MCCOOK – It wasn't the way the Western Nebraska Community College softball team wanted to end their season, but finishing runner-up at the Region IX tournament after not making the tournament a year ago, goes a long ways in the growth and improvement of the team this season.
WNCC needed to win twice to claim a regional title on Sunday in McCook. The Indians, who set a school record of most wins in a season with 47, captured the Region IX title with a 9-1 win over WNCC. The Cougars finished the season at 27-25 and had many highs to the season.
"We had a great season all-around and I couldn't be more proud of this team," sophomore catcher Randi Mitchell said. "The turnaround from not even going to regionals last year to getting second really showed the hard work we put in with a brand new group of girls. Our goal from day one was Region IX champs and even though we fell short, that does not take away from our season and work we put in."
JoLee Huffaker said the focus of making it to the tournament was first and the second was winning it. The team came close, taking runner-up, and gave it their all.
"We worked hard to make it regionals that what we focused on most; just making it to the tournament in the month of April," the sophomore said. "I'm just glad we made it as far as we did with the amazing group that we had this year. It meant a lot to see our hard work pay off in the end to get us to where we wanted to get to."
Those highs and things to remember about the fight of the team included running off 14 straight wins in April as well as heading into next season on a 20-game streak of holding their opponents to under 10 runs. The other thing that stands out is last season, the Cougars failed to make the regional tournament and what this team did, after being 13-23 at one point and then going 14-2 to end the season makes this season special.
"Having a winning record seems like a small thing, but last year we didn't even have that. It is so fun to see our winning record and know that we did that together even when it was hard," Mitchell said. "We went 1-3 against Otero in the regular season so two our wins at regions beating them and knocking them out was something we were proud of. The team that played at regionals was a different team than Toero saw in the regular season."
And the run to the championship game was unique. The Cougars earned the right to play in the regional tournament title game by topping Otero College 11-5 in the first round on Friday. The Cougars then fell in a heartbreaking 8-inning 2-1 contest to McCook on Saturday. WNCC responded to eliminate Otero 11-3 late Saturday.
Sunday's contest was one where WNCC had plenty of base runners through the five innings, but couldn't get the right ball to drop or go through the infield as the McCook defense made plays to thwart WNCC runs.
WNCC, however, started the game strong as Randi Mitchell led off the game with a triple and scored on a Kallie Stocking groundout.
McCook came back with a run in the first to tie the game and then scored a run in the second to go in front 2-1. It was 3-1 after a run in the fourth and the Indians put the game away with a 6-run fifth inning to claim the regional title.
WNCC, however, had plenty of chances. In the second, Mykah Klumpp walked and Tori Travers got a single with one out, but the two were left stranded. The third inning, Mitchell led off after being hit by a pitch, but WNCC couldn't get a run in.
The fifth inning saw Alyssa Albaugh reach on a bunt, but she was left stranded after some near miss balls going into the outfield for hits were scooped up.
WNCC was outhit in the contest 11-2. Mitchell and Travers had the only hits.
Mitchell said for some sophomores, it was their last softball game and for others, they will continuing on. So, the emotions after the loss were heart-felt with tears of love being shown on the field among the sophomores, who played their last game and the freshmen comforting the players.
"It meant everything and more for us to play in regionals. We have some sophomores who aren't continuing their softball careers so getting there for them was special," Mitchell said. "Being at the tournament was a different and new experience for this team in the best way possible. I truly believe we went out and gave it everything we had. We owed ourselves to go out and give it every last bit of what was in our tank."
WNCC loses eight sophomores next year and return players that saw plenty of action this year. The recruiting class is also loaded with raw talent. Mitchell said Cougar softball looks strong for the coming years.
"The future for Cougar softball is going to be exciting to see. What the freshmen came in and did was so fun to watch and as a sophomore, they worked so hard for us all," she said. "Culture is talked about so heavily in our program so everyone who comes through here will be a part of that. It is nice to know that our team is held to such high expectations because it makes us all better people. I'm excited to see what the freshmen will accomplish next year and who fulfills the positions of graduating sophomores. It will be fun to see how they make their mark on the program."
WNCC 100 00 – 1 2 2
McCook 110 16 – 9 11 1
LP – Kayli Cooper.
3B -- Randi Mitchell.