1 – Jeremy Dollarhide.

Ashton Hughes celebrated a sweet 16 in championship, headed to WNCC

From the Regina Leader Post Tuesday edition, June 02, 2009

Ashton Hughes celebrated a sweet 16 on Monday.

She struck out 16 Riffel Royals batters in seven innings to power the Balfour Redmen to a 3-1 victory in the Regina High Schools Athletic Association's large schools softball final at Kaplan Field.

"She was phenomenal,'' said Balfour catcher Carmen Hughes, who is Ashton's sister. "Under so much pressure, she does well all the time.''

Ashton Hughes allowed only four hits and one walk while registering a victory in her final high school softball game. She is destined for Western Nebraska Community College in Scottsbluff, Neb.

"She has been the biggest role model in my life, just with the positive influence she gives me,'' said Carmen Hughes, who is in Grade 9. "She's going off to college and she has given me that extra boost to shoot for what I want and now I know that it is attainable.''

For the rest of the story, visit the Regina Leader-Post at Leader Post Sports

Baseball camp features 90 campers

The Western Nebraska Community College camp season kicked off today, June 1, with 90 boys taking part in the Cougar Baseball Camp at the 23 Club diamonds in Scottsbluff. It is the most players in attendance in the seven years the camp has been held.

The first day of camp went through fundamentals of throwing, fielding grounders, catching fly balls, batting and short games. The camp will focus on more aspects of the game the rest of the week. The camp runs through Thursday from 9-12 noon.

The camp is being conducted by WNCC coach Mike Jones, WNCC assistant coach Ryan Burgener, Gering junior legion baseball coach and WNCC athletic trainer Doug Jones, and WNCC and Gering players Elvis Garcia, Carlos Palamo and Ben Wolf.

Players still can attend the camp if they want on Tuesday.

Camp photos can be viewed at wncccougars.albumpost.com/oddsends01

WNCC will host six volleyball camps in July

Western Nebraska Community College volleyball coach Giovani Melo will be conducting six different volleyball camps during the month of July.

The volleyball camp session will kick off July 1 and 2 with the Little Cougars Camp for 4^th through 6^th grade girls. This camp will run from 8:30-11:30 a.m. and from 12:30-3:30 p.m. The cost of the camp is $60 per camper.

The next camps will be individual skills camps. The first skills camp is for girls in grades 7^th and 8^th and will run July 7-8. The second skills camp will be held July 14-15 and that camp is for girls in the 9^th to 12^th grades. These camps are just $60 per camper and both will run from 8:30-11:30 a.m. and 12:30-3:30 p.m.

There will also be two setter/hitter camps. The first of these specialty camps is set for July 9-10 for girls in 6^th through 9^th grades. The second setter/hitter camp, for high school-aged girls, will be held July 16-18. The cost of the setter/hitter camps is $80 per camper. These camps will run from 8:30 a.m.-11:30 a.m. and from 12:30-3:30 p.m.

The final camp will be a junior varsity and varsity team camp July 30 and 31. This camp will include competition between teams beginning at 8 a.m. each day. The cost of the camp is $30 per player and each team needs at least six players to participate. The camp will involve pool play the first day and then bracketed play the second day.

Interested girls can register one of two ways for the six volleyball camps. Participants can register online at www.wnccvolleyball.com or download a camp registration from the WNCC athletic website at sports.wncc.net.

For more information on the camps, individuals can contact Melo at 308-635-6028 or at melog@wncc.net.

WNCC soccer camps set for July 20-24

Western Nebraska Community College soccer coach Todd Rasnic will conduct a week-long soccer camp for recreational and advanced, competitive players July 20-24.

The camps, open to all ages, will be held at the Landers Soccer Complex in Scottsbluff. Recreational players will take to the field from 9 a.m. to 12 noon all five days. The advanced or competitive player camp will be held from 5:30 – 8:30 p.m. There will also be a camp for youngsters ages 8 and under from 9-11 a.m.

The cost of the camp is $90 per camper for one session or $160 for both sessions. The 8-under camp is just $75 per camper. Registrants will receive a camp T-shirt and/or a camp ball.

The recreational players camp will be aimed to help players of all ages with their soccer abilities in a fun and creative atmosphere. The evening camp will help soccer players in a more competitive arena and will be more intense in nature.

Individuals may register for the camp online at www.wnccsoccer.com. Camp registrations can also be picked up WNCC, Sports Village, or downloaded from the Cougar athletic website at sports.wncc.edu.

For more information on the camp, contact Rasnic at rasnict@wncc.net or at 308-635-6150.

WNCC basketball recruits ready to compete in Saturday's Panhandle Prep all-star game at Cougar Palace

Hemingford’s Shelby Campbell, Scottsbluff’s Madison Keller and Mullen’s Taylor Puttergill never played together or against each other on a team in high school.

Saturday night, the three will change all that as the Panhandle Prep All-star basketball game will take center stage at Western Nebraska Community College. The girl’s game tips off at 5:30 p.m. with the boy’s game to follow.

The three all-stars will also be playing on the floor that they will call home next fall when they enroll at Western Nebraska Community College and become a part of the Cougar women’s basketball program. The three, however, are not teammates in the all-star classic. Campbell and Keller are members of the Gold team, while Puttergill is a member of the Blue team.

The all-star classic will be a chance for them to get ready for the college season and see a little bit about their upcoming teammates.

“I am very excited to be playing in this game and I think it will be an experiment, a lesson, and a good learning experience [for next year],” Campbell , who scored over 1,100 points for the Bobcats, said. “It is sad knowing this is it for my high school career, but I know I will be playing throughout college. It is just like when one chapter closes, one more opens. I will be sad, but I will carry on from it.”

Puttergill, a 5-10 wing player, is excited that she gets the chance to play in this all-star classic.

“I was really excited that they invited me to come,” Puttergill, who averaged 19.3 points and finished with 1,137 career points, said. “This is a good experience especially with the different classes here combined. It will be a good experience for all of us.”

Keller, unlike Campbell and Puttergill who haven’t played at Cougar Palace before, is ready

“I am ready to play in the game and it will be fun,” the Scottsbluff graduate said. “It is the last chance to play with the high school girls and some of my friends.”

The teams should be pretty balanced. The Gold team, what they lack in height, make up for with speed and tenacity on defense.

“We have pretty good talent,” Keller said. “We have some good shooters and we are pretty fast and we are athletic. We are little short, though.”

The other think Keller needs to worry about Is going against her former teammate DaNae Quijas, who is a member of the Blue squad.

“That is going to be the hardest part because we get after each other on the court,” she said. “But we will see what happens. I know her strengths and weaknesses. She also knows mine, so there are drawbacks.”

Campbell said height doesn’t matter in an all-star game, it is the heart and the drive that counts the most.

“We are short, but that is OK. We are up tempo. We have a couple of tall girls that know how to post up,” she said. “I have a wonderful group of girls to work with, and it seems like we will have an awesome team. I think it will be great and a fun time.”

Puttergill’s all-star team will definitely have the height advantage five girls 5-10 or taller, including Chadron’s 6-4 Kelsie Lliteras, who is headed to North Carolina State next year, and 6-1 Alyssa Norton, who will do volleyball and track at Chadron State.

“We definitely have quite a bit of height and they wouldn’t be here if they weren’t an all-star,” she said. “I think everybody has pretty good talent. We will all put it together and I think it will be a good game.”

Puttergill loves basketball so much that she is actually giving up her second love this weekend, rodeo.

“I am actually missing a rodeo for the Panhandle Prep all-star game,” she said. “I like rodeo, too, but basketball is my first love and I will choose it over Rodeo.”

After the game, the three will then have a couple months off before heading back to WNCC to begin their college careers for the Cougars. All three are excited for that chapter in their life. Keller said that she can’t wait to begin those college workouts.
“I won’t really have any time off,” she said, because I have to work out for the Cougar team.”

The other two are also excited to be playing for the Cougars.

“I chose WNCC because they have a really good basketball program and Coach [Dave] Harnish has a reputation that speaks for himself,” Puttergill said. “I am pumped up to play for WNCC and Harnish. I don’t have words for it. I am just pretty lucky.”

Campbell is also pumped to putting on the blue and gold of the Cougars for the next two years.

“It has always been my dream since I was a seventh-grader to play here [on Cougar Palace],” Campbell, the 5-4 four-year starter at Hemingford, said. “I never got to fulfill my dream in that in high school, so this all-star game is the first time playing on this court.”

For Campbell, her decision to come to WNCC was a pretty easy one.

“I actually decided to come to WNCC because it has a good basketball program and it is far enough to be close to home, if that makes any sense,” she said. “It is also a good place to start, a good foundation and the coaching is really good. All together it is a really good school.”

Campbell realizes that it won’t be easy, but she has the work ethic to succeed. Her long-term goal next year is to finish her career at WNCC the same way she finished her high school career, scoring over 1,000 career points.

“I would love to do that at the college level,” she said. “It is just doing it that will count. I just have to work double hard because the college level is a lot different and more up tempo. I am just very excited to become a Cougar and get a feel of the court this weekend. This is going to be my future home. I am going to give it my all [today] and just give an insight of what will be happening [for the next two years].”

WNCC hosts girl's, boy's basketball camps in June

Western Nebraska Community College will hold girl’s and boy’s basketball camps during the separate weeks in June at Cougar Palace.

WNCC women’s basketball coach Dave Harnish will kick off his camp June 15-18 for girls in grades first through eighth. The camp will run from 9 a.m. until noon. The cost is $50 per camper and includes a T-shirt.

Harnish said the camp is designed to give campers a competitive opportunity to develop the fundamental skills of basketball. The camp will teach the camper basics such as passing, shooting, dribbling and pivoting.

Harnish, along with assistant coach Jennifer Pedersen and former and current Cougar players will instruct the camp.

WNCC men’s basketball coach Brian Joyce’s basketball camp will be held June 22-25 at Cougar Palace. The cost is $70 with a T-shirt if a camper is pre-registered, and $75 at the door.

The camp is open for boys from kindergarten to 12^th grade. Boys from Kindergarten through 8^th grade will attend from 9-11:30 a.m., while the older campers will attend from 1-3:30 p.m. The format of the camp will be similar to what the Cougar players go through for player development and practices.

Joyce said the camp is designed to give campers a competitive opportunity to develop the fundamental skills of basketball. The camp will teach and focus on basic skills of basketball. The camp will involve different stations with individuals going through drills to mold and enhance their game.

The camp will be instructed by Joyce, his assistant Gianno Biaconi, and former and current Cougar players.

For more information on the camps, contact Joyce at 308-635-6780 or joyceb2@wnc.net, Harnish at 308-635-6027 or dharnish@wncc.net, or download camp registration forms from the WNCC athletic website at sports.wncc.edu.

WNCC hosts Cougar Golf Classic on June 6

The Western Nebraska Community College athletic department will be holding a Cougar Golf Classic Saturday, June 6 at the Monument Shadows Golf Course in Gering.

This year’s golf tournament will be a four-person scramble. Registration is $60 per person and includes green fees, cart and lunch. There will be a payout for first, second and third place. Each team will also receive a group picture with Scotts Bluff National monument in the background. The Golf Classic is open to the first 36 teams with an 8 a.m. shotgun start.

All proceeds benefit the Ron Brillhart Scholarship fund at WNCC.

To register for the Cougar Golf Classic, contact athletic director Jennifer Pedersen at 308-635-6798 or email at Pedersen@wncc.net. Registration forms can also be picked up at Monument Shadows Golf Course.

Balza, Cruz take top awards at WNCC athletic banquet

For more photos, go to http://wncccougars.albumpost.com/bluffs

Western Nebraska Community College’s Fatima Balza and Francisco Cruz picked up the top awards at the WNCC athletic banquet Sunday evening at Cougar Place.

Balza earned the female athlete of the year honor as well as the picking up the Most Valuable Player award for the volleyball team. Balza, a sophomore, will graduate May 16 and will head to Penn State University to play volleyball.

Cruz, a freshman, earned the male athlete of the year award. Cruz averaged nearly 16 points a game for the Cougar men’s basketball team last year, while leading the team in rebounds and 3-point percentage.

Athletic director Jennifer Pedersen said both athletes demonstrated character on and off the court. What Cruz does on and off the court should be something the young people can look up to.

“Every single young man comes through this program with hopes and dreams of where they want to end up in life. This is just a stepping stone of where they want to go,” she said. “So, I went out to the community and asked them what kids that have been here, been in your school, what kids have stayed late after a game and talked to parents, fans and signed autographs. What kid have come in and shot, or been at the field, longer. I wanted a student athlete that came here and hasn’t given us any trouble and is the epitome of what I want a student-athlete to become.”

Cruz was humbled by the honor.

“The award surprised be a lot because I didn’t expect it and I just felt great when I got it,” he said. “I really didn’t think I was going to get the award. I just want thank everybody for what they do for me and how they talk about me. I just want to thank everyone that supports me and the team.”

Cruz said the team does a lot of community work, something which he enjoys.

“We go and play with kids and eat with kids. We try to show everyone how much we appreciate everybody.”

As for Balza, she, too, was pleasantly shocked to receive both honors.

“it was a surprise for me,” she said. “Every effort I did for my team and every goal we reached together was not only for me, but for the team because I could not have made it without my team. It is for them that I get the MVP and if it wasn’t, I would have never got it.”

Balza enjoyed this season a lot more than her freshman year when they won the national championship

“I am really, really happy with everything I have done this year and everything we did. I am happy with my team, the coaches, and every single person that helped us,” she said. “I have to say that even last season when we won the national championship, that this year I am happier of the third place that we got this year because we were like a team and did everything together.

Volleyball coach Giovana Melo described Balza as an athlete that became like the mother of the team in helping them to a third place finish at the national tournament.

“I sat down with her once before we started and told her I was going to give her a role,” Melo said. “I said your role is to be a leader and get them to work hard, and do everything you possible can do to get this team prepared. I promise you that I will give you whatever it takes to make the team and you better. She is now going to one of the best volleyball programs in the country.”

All seven sports presented its MVP and Cougar Pride winners.

MVP winners included Balza in volleyball, Scott Bamforth in men’s basketball, Shaquilah Davis in women’s basketball, Josh Parker in baseball, Katie Groves in softball, Cesar Bazana in men’s soccer, and Terri Huntington in women’s soccer.

Cougar Pride winners included Gering’s Brooke BlomenKamp in volleyball, Chris Hamblin in men’s basketball, Tawny Drexler in women’s basketball, Brittany Chacon in softball, Elvis Garcia in baseball, Mark Zigray in men’s soccer, and Jaime Gastelle in women’s soccer.

Each of the coaches had good things to say about each Cougar Pride winner. Melo was very honored to give the honor to a Gering High graduate.

“Brooke has probably has 300 questions every single day. It is like question, question, question and I am not kidding,” Melo said. “She loves WNCC and loves wearing WNCC colors. She definitely is the pride of our team. She does not realize it, but she keeps this team together with her personality and the way she acts not just on the court but outside the court.”

Academic honors were also presented. The top grade point average for a female athlete belonged to Casey Simpson, of Nokomis, Saskatchewan, while the top GPA for a male athlete went to Ryan Dawson, of Front Royal, Venezuela. Dawson is a member of the men’s soccer team, while Simpson was a pitcher on the softball team.

The top team GPA academic awards went to the softball team for the fifth straight year.

The Cougar Award, an all-campus award which honors an athlete for his academics and community work, went to men’s basketball player Saul Torres, a freshman.

The Patron of the Year honors went to FBG Services and Carr-Trumbull Lumber.

Before the awards, Trisha Downing, the first female paraplegic to complete an Iron distance triathlon, talked about not giving up. Downing said that when she was competing in a half-marathon in Texas to qualify for the Ironman triathlon in Hawaii, she willed herself to finish the race. She finished in 8 hours, 29 minutes and the qualifying mark for the full triathlon was 8 hours, 30 minutes.

She said that there were many times, climbing up those steep hills in Texas, that she stopped and cried and said, “go get the car. I can’t do it.” She realized, from support from others helping her, that they didn’t want her to give up. That is why, or motto in every race is “it is not over until it is over.”

Since her car/bicycle accident in 2000, she had competed in 13 marathons and a variety of triathlons. She used a special hand bike to compete in the races and was named the Colorado Sportswomen of the year in 2007.

Complete List
Volleyball
Most Valuable Player – Fatima Balza, Merida, Venezuela
Cougar Pride – Brooke Blomenkamp, Gering, Neb.
Men’s Soccer
Most Valuable Player – Cesar Bazana, Americana, Brazil
Cougar Pride – Mark Zigray, Windsor, Colo.
Women’s Soccer
Most Valuable Player – Terri Huntington, Bluffdale, Utah
Cougar Pride – Jaime Gastelle, Ft. Collins, Colo.
Men’s Basketball
Most Valuable Player – Francisco Cruz, Nogales, Mexico (Abe Lincoln High in Denver)
Cougar Pride – Chris Hamblin, St. Paul., Minn.
Women’s Basketball
Most Valuable Player – Shaquilah Davis, Denver, Colo.
Cougar Pride – Tawny Drexler, Golden, Colo.
Baseball
Most Valuable Player – Josh Parker, Canberra, Australia
Cougar Pride – Elvis Garcia, Miami, Fla.
Softball
Most Valuable Player – Katie Groves, Bluffdale, Utah
Cougar Pride – Brittany Chacon, Broomfield, Colo.

WNCC baseball camp set for June 1-4

Western Nebraska Community College will hold a summer baseball camp June 1-4 at the 23 Club Diamonds in Scottsbluff.

The four-day camp will run from 9 a.m. to 12 noon and costs just $40 per camper before May 26 and $55 after the early registration.

The camp will be an excellent opportunity for youngsters to learn the game of baseball. The camp will include instruction on hitting, throwing, fielding and pitching, along with actual game play during the camp.

The camp will be instructed by WNCC baseball coach Mike Jones, his assistants and former/current coaches.

Registration forms can be downloaded at sports.wncc.net. For more information on the camp or to request a camp registration flyer, contact Jones at jonesm@wncc.net or (308) 635-6198.

WNCC baseball season comes to a close with two losses to NJC in regional playoffs

The Western Nebraska Community College baseball team knew they needed to play well against a red-hot Northeastern Junior College to get by the first round of the Region IX playoffs Sunday at Cleveland Field.

In the early going, WNCC hung with NJC only to see the Plainsmen come storming back to capture a doubleheader sweep. The Cougars fell in the opening game 12-6 after watching NJC score eight times in the eighth and ninth inning. NJC closed out the 2-out-of-3 series by dropping the Cougars 9-3 in the second game. NJC advances to play Trinidad State Junior College this weekend in Trinidad, Colo. Trinidad needed three games to dispose of Lamar Community College, winning the if-necessary game 10-4.

“NJC is playing really well,” WNCC coach Mike Jones said. “They are very aggressive at the plate right now. They are playing with a lot of confidence and I wish them the best of luck.”

WNCC, however, hung with the Plainsmen in both games holding a 6-4 lead through seven innings in game one.

“I thought we played a decent ball game in the first game. We pitched really well in the first game and we got a couple really big hits in the first inning and we were able to jump out to a lead early,” Jones said. “We went to the bull pen late in the game and let the game get away from us.

“We also had a chance in the second game, even though we gave up four in the first inning on just one hit. We came out in game two and made some key mistakes on defense and it wasn’t a lack of hustle or lack of focus; it was just one of those things where we ran into each other, through a ball of balance and gave them some runs early. I thought we fought back really well. We had a chance in about the sixth inning to get another run on the board. We just came up a little short.”

WNCC definitely was in striking range of claiming one, or even both games. In the opening game, the Cougars scored four times on four hits to take a 4-0 lead all with two outs. WNCC had four straight singles from Oscar Rodriguez, Shane Wade, Trace Marsden and Brady Sanchez to the early lead.

The Cougars watched NJC slice the lead to 4-3 after five innings. WNCC rebounded, scoring once in the sixth and seventh to lead 6-4. Rodriquez had a solo home run in the sixth inning, while Jared Baros doubled and scored on a Josh Parker single in the seventh.

The Cougars couldn’t hold the lead in the final two innings. NJC scored seven 8^th-inning runs on five hits to take an 11-6 lead. The Plainsmen added another run in the ninth as Scott Dalrymple homered to double up the Cougars.

Matt Klein picked up the win for NJC, throwing a complete game. Klein scattered eight hits, while striking out 15 Cougar batters. Rodil Martinez took the loss, throwing just a 1/3 of an inning in relief of Tim Kupfner. Kupfner threw a strong seven innings, scattering eight hits and striking out one, while throwing 79 pitches.

Rodriquez and Parker each finished the game with two hits. Rodriguez went 2-for-4 with two runs scored and a home run, while Parker went 2-for-5 with a run scored, RBI and a double.

NJC jumped on WNCC quickly in game two, scoring four times in the first inning on two hits. The big blow was a double by Rhett Morgan. NJC went up 5-0 threw 4 ½ innings before WNCC made a comeback, slicing the lead to 5-3 in the bottom of half of the fourth.

Anthony Paniagua started things with a one-out single. Alex Arias, Wade and Marsden all followed with singles to cut the deficit to two runs.

In the meantime, starting pitcher Ben Doran settled down after the 4-run first inning, allowing just one run over the next five innings, while allowing just four hits and striking out four. NJC added two insurance runs in the seventh and ninth inning off of Cougar relievers, including a 2-run home run by Dalyrmple.

The Cougars also couldn’t find an answer to NJC pitchers Luke Oeltjenbruns and Trevor Lundgren. Oeltjenbruns threw seven masterful innings, striking out five and allowing nine hits. Then, Lundgren closed out the game, striking out three and allowing just two hits.

Doran suffered the loss on the mound.

WNCC managed 11 hits in the contest, but couldn’t string enough together to get rallies going. Parker finished 2-for-5 with two singles, while Wade went 3-for-4 with a runs scored, a RBI and three singles. Baros also had two hits, going 2-for-4 with two singles.

WNCC finishes the season at 25-29 and made the Region IX playoffs after falling short of the post season a year ago. Jones said they had a very young team on the field Sunday, which bodes well for next year.

“It was an extremely young ball club that was out there,” Jones said. “They got a lot of experience throughout the course of the season. Now they have a Region IX playoff day under their belt. We have a lot of room to grow and having all the experience will only help.”

First Game

NJC 011 010 171 – 12 15 2

WNCC 400 001 100 – 6 8 3

WP – Matt Klein, LP – Rodil Martinez; 2B – WNCC (Jared Baros), NJC (Jonathon Crews, Billy McHenry); HR – WNCC (Oscar Rodriguez), NJC (Scott Dalrymple).

Second Game

NJC 400 100 202 – 9 10 1

WNCC (25-29) 000 300 000 – 3 11 4

WP – Luke Oeljenbruns, LP – Ben Doran; 2B – NJC (Rhett Morgan); HR – NJC (Scott Dalrymple).

WNCC softball ends season at regionals

TRINIDAD, Colo – The Western Nebraska Community College softball team came up short of a repeat regional title falling in a heart-breaker to Trinidad State Junior College 7-6.

The Cougars, never-the-less, put on a good show after falling in their opener on Friday. The Cougars opened Saturday by dropping Dawson Community College 11-6. WNCC followed that with a 13-6 thumping of Lamar Community College as Stephanie Townsend had six RBIs and two home runs.

WNCC sophomore pitcher Kelsey Garner said it is a disheatening way to end the season, but they had a good season, finishing 42-17.

“I am really proud of our team,” Garner said. “We fought back the whole way, whether we were down, we just kept fighting back and didn’t let anyone stop us.”

“I think we had a pretty up and down season but we started to get more ups then downs in the end and that was nice. It just really sucks to end this way because I don’t think any of us expected it.”

WNCC did flex its offensive muscles Saturday, hitting five home runs. Against Dawson, though, they scored 11 runs on just eight hits – all singles.

Dawson struck first with a solo home run in the first inning. WNCC bounced back scoring three times in the second and six times in the fourth to take a 9-1 lead. In the fourth, the Cougars had five straight singles and then Megan Burditt had a 2-RBI hit that cleared the bases.

Katie Groves and Brittany Chacon each had two hits. Groves went 2-for-3 with three RBIs, while Chacon was 2-for-3 with three RBIs as well.

Casey Simpson picked up the win, allowing five runs on 10 hits and striking out two. Stephanie Townsend recorded the save allowng one run and striking out one.

In the contest against Lamar, WNCC took it to the Runnin’ Lopes early, scoring five times in the first inning. Groves opened things with a triple and then Megan Burditt reached on an error and Adena Hagen walked to load the bases. Townsend ripped a 2 run scoring single. Later, Alyssa Hickey scored two runs on a double and then Garner had a run-scoring double for the 5-0 lead.

WNCC added three more runs the second to go up 8-0. Groves led off with her 16^th home run of the season, which breaks the season record of home runs that was set by Kari Marsico in 2006. Hagen then had a 1-out double and then Townsend crushed a pitch over the fence to score two runs.

Townsend connected on another 2-run home run in the fourth when she drove a pitch over the rightfield fence for a 11-3 lead. WNCC added two more runs in the sixth as Kelly Pearson walked followed by a single by Gomes. Tonya Atencio and Chacon also had singles in the inning.

WNCC finished the game with 16 hits, including nine that were extra-base variety. Townsend went 3-for-4 with six RBIs, three runs scored and two home runs. Groves went 2-for-3 with a triple, home run, and two runs scored.

Also collecting multiple hits were Hagen (2-for-3 with three runs scored and a double), Gomez (2-for-2 with a double and run scored), and Chacon (3-for-4 with a run scored and a RBI).

Garner picked up the win, going six innings and allowing six runs on eight hits. Garner struck out four.

WNCC continued hitting in the last game against Trinidad, falling in a heartbreaker. WNCC took a 2-0 lead in the first as Burditt walked and then scored on a Townsend 2-run home run. Trinidad answered with a solo home in the first to cut the lead to 2-1.

WNCC added a single run in the second before Trinidad took a 4-3 lead in the third inning with three runs on four hits. The Cougars quickly retook the lead in the fourth inning. Chacon reached base after getting hit by a pitch. Then Groves hit her 17^th home run of the season, tying the career record set by Lauren Mills last season with a 2-run shot.

The Cougars added a single run in the fifth as Garner had a one-out single. Chacon was then hit by a pitch and then Groves was intentionally walked to load the bases. Burditt then scored a run after she was walked to put WNCC up 6-4.

Trinidad tied the game in the fifth with a 2-run home run and then won the game in the sixth with a single run on just one hit.

Groves finished the game 1-for-3 with two runs scord, a home run and two RBIs, while Townsend was 2-for-4 with a home runs and two RBIs.

Garner said it is tough too swollow right now, that their season has come to an end.

“It is really hard because we will never wear this jersey again,” she said. “We are not going to play with any of these people again and be coached by them again. It is hard to go away with a loss like that.”

First Game
Dawson 100 040 1 – 6 13 1
WNCC 030 611 x – 11 8 0
WP – Simpson, S – Townsend; 2B – WNCC (Sofia Gomez); HR – Dawson (Brittany Ceaser (2), Amanda Morris, jessica Stevens (2).

Second Game
Lamar 003 021 – 6 8 1
WNCC 531 202 – 13 16 0
WP – Garner; 2B – WNCC (Hagen 2, Hickey, Gomez, Pearson); Lamar (Maddie Maestas, Kayla Bruner, jessica Eddleman); 3B – WNCC (Groves); HR – WNCC (Groves, Townsend 2).

Third Game
WNCC 210 210 0 – 6 7 1
Trinidad 103 021 x – 7 9 1
LP – Simpson; 2B – Trinidad (Leah Hanson); HR – WNCC (Groves, Townsend), Trinidad (Tanisha Bradford, Nikole Morgan).

WNCC softball falls at Regional Tournament, will play Dawson Saturday at noon

TRINIDAD, Colo. – The Western Nebraska Community College softball team left 13 runners on base as Otero Junior College upended the defending Region IX champions 8-2 in the first round of the Region IX tournament in Trinidad, Colo., Friday.

The Cougars, who managed six hits in the contest, will need to battle their way through the loser’s bracket and win five straight games to capture the regional title. WNCC will now face Dawson Community College, a 4-2 victim to Trinidad State Junior College earlier in the day, Saturday at noon.

WNCC coach Maria Winn-Ratliff said this team can come back, but they will need to play better over the next two days.

“It won't be easy but we can do it,” she said. “Nobody would step up. They were all waiting on their teammates to.”

WNCC did, however, play well at the beginning and that part impressed Winn-Ratliff. She said they just couldn’t get the hit they needed.

“Good game thru five innings,” she said. “We just didn't have it today. We left 13 on and seven were in scoring position. They [Otero] played well and their pitcher did what she needed to keep them in the game.”

The Cougars were definitely their worst enemies, leaving the bases loaded in three innings. And, that was after a strong start.

WNCC’s Kelsey Garner started the game on fire, sitting down the first three Otero batters. The Cougars followed with a strong first inning offensively.

Katie Groves started things with a single followed by Lauryn Smith reaching base after getting plunked by a pitch. Groves and Smith scored on a Sofia Gomez single for the early 2-0 lead.

WNCC couldn’t hold the lead, allowing Otero score eight times over the next five inning. Otero’s Ally Goniea started the Rattler comeback with a solo home run in the second inning. The Rattlers took the lead in the fourth inning with two runs on three singles for a 3-2 lead.

Otero opened up the game in the sixth inning, plating five runs on two home runs. The big blow was a 3-run shot by Kristy Partridge, followed by a 2-run blast by Kristen Gertner.

WNCC had plenty of opportunities to plate runs throughout the contest. WNCC left the bases loaded in the fourth, sixth and seventh innings. In fact, the Cougars managed just six hits in the contest.

WNCC tried a comeback late. In the sixth, Stephanie Townsend and Kelsey Garner drew leadoff walks. Then, after two strike outs, Groves was walked to load the bases before a groundout ended the threat.

The Cougars tried a comeback in the seventh as well. Gomez and Kelly Pearson had back-to-back singles with one out. Alyssa Hickey was then walked before Jordann Hathorne fanned the final two Cougar batters. Hathorne struck out six Cougars on the day.

Garner picked up the loss, allowing eight runs on nine hits. Garner struck out five and walked four.

Groves and Gomez paced the Cougar hitting attack with two hits each. Groves was 2-for-4 with two singles, two walks, and a run scored, while Gomez was 2-for-3 with two RBIs and a walk.

The Cougars could have three games Saturday as they battle their way back through the loser’s bracket. After the contest at noon, if they keep winning, they could play contests at 4 and 6 p.m. The championship game is slated for Sunday at noon, with an if-necessary game at 2 p.m.

The contests can be heard live on the Internet at http://sports.trinidadstate.edu/region9/.

Otero 010 205 0 – 8 9 0

WNCC (40-17) 200 000 0 – 2 6 1

WP – Jordann Hathorne, LP – Kelsey Garner; 2B – WNCC (Garner); HR – Otero (Kristen Gertner, Ally Goniea, Kristy Partridge).

WNCC's Smith inks with NCAA tournament team Morgan State

Western Nebraska Community College’s Daniel Smith has held that dream of playing for an NCAA tournament team in the back of his head since playing high school basketball at Woodlawn High In Baltimore.

Friday morning, Smith officially made his dream come true, signing a letter of intent with Morgan State University.

"One of the reasons I decided to go there was because I will be able to play in front of my friends and family and closer to home,” he said. “It will be a fun experience these next two years just getting to play in front of them.“

Morgan State, located in Smith’s hometown of Baltimore, finished last season 23-12 before falling in the first round of the NCAA tournament to Oklahoma 82-54. It was the Bears’ first-ever NCAA tournament appearance.

Smith is excited about the chance to play for an up-and-coming program.

“It is actually a blessing that I get to join their crew and just work towards going to another NCAA tournament,” he said. “It is special to participate in the NCAA tournament.”

Smith had a successful sophomore season for the Cougars, helping the team to a 25-7 record. Smith averaged 8.59 points a game, while dishing out 3.1 assists and collecting 1.8 steals a game.

Morgan State coach Todd Bozeman told Smith that he projects him playing the same role he did at WNCC.

WNCC coach Brian Joyce said Smith was one of those players that was unselfish on the court.

"Danny has learned a lot the last two years. He has matured as a person and as a player,” Joyce, who has sent over 50 players in his junior college coaching to the Division I level, said. “They are looking for guys that can come in and play right away and impact and lead the team right away at that position. I think Danny is very well prepared to do that. I think at that level, I think he can have a lot of success, and I know without a doubt he will influence the program in the right way, considering the growth I have seen over the last two years.”

Smith said that if it wasn’t for Joyce, he wouldn’t be playing for a team that qualified for the NCAA tournament in March.

“My goal was definitely to go Division One and my game has improved tremendously,” he said. “My shooting has improved tremendously and my ball handling and thinking on the court has improved. I have improved a lot of things and I give the thanks to Coach Joyce and the coaching staff along with the players that push me in practice.”

Joyce said that Smith had a lot of schools that were interested in her services for the next two years, but Morgan State was the best fit for him.

“To me, it is not necessarily about the level they go to, it is about whether they get the right fit in a place they are comfortable with and a place they will have an opportunity to be successful,” Joyce said. “If that is at the Division One or Division Two level, to me that is insignificant. I want them to be in places where they will be happy and comfortable because sometimes guys choose places that are too high for where they should be playing and choose things for the wrong reason.”

Smith, who will graduate on May 16 from WNCC, has learned a lot about not only basketball, but life, while attending this institution the last two years.

“I learned really good leadership skills and I really built it during my last two years here,” he said. “Those good leadership traits will help me down the line as a husband and a future father.”

Weather causes postponements with WNCC events

The Western Nebraska Community College baseball team will have to wait an extra day to begin their first-round Region IX playoff series with Northeastern Junior College. The two teams were supposed to play Friday and Saturday, but because of weather conditions, the series has been pushed back to Saturday and Sunday.

Saturday’s action will begin at 2 p.m. at Cleveland Field, while Sunday’s action will start at noon, with a if-necessary game to follow. The series is a best 2-out-3 format, with all games 9 innings. Admission to the regional playoffs is $3 for adults and $1 for students.

Also postponed one day is the WNCC Turf Challenge volleyball tournament that was scheduled to begin Saturday at Lacy Park. The tournament will now just be held on Sunday. WNCC volleyball coach Giovana Melo said that registrations for the doubles tournament are still being accepted for just $20 a person.

Melo also said that if individuals want to partner up with a Cougar volleyball player, bids are still being accepted. Only three players have received bids so far for an individual to have one of the players on their doubles team. To register for the tournament, contact Melo at 308-635-6028 or melog@wncc.net.