The Western Nebraska Community College softball team was well represented on the Region IX Division I All-Region team that was released earlier this month.

                The Cougars placed three players on the first team and one on honorable mention. WNCC finished runner-up at the regional tournament, falling to McCook Community College in the championship game. McCook placed nine players on the All-Region team. WNCC finished 27-25 on the season.

                Leading the Cougars on the First Team was sophomore catcher Randi Mitchell. Mitchell played in 46 games for the Cougars this season and finished with a batting average of .380 with 13 doubles, five triples, 33 RBIs, and 38 runs scored. Mitchell is from Greeley, Colorado.

                Sierra Hilgner, a sophomore infielder from Divide, Colorado, earned First Team Infielder honors. Hilgner played second, third, and shortstop this season and appeared in 47 games and finished with a .380 batting average. Hilgner had nine doubles with 38 RBIs and 24 runs scored.
                JoLee Huffaker, a sophomore outfielder from Wellington, Colorado, transferred in to WNCC and played in 52 games and had a .405 batting average with 10 doubles, seven triples, 43 runs scored and 30 RBIs.

                The other All-Region player was Kayli Cooper, a sophomore pitcher from North Battleford, Saskatchewan, who earned All-Region IX Honorable Mention honors. Cooper appeared in 33 games in the circle for the Cougars and had an 18-9 record with an ERA of 3.38. Cooper struck out 121 batters this season and tossed 169.2 innings in the circle. Cooper finished her career with 161 career strikeouts, which put her in the Top 10 at number 10 for most career pitching strikeouts.

                The complete list of All-Region First Team members included: Pitchers: Keira Gray of Otero; and Kailyah St. Amand and Sadie Kahl of McCook; Catchers: Mitchell of WNCC and Payton Kinsley of McCook; Infielders: Hilgner of WNCC, Lexi Knapp, Paige Warren, Luila Guterrez of McCook, and Liegha Lucero of Trinidad; Outfielders: Huffaker of WNCC, Kelsi Jurczewsky of NJC, Angela Banzet of McCook, and Jaylyn of Trinidad; Utility: Mariah Johnson of Otero; and Designated Player: Rocio Mascorro, McCook.

                The Honorable Mention members of the team included Cooper of WNCC, Kelsey Grant of Trinidad State, Mikey Llamas of NJC, Sienna Estrada of Otero, and Ayana Goodwin of McCook.

                The Freshman of the Year and Player of the Year went to McCook's Kailyah St. Amand.