Otero drops WNCC softball in doubleheader

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

WNCC Cougar Golf Classic set for June 9

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

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

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

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

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

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

WNCC softball claims two from Dawson Thursday

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

WNCC baseball clips Colorado State 4-2

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Harlem Globetrotters invade Cougar Palace

Huntington, Merkey sign with WNCC women's soccer

Huntington, Merkey sign with WNCC soccer

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

WNCC men take over top spot in region play

The Western Nebraska Community College moved on top of the Empire Conference standings after taking three of four games from Northeastern Junior College Sunday and Monday.

Sunday’s games in Sterling, Colo., saw the two teams split games with WNCC claiming a 7-5, 8-inning barn-burner in the opener before NJC earned a 7-1 win in the nightcap.

WNCC rebounded by sweeping a doubleheader Monday 2-1 and 6-4 to jump into first place in the conference race. The Cougars now control their own destiny in the bid to win the conference and host the Region IX tournament in May.

WNCC coach Mike Jones couldn’t be prouder of his team’s effort in moving into first place in conference standings.

“It feels really good leading the region. We played the best two teams in the conference to this point and we are on top right now,” he said. “I feel it will be in our hands from here on out. We will have to continue to play good baseball and nobody will give it to us. It is out there for us to take and we will have to play ball.”

One off the keys for the Cougars to gain sweep on Monday was good pitching. They received that from Greg Crow and Todd Stachura, both freshman. WNCC claimed the first game behind a stellar pitching performance by Crowe, the right-handed flame-thrower from Parker, Colo., who baffled the Plainsmen bats in scattering four hits while striking out four in seven innings of work.

“Going into this weekend, it was a pretty important series. We knew we had to get some good pitching. Greg Crowe came out and threw an outstanding game for us. He controlled their offense and shut them down and went the distance.

But, while Crowe was throwing a gem for the Cougars, NJC’s Ty Cardona was also causing havoc on the mound. Cardona allowed six hits while striking out three batters. The difference in the game was WNCC got clutch hits when needed to get the win.

“We got some really clutch hits. Carson Cook was clutch for us this whole weekend,” Jones said. “That is important. When you get guys on base, you have to find ways to get them in. We have been real good about that lately with a good offense that finds ways to score some runs.”

WNCC scored first as JayC Perez led off the second with a double. Three batters later, Chris Hook hit a ground ball that scored Perez with the first run of the game.

NJC tied the game in the fifth on a walk and a 2-oiut single by Mike Mendenhall. WNCC won the game in dramatic fashion in the sixth inning. With two outs, Richie Stewart hammered a double to right field. Stewart was the lifted for pinchrunner Alexis Gomez. After a walk to Perez, Carson Cook took the first pitch and lined it to the outfield to score Gomez with the go-ahead run.

Crowe then finished off the Plainsmen in the seventh inning with three gourndball outs and a double by Josh Warren.

Stewart paced the Cougars with two hits.

Stewart continued his torrid hitting in game two. The sophomore from Lincoln opened the scoring with a 3-run home run in the third inning for a 3-0 lead. Jones said that shot was crucial.

“That home run was really big for us. That put us up 3-0 and gave us a lot of momentum. Once we got that momentum, our team felt pretty confortable. They were able to come back and take the lead on us 4-3, but there was no panic in our dugout and on our team. We came right back out and put up three more runs.

In deed NJC came back scoring four times in the fourth inning on three hits and three walks. Most of the damage came with two outs as Warren hit a bases-loaded single to score two runs to give NJC a 4-3 lead.

The lead didn’t last long as WNCC came right back with a three spot in the bottom of the fourth. Gilbert Gonzalez started things with a single followed by a walk by Travis Lindhorst. Then, with two outs, Pedro Suarez delivered a 2-RBI single, followed by Stewart’s monster run-scoring double that put WNCC up 6-4.

Chris Cuadra then came in relief of winning pitcher Todd Stachura in the fifth inning and kept the Plainsmen at bay for two innings. Then, Dan Bauer closed the game picking up the save with quick work of NJC’s No. 3, 4 and 5 batters, including getting the final out on a slider that Danny Brock couldn’t hit for the final out.

WNCC managed 10 hits for the game. Stewart led the way with a 3-for-4 performance, including a double, home run, three RBIs and a run-scored. Suarez also collected two hits, including three RBIs and two runs scored.

In Sunday’s games, WNCC scored three times in the eight-inning to collect the win. Phillips Orta went six innings to get the no-decision while allowing four runs, seven strikeouts and four hits. Chris Cuadra earned the win by pitching the seventh, while Bauer picked up the save.

Suarez led the Cougars offensively with a 3-for-4 performance, including two doubles and a run scored. Perez and Cook each had two hits. Perez had a home run, two runs scored and a RBI, while Cook had a triple, two RBIs and two runs scored.

NJC scored three times each in the third and fifth inning to earn the 7-1 win in game two. Jeff McDonald picked up the loss on the mound going just four innings, while giving up five hits and striking out three.

Marco Moreno paced the Cougars with a 2-for-3 performance with an RBI in the third inning. The only other hits by the Cougars came from Suarez, Stewart and Gonzalez.

WNCC, now 14-16 overall and 9-3 in conference play, will return to action Thursday when they face Colby Community College before taking on McCook Community College Friday and Saturday in McCook.

WNCC softball sweeps Trinidad State

Western Nebraska Community College’s Jessica Pexton helped pitch the Cougar softball team to a sweep of Trinidad State Junior College Monday evening.

Pexton threw a stellar game in game two, holding the Trojan bats to just three runs on seven hits as the Cougars won the 11-3. In the opener, WNCC came back from a 7-4 deficit to defeat Trinidad State 12-7.

“I think we played really good,” Pexton said. “We came together as a team at crucial times when we needed to and got two wins. This win will help get my confidence up and the girls really backed me up.”

Indeed the Cougars played well Monday, pounding out 27 hits in the doubleheader -- 11 in the first game and 14 in the second game. Pexton said this is a team that can hit throughout the lineup.

“Sometimes we have a struggle in an inning, but we came together and pulled out the win,” she said. “When we were down in the first game, we knew we had to just come back. We never die, never give in and we just kept coming back and hit the ball."

Trinidad jumped all over the Cougars in the opener grapping a 7-4 lead after two innings. WNCC came roaring back in the third scoring seven times on seven hits. The big blows was a two runs-scoring triple by Whittany Foster and then a run-scoring triple by Amanda Hensley to give the Cougars an 11-7 lead.

WNCC added an insurance run in the fifth inning as Kara Ryman unloaded on a pitch that hit the scoreboard for a home run.

In the meantime, Natasha Dypchey settled down in the final five innings holding the Trojans to just three hits to get the win. Hensley, Ryman and Ashley Eichelberger all finished with two hits for the Cougars. Hensley went 2-for-4 with a double, two runs scored and a RBI, Ryman went 2-for-4 with a home run, two runs scored and a RBI, and Eichelberger was 2-for-4 with two singles, two runs scored and a RBI.

WNCC quickly took control in the second game, bolting to a 5-0 lead after one inning. Jessica Ventoza led things off with a triple followed by a double by Lauren Mills. WNCC’s six-hit first-inning attach continued as Amanda Torimaru had a two-out single followed by a 2-RBI double by Foster and a run-scoring single by Pexton for the 6-0 lead.

Trinidad came back with three runs in the second inning on an error and three singles, but Pexton avoided further damage by striking out one and getting the two fly balls to get out of the inning. After that, Pexton sailed though the rest of the game, allowing just two hits.

“This win will help get my confidence up,” Pexton said. “The girls really backed me up.”

The rest of the team really came forward after Trinidad cut the lead to 5-3. WNCC responded with four runs in the second and two in the fifth to end the game on the 8-run rule. In the fifth inning, Ventoza led off with a single followed by a run-scoring double by Mills. Hensley then single to left-field that scored Mills with the game-ending run.

Mills led the team with a 4-for-4 performance, including two doubles, three runs scored and an RBI. Eichelberger was also perfect in the game with three hits, including a triple, two runs scored and two RBIs. Hensley and Ventoza also collected multiple hits in the win.

Pexton said the second game win was crucial after dropping the second game to North Platte on Sunday 4-2.

“I think we stayed focused the entire way in the second game,” she said. “Sometimes we lose a little bit of focus but we kept it together this game.”

On Sunday, the Cougars split with North Platte Community College claiming the first game 2-1 in eight innings before falling 4-2 in the second game. WNCC outhit North Platte 21-10 in the game, but left 17 runners on base.

In the first-game win, WNCC scored single runs in the sixth and eighth innings. The Cougars tied the game in the sixth as Ventoza singled and scored on a Hensley single. In the eighth, Torimaru started things with a 2-out single and scored on a Mills single for the win.

Hensley, Eichelberger and Mills each collected two hits for the Cougars. Dypchey picked up the win, striking out six and scattering four hits in eight innings of work.

North Platte scored three times in the fifth inning to take a 4-1 lead and held on for the win. Dpychey picked up the loss in the circle striking out three and allowing six hits.

Eichelberger paced the Cougars from the plate with a 3-for-4 performance followed by Jessie McNabb with a 2-for-4 performance and a run-scored.

WNCC, 21-12 on the season, will next be in action Friday when they travel to Dawson Community College in Glendive, Mont.

WNCC softball splits with North Platte

The WNCC women's softball team split with North Platte Community College Sunday on the road. The Cougars won the first game 2-1 as Natasha Dypchey picked up the win. WNCC couldn't keep the momentum going falling in the second game 4-2 as Dypchey took the loss.

The Cougars will return to action Monday when they host Trinidad State Junior College in a doubleheader beginning at 11 a.m. at Volunteer Field.

Baseball games with NJC changed

If anyone is wondering there is no activity at Cleveland Field on Sunday, it is because the games were changed to Sterling, Colo., because of the recent snowfall. Northeastern Junior College and WNCC are in a battle for the Region IX lead and Sunday's games will be played in Sterling at 1 p.m.

The two teams will return to Cleveland Field on Monday at 1 p.m. for the second set of games in the four-game series where first place in the Empire Conference is on the line. Because of the switch, the two team's game on April 25 will be played in Scottsbluff.

Moreno's calm under pressure

Baseball has always been in Marco Moreno's blood after growing up as a youngster in Cuba and Miami. Now, as the starting shortstop on the Western Nebraska Community College baseball team, it's no different.But while baseball is what Moreno lives for, he also realizes that school work come first.

"I found out grades are very important," Moreno said. "If you don't study, then you won't get to play. I almost didn't get to play because of that. I won't ever forget that and it won't happen again."

Moreno is now fulfilling his baseball and educational aspirations as a collegiate player and he's thankful for the opportunities.

"My mentality was always baseball and having fun. I never paid too much attention to school and I always procrastinated on my homework or had someone do it for me. It was always like that. I always got by with just enough," Moreno said. "I am here now and I know everything happens for a reason. I just have to take advantage of the opportunity and see where it leads me."

Moreno is taking full advantage of his opportunity and WNCC coach Mike Jones is impressed by what his freshman middle infielder has accomplished so far this season.

"To have a freshman step in and play it as well as he has played it has been a real nice surprise" Jones said. "I saw him at a tryout in Miami when I was down there for a 3-day recruiting visit and was real impressed with his footwork and his hands as a defensive player. Offensively, he has been a nice surprise because he has really grown as a hitter."

Moreno said that being a freshman on a sophomore-dominated starting lineup hasn't been too nerve-wracking. In fact, he thrives on the pressure.

"As a freshman at the beginning, there was a lot of pressure," Moreno said. "But I have always been in pressure situations and I always like to put pressure on myself. I feel it makes me perform a little bit better."

So far this season, Moreno has sparkled. He is hitting over .250 for the season with seven extra-base hits. He also came up with a big triple in the team's four-game sweep at Otero Junior College last weekend.

"Coach Jones has told me over and over that I have improved a lot defensively and with my hitting," Moreno said. "But there is always room for more improvement. We need to keep working hard as a team and individually."

Moreno and the Cougars will get another stern test this weekend when they host Region IX leading Northeastern Junior College in a key four-game series. The winner of the region will host the Region IX Tournament in May.

"These games are extremely big because they are first in our conference right now at 7-1 and we are 6-2," Moreno said. "If we don't take conference this year, it means that we slacked off and we should have worked harder. With us taking three out of those four games, we would be in first place."

Moreno said that it's been the Cougars' goal from the start of the season to host the regional tournament.

"It would mean everything and it has been one of our main goals since the beginning of the year to host regionals," he said. "But we are just going to take it one game at a time. There is nothing else you can do. Whatever happened in the past, happened already, so you put that behind you and just keep going."

After starting the season slow, the Cougars have vaulted to an 11-15 record and Moreno said the team is ready to make some noise in the conference.

"We have improved a lot as a team and individually. Our attitudes have changed and we know we have what it takes to win," Moreno said. "We have the talent and we have the heart, the commitment, and determination to win. It all depends on us not getting lazy or getting over confident. We have a great team and it will be a shame if we don't make it as far as we know we can make it."

Moreno is living proof that you learn from past mistakes and keep improving. As a youngster living in Cuba until he was nine years old, he realized how important baseball and schooling was. In Cuba, he said, if you didn't want to go to school, you didn't have to. Boxing and baseball means everything to the people of Cuba.

"Baseball in Cuba is like life. In Cuba you either box or play baseball, it is one of the two," Moreno said. "Baseball is a lot more competitive." While in Cuba, Moreno never played organized baseball. Instead, he and others would play with tennis balls or anything they could round up to play pick-up games with. When he and his family finally moved to Florida when he was 9, his life changed in other ways than baseball.

"At first it was a big change. The language at first was a big obstacle and having to get used to going to another school where it was mandatory was hard," Moreno said. "In Cuba, it was more like where if you didn't want to go to school, you didn't have to. "But in Florida, I've improved a lot playing baseball. When I first got here, I hardly knew how to throw or hit. My dad worked with me a lot. We would go out and play after he got off of work and I improved the first couple of [years] I was there."

Moreno continued to play baseball through high school while attending South Miami Senior High School where he earned second team all-Dade County MVP honors. He hopes someday to be taking his baseball talents to the next level. But for now, he is happy to learn more about the game at WNCC while getting an education.

"Like everybody else, I'd like to make it to the pros. That is what I am going to push for and if not I will get an education and stay close to baseball or sports or anything along that line," he said. "But it takes a lot of hard work [to get to the majors] and a lot of getting noticed But if others can do it, it gives everyone else a dream that we can do it, too."

First place on the line

(Note: story ran before the snow storm. Since then, the series locations changed. Sunday's games are at Sterling and Monday's games are at Cleveland Field.)

Submitted by Jeremy Woznick
By Star-Herald Sports Reporter
For more coverage on WNCC or area sports check out the Star-Herald either online or on the newstands six days a week.

Although it's still early in the Region IX baseball season, there's no denying the importance of this weekend's four-game series between the Western Nebraska Community College and Northeastern Junior College baseball teams.

Both teams enter the key series in the top two spots of the Region IX standings. With a 7-1 regional record, NJC sits atop the standings while WNCC is just one game behind with a 6-2 mark. The teams will square off in doubleheaders on both Saturday and Sunday beginning at 1 p.m. at Cleveland Field in Scottsbluff.

"You hate to put too much emphasis on any one series, but considering we're the top two teams in the regional standings right now it looks to be pretty important on paper," said WNCC coach Mike Jones of the weekend series. "For us, we're just going to take it one game at a time and emphasize playing the best baseball we can."

Fresh off a four-game sweep of Otero Junior College last weekend, the Cougars have been playing their best baseball of the season as of late. A lot of that has been a result of strong pitching, which includes complete-game wins by starters Phillips Orta and Todd Stachura.After allowing no runs in a no decision in Arizona on March 17, Orta dominated Otero in his last start on Saturday. Stachura followed Orta with a complete-game gem on Sunday as the Cougars completed the four-game sweep of the Rattlers. WNCC also received key pitching performances last weekend from Greg Crowe and Dan Bauer.

WNCC, Black Hills State split softball games

The Western Nebraska Community College and Black Hills State University softball teams each collected big hits as the two teams split a doubleheader Tuesday at Volunteer Field in Scottsbluff.

WNCC’s Jessica McNabb slapped a fifth-inning triple to help the Cougars and Natasha Dypchey struck out eight Yellow Jackets as the Cougars came back for a 4-3 in game one.

In the nightcap, Black Hills pounded out eight hits in the sixth and seventh innings, including a solo home run from Brittany Montgomery, to register a 7-4 win.

WNCC coach Maria Winn-Ratliff and Black Hills State coach Amy Gurney both saw some good things out of the doubleheader.

“The good thing was we played well against their No. 1 pitcher (Jessica Clark) who was coming off being the DAC pitcher of the week,” WNCC coach Maria Winn-Ratliff said. “I thought in the second game Jessica Pexton threw a great game up until the sixth inning. We just couldn’t play enough defense behind her. Good teams, when you make mistakes will make you pay for it. That is what they did to us. They are a little shell-shock. We have always been the comeback team and today, we couldn’t do what we needed to do.”

Gurney said her team never gave up and kept fighting to the end.

“We played pretty solid. They are fighters and they kept battling back even when they were down. It was a good game for us,” she said. “I told them they need to start off the games that way instead of waiting until the end of the innings to do that. But it worked. I think hitting is contagious and one hit led to another, so that was good for us.”

Actually, both teams had big hits to jumpstart the offenses. In game one, WNCC took a 2-0 lead in the second inning on a two hits by Lauren Mills and Jessica McNabb, and two walks and an error.

Black Hills came back to grab a 3-2 lead in the fifth inning. With one out, Liberty Bell reached base on a fielding error. Then, with two outs, Amber Vidger was hit by a pitch followed by a run-scoring single by Kelli Graham and a 2-run double by Montgomery.

WNCC came right back in the bottom of the frame. Jessica Ventoza led off with a slap single followed by McNabb’s triple down the rightfield line. Two batters later, Ashley Eichelberger singled to score McNabb with the go-ahead run.

Dypchey picked up the win for the Cougars allowing three hits, while walking two and striking out eight. Jessica Clark, who was the DAC pitcher of the week with 25 strikeouts in 35 innings last week, took the loss. Clark allowed eight hits, while striking out five.

WNCC’s McNabb and Mills led the way at the plate with 2-for-3 performances. McNabb had a triple, run scored and RBI, while Mills had two singles. No other player on either team had multiple hits.

The second game was a pitcher’s dual between WNCC’s Pexton and BHSU’s Vidgar. Vidgar picked up the win allowing just three runs on seven hits, while striking out five. The only damage the Cougars managed against Vidgar was in the third inning. After McNabb and Ventoza reached base on a hitsbatsman and a single, Eichelberger blasted a home run over the leftfield fence to put WNCC up 3-0.

The lead stayed that way through 5 2/3 innings as Pexton was throwing a gem shutting out the Yellow Jackets until Montgomery blasted a solo home run over the leftfield fence. That opened the flood gates as the Yellow Jackets had four straight hits, including run-scoring doubles by Clark and Sam Lore to tie the game at 3-3.

Black Hills came back with four more runs in the seventh inning on three hits, three walks and an error. The big hit was a Montgomery single that scored the go-ahead run.

WNCC had one last ditch hope in their last at bat. With two outs, Amanda Hensley hit a solo home run that hit the scoreboard, but it wasn’t enough.

Kara Ryman led the Cougars with a 2-for-3 performance, while Lore, Montgomery and Jaime Bentley each collected two hits for the Yellow Jackets.

Gurney said these were two good games. "Both are two very good teams and I credit Western Nebraska, they put a good team on the field with strong hitters in the batter’s box,” she said. “It was a good contest for us.”

Winn-Ratliff said that her team will have to learn from Tuesday’s contest and get ready for the rest of the games this week.

“Hopefully, we will get our games in with Wyoming on Thursday. The weather is a little scary right know and then we have Trinidad on Friday,” she said. “We have to mentally prepare ourselves and whoever is on the mound, we have to play defense behind them and support them with run production and defensive plays.”

Friday’s contests are Region IX games, and WNCC is still in the hunt for winning the league title.

“We are sitting in a good spot and that is a little bit hit or miss a little bit,” Winn-Ratliff said. “They hit the ball real well and they have a real nice pitcher. If we don’t do what we are suppose to do, they will come up and beat us.”

Game One
Black Hills 000 030 0 – 3 3 1
WNCC 020 020 x – 4 8 1
WP – Dypchey, LP – Clark; 2B – WNCC 1 (Ryman), BHSU 1 (Montgomery); 3B – WNCC 1 (McNabb).

Game Two
Black Hills (9-11) 000 003 4 – 7 11 0
WNCC (18-11) 003 000 0 – 4 7 2
WP – Vidgar, LP – Pexton; 2B – BHSU 2 (Lore, Clark); HR – WNCC 2 (Eichelberger, Hensley), BHSU 1 (Montgomery).

WNCC baseball sweeps Otero Sunday

LaJUNTA, Colo. – The Western Nebraska Community College baseball team kept it’s bid for hosting the Region IX tournament in May alive after sweeping Otero Junior College in a doubleheader 9-5 and 7-2 Sunday.

The Cougars moved to 6-2 in league play with Sunday’s wins and trail Northeastern Junior College, who is 5-1 in league play. NJC played McCook Monday in Sterling, Colo. WNCC and NJC will hook up in a four-game series Saturday and Sunday at Cleveland Field.

WNCC played much better Sunday then Saturday when they won 4-2 and 3-2. In Sunday’s contests, Gering’s Travis Lindhorst belted a 3-run home run in the fifth inning to open up a 9-3 lead.

WNCC pounded out 10 hits in the win including a 3-for-4 performance from Marco Moreno, and a 2-for-4 performance from Carson Cook. Cook also drove in three runs, stored twice and had two stolen bases. Moreno had one RBI and one stolen base.

Lindhorst, though, was the big hitter with the 3-run shot in the fifth inning.

Greg Crowe picked up the win going 3 2/3 innings. Crowd, the righthander from Parker, Colo., allowed three hits, struck out three and walked three.

In the second game, Todd Stachura pitched a complete game, scattering seven hits, while striking out two. Stachura gave up just two runs, one being earned.

Offensively, the Cougar bats stayed hot by scoring three times in the opening inning only to see Otero bounce back with two of their own for a 3-2 first-inning score. Stachura settled down after the first baffling the Rattler hitters.

WNCC, in the meantime, pounded 10 hits in the win. Abraham Cervantez paced the Cougars with a 2-2 performance, including a double and one RBI. Gilbert Gonzalez continued his torrid hitting with a 3-for-4 performance with three RBIs and two stolen bases.

Daniel Martinez and Richie Stewart also hit with authority. Stewart went 2-for-3 with two RBIs, while Martinez was 2-for-4 with two runs scored and two stolen bases.

WNCC, now 11-15 on the season, will host Northeastern Junior College this weekend.

Region IX Baseball Standings
Region IX Overall
Team Record Record
NE Colorado 5–1 16 -7-1
Western Neb. 6-2 11-15
McCook C.C. 3-3 11-9
Lamar C.C. 4-4 15-14
Trinidad State 3-5 18-16
Otero J.C. 1-7 3-15

Monday’s Games
McCook at Northeastern JC
Wednesday’s Games
Northeastern JC at Colorado State
McCook at Hastings College
Friday’s Games
Trinidad State at Otero
McCook at Lamar
Saturday’s Games
Trinidad State at Otero
Northeastern JC at WNCC
McCook at Lamar
Sunday’s Games
Northeastern JC at WNCC

Stellar pitching sparks Cougars

Submitted by Alex Helmbrecht
Star-Herald Sports Reporter
For more stories on WNCC athletics, check out the print edition of the Star-Herald or visit them online.

La JUNTA, Colo. - Western Nebraska Community College starting pitcher Phillips Orta pitched a complete game to lead the Cougars to their 4-2 win over Otero Junior College during the first game of their doubleheader Saturday in La Junta, Colo.

In the second game, WNCC rallied from a 2-0 deficit after five innings and scored three runs in the final two innings to clip Otero, 3-2. Dan Bauer got the win after coming in relief of starting pitcher Jeff McDonald.

"It's always good to win a conference doubleheader on the road," WNCC coach Mike Jones said. "And since we won both of them today we're going into (today's) games with Otero with a lot of momentum."

Orta, who improved his record to 3-2 on the season, helped the Cougars withstand three costly errors, which resulted in two Otero runs in the first inning, as he struck out three and allowed just one hit after the opening inning. Orta also struck out three, while walking one.

"I'm very pleased with how Phillips pitched," Jones said. "He did a nice job of keeping his composure on the mound after a bad defensive first inning. He did an outstanding job pitching."

WNCC's Marco Moreno led the Cougars from the plate with a 2 for 4 outing, including a triple. Moreno also knocked in a run. Chris Hook's lone hit - a single in the fourth inning - scored two runs that gave the Cougars the lead for good at 3-2, and WNCC's Gilbert Gonzalez scored two runs and hit a double.

In the second game, the Cougars found themselves down 2-0 after five innings, but they scored two runs in the top of the sixth to tie the game and Gonzalez scored the winning run in the top of the seventh to give WNCC its 3-2 win.Gonzalez, Daniel Martinez and Eneldis Vazquez all belted doubles for the Cougars.

Bauer, who serves as WNCC's closer, pitched 1 1/3 innings to get the win. He relived McDonald with the tying run on third base. But Bauer struck out Otero's batter to end the Rattlers' threat. In the seventh inning, Bauer sat the Rattlers' down in order and he fanned two of the four batters he faced in the game.

"Dan's been a real nice closer for us and he's come in and pitched well during some clutch spots," Jones said. "Today he had to really reach back and he came in and mowed them down."

Game One
WNCC 000 301 0 - 4 7 3
Otero 200 000 0 - 2 2 1
WP - Orta (3-2); LP - Hershman; 3B - Moreno; 2B - Gonzalez.

Game Two
WNCC (8-15) 000 002 1 - 3 7 0
Otero 010 010 0 - 2 7 1
WP - Bauer; LP - Vierra; 2B - Gonzalez, Martinez, Vazquez.

WNCC announces five summer volleyball camps

Western Nebraska Community College volleyball coach Chris Green will be conducting five volleyball camps over the summer.

Green will conduct a team camp for high school teams June 25-26. This camp is for high school teams only and costs $25 per participant. No fundamental sessions will be held. Instead, teams will play other teams in competition. Only 12 varsity and 12 junior varsity teams will be allowed.

Camp participants will receive a T-shirt.The other four camps are skills camps. The first skills camp is for young girls in the fourth through 6^th grade on June 22-23. The camp will run from 8:30 – 11:30 a.m. and 12:30-3:30 the first day and from 8:30-11:30 a.m. the second day. The cost of the camp is $50.

The middle school skills camp for girls in the 7^th and 8^th grades will be held July 2-3. There will be both a morning and afternoon session both days. The cost is $60 per camper and included a camp T-shirt.

The high school skills camp will be held July 5-6 for girls from 9^th to 12^th grades. The cost is $60 for two sessions both days from 8:30-11:30 a.m. and 12:30-3:30 p.m.

The skills camps will give the participants an opportunity to develop and fine tune the fundamental skills and techniques in serving, blocking, hitting, passing, setting and defense. The skill camps are limited to 36 participants each session.

The final volleyball camp will be a setter/hitter camp July 9 and 10 for players in the 11^th and 12^th grade. This camp costs $75 and will be an intense camp with a lot of reps and one-on-one instruction. Hitters need to be physically prepared for heavy use of shoulders and legs. This camp is limited to 24 hitters and 12 setters.

Green, who has guided the Cougar women to eight straight national tournaments including a runner-up finish this past fall, will guide the camps. Green will be assisted by assistant coach Amy Winters and past, current and incoming members of the Cougar volleyball team.

Camp registration forms can be downloaded from the WNCC athletic website at sports.wncc.net. For more information on the camp, contact Green at 308-635-6028 or at greenc@wncc.net.

WNCC soccer camps set for July 23-27

Western Nebraska Community College in cooperation with the RECCOS Futbal Club will be sponsoring two soccer camps July 23-27 at the Alan C. Landers Soccer Complex in Scottsbluff.

The first camp will be held from 9 a.m. to 12 noon for recreational players for all ages. Recreational players are individuals that want to improve their soccer skills. The cost is $80 per camper for ages 9 and above, and &70 for ages 8 and under. Included in the cost will be a camp T-shirt and camp ball.

The second camp will be for advanced, competitive players ages 9 and up. The camp will run from 5:30 – 8:30 p.m. and costs $80 per camper. This camp will be more structured in learning the game of soccer. Included in the cost will be a camp T-shirt and camp ball.

There will be a discount of $10 per person if more than one person in a family signs up for the advanced camp. Also, campers that attend both camps can do so for $130.

The camps will be instructed by WNCC men’s and women’s soccer coach Todd Rasnic and assistant coaches Nate Rock and Jim Miller. Former and current Cougar men’s and women’s soccer players will also help with the camp.

Camp registrations can be downloaded off the WNCC athletic website at sports.wncc.net. For more information on the soccer camp, contact Rasnic at 308-635-6150 or at rasnict@wncc.net.

WNCC softball splits with Paradise Valley

PHOENIX, Ariz. – The Western Nebraska Community College softball team paradise in Arizona didn’t end the way they wanted after splitting with Paradise Valley Community College in the team’s games for their Spring Break trip.

The Cougars started things off well, registering a 4-0 win against the Pumas as Natasha Dypchey earned the win scattering seven hits while striking out two.

The nightcap wasn’t rosy as Paradise Valley scored six early runs to earn the split 8-2. WNCC drops to 17-10 on the season with their next games Tuesday at home against Black Hills State.

In the opener, WNCC registered 13 hits in posting the win. The Cougars scored first in the second inning as Kara Ryman and Amanda Torimaru each collected singles. Lauren Mills then scored Ryman with a base hit for the 1-0 lead.

Actually that was all WNCC needed as Dypchey was throwing well. But the Cougars added insurance runs with single runs in the third, fourth and seventh inning.

Amanda Hensley started things in the third inning with a single and later scored on a Ryman base hit.

The fourth inning say Dypchey start things with a walk followed by singles by Mills and Jessica Ventoza. Ventoza’s single scored Dypchey for the 3-0 lead.

The final insurance run came as Ashley Eichelberger singled and then scored on Ryman’s double – the only extra base hit by the Cougars.

Ryman and Mills led the Cougars from the plate. Ryman went 4-for-4 with two RBIs and a run, while Mille was 3-for-3 with an RBI> Ventoza was the only other player with multiple hits, going 2-for-4 with an RBI.

The second game didn’t go WNCC’s way early on. The Pumas scored twice in the first and four times in the second to run to a 6-0 lead. WNCC sliced the lead to 6-2 with single runs in the fourth and fifth innings. The Cougars, who had seven hits for the game, had two in the fourth inning by Eichelberger and Dypchey, while Hensley had a clutch single in the fifth inning to spark the Cougar’s comeback.

The comeback, though, wouldn’t happen as Paradise Valley had single runs in the fifth an sixth innings for the win.

Jessica Pexton took the loss in the circle striking out one and walking four. Dypchey came in relief in the fourth inning and struck out four Pumas.

Hensley was the only Cougar in double figures with a 2-for-4 day. Ryman also had a good game going 1-for-1 with two walks, a sacrifice and an RBI.

Game One
WNCC 011 100 1 – 4 13
Paradise Valley 000 000 0 – 0 7
WP – Dypchey; 2B – Ryman.

Game Two
WNCC (17-10) 000 110 0 – 2 7
Paradise Valley (12-18) 240 011 x – 8 14
LP – Pexton.

WNCC baseball falls to Seward County

Submitted by JEREMY Woznick
Star-Herald Sports Reporter
(For more added coverage and daily Cougar stories, visit the Star-Herald online at www.starherald.com).

GLENDALE, Ariz. - The Western Nebraska Community College baseball team ran into another strong pitching performance Tuesday afternoon against Seward County Community College during the fourth day of its spring break road trip.

After scoring only two runs in a loss to Glendale Community College on Monday, the Cougars were limited to only one run through eight innings Tuesday before falling 7-3. The loss dropped the Cougars to 2-4 on their Arizona swing and 7-15 overall.

"Their [Seward County's] lefthander did a good job of keeping our offense in check," WNCC coach Mike Jones said. "We didn't have a lot of good swings at pitches today and he did a nice job of mixing up his pitches. Take nothing away from Seward County, but I didn't think we played with much intensity and that was a little disappointing."

WNCC jumped in front 1-0 in the top of the second before Seward County answered with a run in its half of the second and went ahead for good with a run in the fourth and three more in the fifth.

Trailing 7-1 entering the ninth, the Cougars plated a pair of runs in the top of the inning.
Offensively in the game, WNCC was led by JayC Perez. Perez went 3-for-4 with a double and a run scored. Gilbert Gonzalez went 2-for-4 and Chris Hook finished with a double and two runs scored.

Cesar Perez took the loss on the mound for the Cougars after pitching three and two/thirds innings. Perez allowed four runs on seven hits. After a day off today, WNCC wraps up its spring break trip Thursday against Phoenix College in Phoenix.

Phillips Orta is scheduled to get the start on the mound, but will see limited action as Jones plans to use a committee of pitchers.

"I think it's real important that we come out and play well on Thursday," Jones said. "We would really like to go into Otero this weekend with some momentum."

WNCC (7-15) 010 000 002 - 3 7 2
Seward County 010 130 11x - 7 13 1
LP - Cesar Perez (0-1); 2B - JayC Perez, Chris Hook.

WNCC softball team falls twice at Chandler-Gilbert

CHANDLER, Ariz. – The Western Nebraska Community College softball team’s 11-game winning streak came to a halt Tuesday in games against Chandler-Gilbert Community College.

The Cougars and Coyotes hooked up for 28 runs and 22 hits in the first game, but it was Chandler-Gilbert that came out on the winning side, earning the 18-10 win. In the nightcap, both teams finished with 10 hits, but Chandler-Gilbert earned the 7-5 win.

The Cougars, who dropped to 16-9 on the season, will look to rebound today when they face Paradise Valley Community College in the final day of the team’s Spring Break trip.

Still, the Cougar women had some outstanding hitting. In the first game, WNCC jumped out to a 3-0 lead only to see the Coyotes answer with five runs to take a 5-3 lead after one. The Coyotes added a single run in the second, six in the third and three in the fourth for a 15-4 lead.

WNCC sliced the lead to 15-10 with a six-spot in the fifth inning, but it wasn’t enough.

Jessica Pexton picked up the loss in the circle for the Cougars.

Offensively, Jessica Ventoza was a perfect 3-for-3 with a double and an RBI. Amanda Hensley also finished with a 3-for-4 performance including two RBIs and a double, while hot-hitting Jessie McNabb finished with 2-for-4 with three RBIs and two runs scored. Ashley Eichelberger belted a triple in the loss.

The second game was a little closer. Chandler-Gilbert scored first, only to see WNCC came back with two in the second to grab the 2-1 lead. The Coyotes came storming back with six runs over the next three innings to take a 7-2 lead.

WNCC, just like they have done all season, started a comeback scoring a single run in the sixth and two runs in the seventh, but the comeback came up just short.

Natasha Dypchey took the loss in the circle.

The Cougars did have four players finish with multi hits. Whittany Foster, Kara Ryman and Lauren Mills each went 2-for-3. Ryman also belted a double and had one RBI and a run scored, whbile Foster and Mills each had two singles and an RBI.

McNabb continued showcasing her power finishing with a 2-for-4 performance, including a triple and an RBI.

After today’s game against Paradise Valley, the Cougars will be back at home for a contest against Black Hills State College on Tuesday at Volunteer Field.

First Game
WNCC 310 060 – 10 12
Chandler-Gilbert 516 303 – 18 18
LP – Pexton; 2B – Ventoza, McNabb, Hensley; 3B – Eichelberger.

Second Game
WNCC (16-9) 020 001 2 – 5 10
Chandler Gilbert (9-7) 101 230 x – 7 10
LP – Dypchey; 2B – Ryman; 3B – McNabb.