https://wnccathletics.com en-us https://wnccathletics.com/sports/bsb/2025-26/releases/202605102tjdpn PUEBLO, Colo. – The Western Nebraska Community College baseball team outhit Southeast Community College 12-10, but went scoreless in the final five innings in falling to the Bobcats 11-4 in an elimination game at the Region IX Tournament in Pueblo, Colorado, Saturday. The Cougars end the season at 24-35 after finishing fourth in the Empire Conference with a 14-14 record. In other games on Saturday, Northeastern Junior College needed 10 innings to get by McCook 7-6, and then Southeast eliminated McCook 12-9. That sets up the championship game between NJC and Southeast. Both teams have qualified for the district finals with the winner hosting the district finals along with the champions from the Regions 1 and 18 next weekend. The contest was actually a competitive game through seven innings as anyone could have won. Sat, 09 May 2026 04:00:00 GMT https://wnccathletics.com/sports/bsb/2025-26/releases/202605102tjdpn https://wnccathletics.com/sports/sball/2025-26/releases/202605093g84nm MCCOOK – The Western Nebraska Community College softball season came to an end after dropping two contests on Friday at the Region IX tournament in McCook, but it wasn’t without some gutsy play on the day. The Cougars took top-seeded McCook Community College to the limit in the first game on the day in the winner’s bracket and came so close in topping the team that went 30-2 in conference play before falling 4-3 on a seventh-inning play at the plate that resulted in the Indians getting the walk-off win. The second game, an elimination game with Luna Community College, saw the Cougars fall 14-6. WNCC ends the season at 25-26 under first-year head coach Nayeli Diaz. The Cougars also had two all-region players that were announced in between games on Friday. Tori Travers was named an honorable mention all-region player, while Jasmine Castro was a first-team all-region outfield selection. Travers showed why she was an all-region selection as the sophomore had two home runs on the day with five RBIs. Travers had the big hit in the McCook game, but both games were classic WNCC games that fans have witnessed over the past month, which saw the Cougars win 10 straight games before falling today. Fri, 08 May 2026 04:00:00 GMT https://wnccathletics.com/sports/sball/2025-26/releases/202605093g84nm https://wnccathletics.com/sports/bsb/2025-26/releases/202605091pn9f8 PUEBLO, Colo. – Cooper Wilson had six RBIs including a grand slam to help the Western Nebraska Community College baseball team stay alive at the Region IX tournament in Pueblo, Colorado, with a commanding 16-7 win over Otero College Friday. The Cougars will have another elimination game Saturday when they face Southeast Community College at 11 a.m. A win will move the Cougars into another elimination game at 5 p.m. against the loser of the winner’s bracket game between McCook Community College and Northeastern Junior College. Other scores on Friday in the winner’s bracket saw NJC register an 8-2 win over Otero and McCook survived and got by Southeast 9-5. The championship games are slated for Sunday at Damon Runyon Field Sports Complex in Pueblo, Colorado. The winner of the tournament hosts the Western District Finals next weekend and if NJC wins the tournament the runner-up will also qualify for the Western District tourney. Friday’s game was one where the Cougars dominated, scoring in six of the eight innings. Fri, 08 May 2026 04:00:00 GMT https://wnccathletics.com/sports/bsb/2025-26/releases/202605091pn9f8 https://wnccathletics.com/sports/bsb/2025-26/releases/2026050839rjq5 PUEBLO, Colo. – The Western Nebraska Community College baseball team is still alive in the Region IX baseball tournament in Pueblo, Colorado, after action on Thursday. WNCC opened the tournament with a 5-3 loss to Otero College which saw the Rattlers score five times in the seventh inning for the win. That loss sent the Cougars to an elimination game with Luna Community College and responded with an 8-6 win, eliminating Luna. The other game on Thursday saw McCook Community College edging Luna Community College 14-13 in 11 innings. The Indians scored the winning run on a bases-loaded walk. WNCC will continue play with a contest at 5 p.m. against one of the losers from the two winner’s bracket contests on Friday. The first game of the day has top-seeded Northeastern Junior College facing Otero at 11 a.m. followed by second-seeded Southeast Community College taking on McCook at 2 p.m. Game one was a heart-breaking setback for the Cougars after starting strong. For six innings, WNCC looked poised to open the tournament with a win behind a strong outing from freshman right‑hander Allard Helms. The Cougar starter was sharp from the first pitch, scattering seven hits while striking out eight and allowing just one run through six frames. His ability to work ahead in counts and induce weak contact kept the Rattlers off balance. Thu, 07 May 2026 04:00:00 GMT https://wnccathletics.com/sports/bsb/2025-26/releases/2026050839rjq5 https://wnccathletics.com/sports/sball/2025-26/releases/2026050818hybc MCCOOK – The Western Nebraska Community College softball team scored five runs in its last at-bat to down Luna Community College 10-9 at the Region IX tournament in McCook on Thursday. It was the Cougars’ second straight last-inning comeback as WNCC scored five runs in the final at-bat against North Platte Community College on Sunday. The win moves WNCC into a winner’s bracket contest against top-seeded McCook Community College at 1 p.m. MDT on Friday. Tori Travers, who had the walk-off ground ball to score the two game-winning runs, said it was a big win. Thu, 07 May 2026 04:00:00 GMT https://wnccathletics.com/sports/sball/2025-26/releases/2026050818hybc https://wnccathletics.com/sports/bsb/2025-26/releases/202605062l7dgk The Western Nebraska Community College baseball team is ready to open the Region IX tournament that begins Thursday at Damon Runyon Sports Complex in Pueblo, Colorado. The Cougars, who finished the year 22-33 overall and 14-14 in conference, earned the fourth seed in the tournament and will battle fifth-seeded Otero College Thursday, May 7 at 2 p.m. The other first-round contest has third-seeded McCook Community College taking on sixth-seeded Luna Community College at 11 a.m. WNCC coach Mike Jones said this team is ready to go and that they prepared the pitching staff in last weekend’s four-game series for this weekend. “It was an interesting type of situation where we felt like our playoff spot was pretty well locked in,” Jones said. “We wanted to prepare our pitching staff and the entire staff. We're going to get everybody innings. We want to make sure that we rested everybody including the guys that have been throwing a lot. So, it came down to more of a management situation for our ball club to make sure everybody was ready to go coming into the tournament. So we kind of used the four games as a conditioning and evaluation.” Wed, 06 May 2026 04:00:00 GMT https://wnccathletics.com/sports/bsb/2025-26/releases/202605062l7dgk https://wnccathletics.com/sports/sball/2025-26/releases/202605060yzq5f The Western Nebraska Community College softball team finished off the regular season on a nine-game win streak and evened their record at 24-24. Now, the Cougars will head to the Region IX Tournament in McCook, Nebraska, to go for a regional title and a national tournament berth. The fourth-seeded WNCC team will open the tournament Thursday at 11 a.m. when they face fifth-seeded Luna Community College. WNCC and Luna split a four-game series in March at Volunteer Field. WNCC lost both games on the first day 11-8 and 17-7, but won both games on day two 7-4 and 17-4. The double-elimination tournament runs through Sunday with the championship and if-necessary games with the winner qualifying for the NJCAA national tournament at Choccolocco Park in Oxford, Alabama, May 25-30. “The girls have been super excited. They just love the fact that they're here at this point, Nayeli Diaz, WNCC first-year head coach, said. “They've been through so much this year and they just want to fight and fight and fight and keep going to the best of their ability and they don't give up. Wed, 06 May 2026 04:00:00 GMT https://wnccathletics.com/sports/sball/2025-26/releases/202605060yzq5f https://wnccathletics.com/sports/sball/2025-26/releases/202605044i4xso Western Nebraska Community College made sophomore day memorable on Sunday, extending its winning streak to nine games with a walk‑off sweep of North Platte Community College at Volunteer Field. The first contest saw the Cougars score six times in the fifth inning to claim the 10-2 win on an Adi Duke walk-off single that scored Abbey Arntsen with the game-ending run. The second game saw North Platte hold a 5-1 lead in the seventh before the Cougars scored five times on a Viktoria Sarkanyova single that scored Duke with the winning run to claim the 6-5 win. WNCC is now 24-24 on the season and 17-15 in conference play. The Cougars will get the fourth seed for the Region IX tournament that begins Thursday in McCook. Alyssa Albaugh, one of the seven sophomores who was recognized after the game, said the team showed a lot of grit and toughness today. “The team showed a lot of grit and belief today, and that’s really what carried us to those two wins especially when we are walking games off,” Albaugh, the Torrington High School product, said. “We didn’t panic when we were down or in tight situations. Everyone stayed locked in, trusted each other, and kept competing pitch by pitch. Walk-off wins don’t just happen, they come from energy in the dugout, clutch at-bats, and not quitting. It says a lot about our team’s chemistry and toughness that we were able to finish both games that way.” Sun, 03 May 2026 04:00:00 GMT https://wnccathletics.com/sports/sball/2025-26/releases/202605044i4xso https://wnccathletics.com/sports/bsb/2025-26/releases/2026050440xztn STERLING, Colo. -- The Western Nebraska Community College baseball team will enter the Region IX tournament later this week after playing Empire Conference-leading Northeastern Junior College tough on Saturday despite falling in both games. The first game saw Harrison Hart blast two home runs, scoring three times and heling WNCC rally in the seventh, but the Cougars came up one run short. NJC captured the opener 7-6. The second game was a slugfest as both teams used plenty of pitchers, saving arms for the regional tournament. The two teams used five pitchers each in the nine-inning game. NJC scored 12 times in the fifth to capture the 20-13 win. WNCC falls to 22-33 overall and 14-14 in the Empire Conference. WNCC will take the fourth seed into the regional tournament that begins Wednesday in Pueblo, Colorado. The winner of the regional tournament will host the four-team district final the weekend of May 14-16 along with the winners from the Arizona and Utah regions. Sat, 02 May 2026 04:00:00 GMT https://wnccathletics.com/sports/bsb/2025-26/releases/2026050440xztn https://wnccathletics.com/sports/bsb/2025-26/releases/202605024djno3 The Western Nebraska Community College baseball team dropped an Empire Conference doubleheader to Northeastern Junior College Friday afternoon at Cleveland Field by identical 6-4 scores. WNCC moves to 22-31 overall and 14-12 in conference play, while NJC is 38-14 overall and clinched the conference title at 22-4. The two teams will wrap up the regular season with a doubleheader Saturday in Sterling, Colorado. Friday’s contests were WNCC’s final regular-season home games, and both matchups were tight battles from start to finish. Fri, 01 May 2026 04:00:00 GMT https://wnccathletics.com/sports/bsb/2025-26/releases/202605024djno3 https://wnccathletics.com/sports/sball/2025-26/releases/202605021zsfgs NORTH PLATTE – The Western Nebraska Community College softball team ran their win streak to seven straight after taking a Region IX conference doubleheader from North Platte Community College Friday afternoon in North Platte. The Cougars led from start to finish in game one, pounding out 17 hits as Gracie Holm got the pitching win while also leading the Cougars at the plate with a four-RBI game and two doubles to lead WNCC to the 13-9 win. The second contest saw a 10-strikeout performance from Mia Migliaccio while holding North Platte to just three hits compared to 13 for WNCC as the Cougars captured the 7-2 win. WNCC moves to 22-24 overall and will host North Platte on Sunday in both teams’ last regular season games. The doubleheader, which starts at noon at Volunteer Field, will also be sophomore recognition for the six sophomore players and the student assistant after the contests. Fri, 01 May 2026 04:00:00 GMT https://wnccathletics.com/sports/sball/2025-26/releases/202605021zsfgs https://wnccathletics.com/sports/wvball/2025-26/releases/20260429yvw9pa Western Nebraska Community College’s Alex Gonzalez‑Orozco has worn blue and gold for most of her volleyball career, from her days at Gering High School to two seasons with the Cougars. On Wednesday afternoon, the sophomore libero officially traded those colors for green and gold as she signed to continue her career at the University of Alaska Anchorage. Gonzalez‑Orozco becomes the fourth Cougar since 2008 to join the Seawolves, following Stacie Meisner (2006–07), Jodi Huddleston (2010–11), and Keala Kaio‑Perez (2014–15), continuing a long‑standing connection between the two programs. For Gonzalez‑Orozco, the decision came down to how she felt the moment she stepped on campus. “I really, really liked my visit there,” she said. “It felt like everyone truly cared about you as a person — not just as an athlete, but as a student too. All of the staff was really caring, and I could tell that they really cared about their students. And I really loved the campus and the gym. The gym was beautiful.” Wed, 29 Apr 2026 04:00:00 GMT https://wnccathletics.com/sports/wvball/2025-26/releases/20260429yvw9pa https://wnccathletics.com/sports/sball/2025-26/releases/20260426kdrxwp The Western Nebraska Community College softball team put together two complete contests and swept past Trinidad State College Saturday during 38-degree weather in Region IX conference action. The first game on Saturday saw Gracie Holm and Alyssa Albaugh each go 3-for-4, combining to score five runs as the Cougars scored three times in the sixth inning to take the 11-9 win. The second contest saw Mia Migliaccio toss a complete game with four strikeouts while shutting down the Trojan offense for the 11-7 win. The four wins over Trinidad this weekend were the first time the Cougars have swept the conference regular season games against Trinidad since the 2014 season. The wins locked the Cougars into the Region IX tournament that will start May 6 at McCook. The Cougars are sixth in the conference standings at 13-15 while Trinidad State falls to 11-21 with only the top six teams making the tournament. WNCC will wrap up the regular season next week against North Platte Community College with two games at North Platte on Friday and then sophomore recognition day on Sunday. Sat, 25 Apr 2026 04:00:00 GMT https://wnccathletics.com/sports/sball/2025-26/releases/20260426kdrxwp https://wnccathletics.com/sports/bsb/2025-26/releases/202604254bll0k MCCOOK – The Western Nebraska Community College won the last three games of a four-game set with McCook Community College, including sweeping Friday’s final two games on the road. The Cougars never trailed in game one as Arthur Saumande tossed five strong innings in the 12-3 win. The second game saw WNCC score six first-inning runs and never look back for the 14-4 win. WNCC moves to 14-10 in the Empire Conference standings and 22-29 overall. McCook falls to 17-7 in conference play and 38-13 overall. Both teams have four games left to wrap up the regular season. WNCC has conference-leading Northeastern Junior College (20-4) with single games on the road on Thursday and Saturday and a doubleheader at Cleveland Field on Friday. McCook has four road games at Southeast Community College (15-9 in conference). Both games Friday were solid performances all the way around. Game one saw Saumande go five innings while scattering three hits, allowing two runs, and striking out five. Peyton Markheim finished off the game with two innings of work, allowing three hits, one run, and striking out three. Fri, 24 Apr 2026 04:00:00 GMT https://wnccathletics.com/sports/bsb/2025-26/releases/202604254bll0k https://wnccathletics.com/sports/sball/2025-26/releases/202604252gkhyz The Western Nebraska Community College softball team knew what was on the line this weekend if they wanted to make the Region IX tournament and that was to win some games. The Cougars did that in exciting action, scoring 26 runs with clutch hits from different players in the two wins over Trinidad State College Friday at Volunteer Field. The first game saw the Cougars score in all six innings they batted, including a five-run fifth that gave WNCC the 16-11 win. The second contest saw WNCC jump to a 7-1 lead, fall behind 8-7 and then score two runs in the seventh on a walk-off hit by Alyssa Albaugh that scored Abbey Arntsen with the winning run for the 10-9 victory. WNCC moves into sixth place in the conference standings with the sweep at 11-15 and 18-24 overall. Trinidad State falls to 11-19 and 14-32 overall. The two teams will be back in action Saturday for a doubleheader at Volunteer Field beginning at 11 a.m. These two games are important as Trinidad State wraps up the regular season after Saturday, while the Cougars have four games with North Platte Community College next weekend. The top six teams will make the Region IX tournament that begins in May. Fri, 24 Apr 2026 04:00:00 GMT https://wnccathletics.com/sports/sball/2025-26/releases/202604252gkhyz https://wnccathletics.com/sports/bsb/2025-26/releases/20260423551jqw The Western Nebraska Community College baseball team earned a split of Empire Conference games on Wednesday against conference-leading McCook Community College. The first game was a pitcher’s duel early, then McCook exploded for 11 runs to take the 12-3 win. The second contest saw the Cougars plate seven second-inning runs to register the 19-9 run-ruled win in seven innings. Ty Beutner, who had two doubles and a home run in the second game win, said the team didn’t have the spark in the first game like they did in the second. But how they earned the split was important for their morale against McCook. “Honestly, we just came out with more fire to start putting it together in the second game,” the sophomore from Highlands Ranch, Colorado, said. “The first game we just looked a little cold and then we started getting hot. We just strung everything together. “It was really important to get the split because now we know that we can actually hang with them and we’re a good enough team to go out there and win. So, it gives us a lot of confidence.” Wed, 22 Apr 2026 04:00:00 GMT https://wnccathletics.com/sports/bsb/2025-26/releases/20260423551jqw https://wnccathletics.com/sports/sball/2025-26/releases/202604203i4md1 LAMAR, Colo. – The Western Nebraska Community College softball team split a pair of Region IX conference contests Sunday against Lamar Community College. The Cougars fell in the first game 9-8 in nine innings but bounced back with a strong defensive performance in the second contest to register a 10-3 win. WNCC goes to 16-24 overall and 9-15 in the conference, while Lamar is 12-12 in the conference. The Cougars will have six of the final eight games at home in the next two weeks, beginning with a key four-game series against Trinidad State College this weekend at Volunteer Field in Scottsbluff. Trinidad currently sits just two games in front of the Cougars for the final Region IX tournament spot. Sun, 19 Apr 2026 04:00:00 GMT https://wnccathletics.com/sports/sball/2025-26/releases/202604203i4md1 https://wnccathletics.com/sports/sball/2025-26/releases/202604194u70qy LAMAR, Colo. – The Western Nebraska Community College softball team split a conference doubleheader with Lamar Community College on Saturday. The Cougars took the opener 14–10 before falling 9–7 in the second game. WNCC moves to 15–23 overall and 8–14 in conference play. Lamar is 19–27 overall and 14–12 in conference. The Cougars remain just one game out of the sixth and final Region IX tournament spot, trailing Trinidad State (11–15). The two teams will conclude the four‑game series Sunday in Lamar. WNCC then returns home next weekend to host Trinidad State before finishing the regular season with a four‑game series against North Platte (1–21 in conference). Lamar and WNCC will wrap up the four-game series with two contests on Sunday in important conference contests. After that, WNCC will host Trinidad State next weekend and then wrap up the regular season with a four-game series with North Platte (1-21 in conference play). The opener featured plenty of offense as the two teams combined for 24 runs and 22 hits. WNCC struck first with two runs in the opening inning, both coming with two outs. Adi Duke singled in one run, and Jasmine Castro followed with another RBI single. The Cougars added a run in the second when Tina Horton tripled home Alyssa Albaugh. Sat, 18 Apr 2026 04:00:00 GMT https://wnccathletics.com/sports/sball/2025-26/releases/202604194u70qy https://wnccathletics.com/sports/bsb/2025-26/releases/202604180rf8mb BEATRICE – The Western Nebraska Community College baseball team dropped an Empire Conference doubleheader to Southeast Community College Friday in Beatrice. WNCC managed just two hits in the opener, falling 11-1 in five innings. The second game saw the Cougars score three late runs, but Southeast never trailed in earning the 8-3 win. Southeast and WNCC are now tied for third in the conference standings at 11-9, trailing McCook (15-3) and Northeastern Junior College (13-3). WNCC will be back in action Thursday when they host McCook for a doubleheader at Cleveland Field. Fri, 17 Apr 2026 04:00:00 GMT https://wnccathletics.com/sports/bsb/2025-26/releases/202604180rf8mb https://wnccathletics.com/sports/bsb/2025-26/releases/202604174ntn56 BEATRICE – The Western Nebraska Community College baseball team started slow but battled back to earn an Empire Conference split with Southeast Community College in Beatrice Thursday afternoon. WNCC fell behind 6-0 through four innings and then a late rally came up short as Southeast earned the 6-5 win. The second game was a little bit different as WNCC plated 16 runs and got home runs from Cooper Wilson and Harrison Hart to earn the 16-15 win. WNCC moves to 19-26 overall and 11-7 in conference play. Southeast drops to 18-22 overall and 9-9 in conference. The two teams will wrap up the four-game series Friday with another doubleheader. The first game saw the Cougars get a slow start, trailing 6-0 through four innings WNCC began its comeback in the fifth with four runs. Vaughn Wilson opened the inning with a double, followed by a walk to Dakota Alber. Gladysh doubled to score one run. Alber later scored on a balk, and two additional runs crossed on passed balls to make it 6-4. Thu, 16 Apr 2026 04:00:00 GMT https://wnccathletics.com/sports/bsb/2025-26/releases/202604174ntn56 https://wnccathletics.com/sports/bsb/2025-26/releases/2026041645asgq WESTCO baseball honored three former players on Friday night as Steve Ysac, Jason Blanco, and Carlos Escamilla were inducted into the WESTCO Baseball Hall of Fame during a ceremony at the Hampton Inn. All three left lasting marks on the Zephyrs program during their playing careers and, in Blanco’s case, through coaching as well. All three players that were inducted were players for the Zephyrs and then came back to serve as assistant coaches. Blanco and Escamilla are current coaches with the program. Thu, 16 Apr 2026 04:00:00 GMT https://wnccathletics.com/sports/bsb/2025-26/releases/2026041645asgq https://wnccathletics.com/sports/bsb/2025-26/releases/202604163t6ymh Former WNCC baseball player had a neat honor bestowed on him late November when Issac Taylor was inducted into the Cheyenne Post 6 baseball hall of fame. Taylor played for the Cougars from 2015-17 and then went on to McPherson College to play baseball. Taylor said it was an honor to be recognized by his American Legion baseball team in Cheyenne. It’s a great honor and privilege to be put into the Hall of Fame with other Sixer legends,” Taylor said. “During my playing career, it was something I strive to be and to receive that honor one day. Being able to get that means the world to me.” Thu, 16 Apr 2026 04:00:00 GMT https://wnccathletics.com/sports/bsb/2025-26/releases/202604163t6ymh https://wnccathletics.com/sports/sball/2025-26/releases/2026041627of7s The bridge between Gering High School and Western Nebraska Community College grew a little stronger on Wednesday as Bulldog standout Jacelyn Brown signed to join the Cougar softball program next year. For Brown, the decision to stay at home was more than just proximity; it was about being part of a program she grew up so much about. “I'm definitely excited to be playing at WNCC,” Brown said. “Playing at home allows me to stay close to family but meet new people. (WNCC) pulls girls from all around the country and even out of the country, so it would be a great way to meet new people.” It was a pretty easy decision to play softball at WNCC once visiting the campus and meeting with the team. Thu, 16 Apr 2026 04:00:00 GMT https://wnccathletics.com/sports/sball/2025-26/releases/2026041627of7s https://wnccathletics.com/sports/bsb/2025-26/releases/202604135wykkh Harrison Hart delivered two walk-off home runs to help the Western Nebraska Community College baseball team claim an Empire Conference sweep over Otero College on Sunday at Cleveland Field. WNCC got a strong pitching performance from Arthur Saumande and Nelson Martinez in game one as the two pitchers combined for seven strikeouts and just two hits for the 10-0 win. Game two saw the Cougars score eight times in the seventh inning of the nine-inning contest, capped by Hart’s three-run walk-off home run to end the game 13-3 via the run rule. WNCC won three of four games against Otero over the weekend. The Cougars are now 18-25 overall and 10-6 in conference play. WNCC is in third place in the conference behind Northeastern Junior College and McCook Community College, both of whom are 13-3 in conference play. Sun, 12 Apr 2026 04:00:00 GMT https://wnccathletics.com/sports/bsb/2025-26/releases/202604135wykkh https://wnccathletics.com/sports/sball/2025-26/releases/2026041345nyik LA JUNTA, Colo. – The Western Nebraska Community College softball team put together a complete performance in earning a conference sweep over Otero College Sunday in La Junta, Colorado. The Cougars scored nine runs in the first inning of game one as they coasted to the 16-5 win. The second game saw WNCC come back from a 4-2 deficit to plate three runs in the sixth and seventh innings to claim the 8-4 win. WNCC won all four games against Otero over the weekend. The last time the Cougars swept the Rattlers in a four-game series was 2017-18 and it was by almost the same scores. In 2017-18, WNCC outscored Otero 49-18 and this weekend, the Cougars outscored the Rattlers 52-18. The second game on Sunday saw a masterful pitching performance from Mia Migliaccio, who went 6 2/3 innings in allowing just one hit, one run, one walk, and striking out 12. The 12 strikeouts are the most by a Cougar pitcher since 2019 when Emma McMillan struck out 15 against McCook. Sun, 12 Apr 2026 04:00:00 GMT https://wnccathletics.com/sports/sball/2025-26/releases/2026041345nyik https://wnccathletics.com/sports/sball/2025-26/releases/202604124n3smk LA JUNTA, Colo. – The Western Nebraska Community College softball team combined for 28 runs and 25 hits to claim a conference doubleheader over Otero College on Saturday in La Junta, Colorado. WNCC pounded out 11 hits and received home runs from Gracie Holm and Tori Travers in collecting the 11-3, five-inning win. In game two, Travers went 4-for-5 with four RBIs, four runs scored with a double and home run to get the 17-6 five-inning run-ruled win. WNCC moved to 12-22 overall and 5-13 in the conference, while Otero drops to 2-34 overall (1-17 in conference). The two teams will be back in action Sunday in La Junta for the conclusion of the four-game series. Abbey Arntsen, who had a big game from the circle and the plate, said these two games were huge. WNCC snapped an eight-game losing skid with the wins. Sat, 11 Apr 2026 04:00:00 GMT https://wnccathletics.com/sports/sball/2025-26/releases/202604124n3smk https://wnccathletics.com/sports/bsb/2025-26/releases/202604122wo6qx Jude Russell had a career night for the Western Nebraska Community College baseball team on Saturday in game two against Otero College. The freshman had three home runs and drove in eight RBIs, including a walk-off 3-run home run to lift the Cougars to a 15-5 win over Otero in an Empire Conference contest. The first game saw the Cougars offense sputter as Otero collected the 5-2 win. WNCC moved to 16‑25 overall, but more importantly improved to 8‑6 in conference play and remains in third place behind McCook and Northeastern Junior College at 13‑3. Otero moved to 7‑7 in conference and 13‑23 overall. WNCC and Otero will wrap up the 4-game series on Sunday at Cleveland Field with first pitch slated for 12 noon. Russell’s performance was epic, as his three home runs ties him for second most in a game. The record holder is Pete Rogers, who had four home runs in 2003. Russell’s eight RBIs in a game are also tied for second, as Rogers had 10 RBIs back in 2003. Sat, 11 Apr 2026 04:00:00 GMT https://wnccathletics.com/sports/bsb/2025-26/releases/202604122wo6qx https://wnccathletics.com/sports/sball/2025-26/releases/202604083xsgzz The Western Nebraska Community College softball team dropped both games of Tuesday’s conference doubleheader against Southeast Community College, falling 7–4 in Game One and 10–9 in walk‑off fashion in the nightcap. WNCC will be back in action Saturday and Sunday when they travel to LaJunta, Colorado, for a conference 4-game series. WNCC built an early advantage, but Southeast used a pair of big innings to rally past the Cougars 7–4 in Game One of Tuesday’s matchup in Beatrice. Tue, 07 Apr 2026 04:00:00 GMT https://wnccathletics.com/sports/sball/2025-26/releases/202604083xsgzz https://wnccathletics.com/sports/bsb/2025-26/releases/2026040544nmgr LAMAR, Colo. – The Western Nebraska Community College baseball team earned a split with Lamar Community College in Empire Conference action Saturday afternoon in Lamar, Colorado. WNCC won the opener behind a strong pitching performance from Arthur Saumande and a big four run, fifth inning to claim the 8-4 win. The second contest saw the Cougars' offense come alive even more, hammering four home runs with 15 total hits. However, the Cougars fell to Lamar on a walk-off sacrifice fly in the ninth to lose 14-13. WNCC falls to 15-24 overall and to 7-5 in conference play. The Cougars are still third in conference standings behind Northeastern Junior College (10-2) and McCook Community College (9-3). Sat, 04 Apr 2026 04:00:00 GMT https://wnccathletics.com/sports/bsb/2025-26/releases/2026040544nmgr https://wnccathletics.com/sports/bsb/2025-26/releases/2026040433y26z LAMAR, Colo. — The Western Nebraska Community College baseball team showed two different sides of the coin on Friday, following up a defense-plagued loss in the opener with a dominant power display in the nightcap. The split moves the Cougars to 14-23 overall and 6-4 in Empire Conference play as they prepare for a series‑deciding doubleheader on Saturday. WNCC currently sits third in the Empire Conference standings, trailing Northeastern Junior College (10-0) and McCook Community College (7-3). WNCC and Lamar wrap up the four-game series with a doubleheader Saturday before the Cougars return home next week to host Otero College on Friday and Saturday. Fri, 03 Apr 2026 04:00:00 GMT https://wnccathletics.com/sports/bsb/2025-26/releases/2026040433y26z