The Western Nebraska Community College baseball team were outscored 25-2 in two games on Sunday, falling to Miles Community College in the non-conference doubleheader on Sunday at Cleveland Field.

                In the opening game, Miles scored 10, first-inning runs in registering the 14-1 win. The second saw the Miles' pitchers toss a combined two-hitter in leading the Pioneers to the 11-1 win.

                WNCC coach Mike Jones said it is still early in the season and this team will be alright when the conference schedule heats up next month.

                "These are games that we need use to make mistakes and learn from," Jones said. "We are trying to get everybody their playing time. We are trying to keep all our pitchers on a short pitch count. Everyone will get their innings and their at bats right now. We are going to continue to stay with that philosophy for a few more weekends and then when we get going with conference play we will have a better idea where our starting lineup will be and everybody will fall into their roles."

                Jones said there is plenty of promise for another outstanding season.

                "There is no reason to get discouraged right now. The talent level on this team is fine," he said. "As a head coach I have to do a better job of making sure they are prepared and getting all our work done during the week to get ready for the next weekend. I will do a better job of making sure the guys are prepared for game day and we will start seeing improvement."

                Miles took control of the first game right away, scoring 10 times in the first inning on five hits and two errors. The big hit in the inning for the Pioneers was a 2-run double by Braxton Boyle.

                After the first inning, both teams settled in. Miles added a single run in the third, only to watch WNCC answer with a run of their own in the third. Mitch Lightbody started the frame with a single and scored on a 2-out single by Brandan Maher.

                Miles finished off the scoring with three in the fifth for the final 14-1 win.

                WNCC was outhit 11-4 in the contest. Lightbody led the way with two hits, a single and a double.

                Jonathan Bermudez took the loss, tossing one inning allowing 10 runs on five hits and no earned runs. Bermudez also struck out three. Kale Litzelman finished off the game, going four innings in allowing six hits, four runs, and striking out seven.

                The second game saw Miles' Jonathan Ringer take a no-hitter into the fifth before Scottsbluff's Braden Lofink hit a single between first and second to break up the no-hitter.

                Ringer had plenty of offensive sport with his dazzling pitching as the Pioneers scored in five of the six innings played. The Pioneers had eight hits to WNCC's two. Miles led 8-0 in the fifth, scoring three times each in the second and fourth innings.

                WNCC finally crossed the plate in the fifth. Cooper Buchhammer and Lightbody earn walks to open the inning. Lofink then hits a grounder to rightfield to load the bases. Esai Hernandez lifts a flyball to leftfield to score the Cougars' first run as Buchhammer scored from third on the sacrifice.

                Miles put the game away in the sixth as Boyle rocketed a 3-run home run for the 10-run lead.

                WNCC's only two hits came from Lofink and Brevin Owen with singles in the fifth and sixth inning.

                Blake Slaymaker and Devin DeBoer had good outings on the mound despite the loss. Slaymaker went four innings in allowing five hits and five runs. Slaymaker struck out five and walked just one. DeBoer pitched two innings, allowing three hits and six runs, while striking out five.

                WNCC, 0-7, will be back in action Friday when they travel to Sterling, Colorado, to face Northeastern Junior College in an Empire Conference doubleheader. WNCC will then face Barton Community College on Saturday.

                "We basically have one more weekend of games where we can continue to experiment, get everybody their playing time, and then the wins and losses will really start to hurt," Jones said. "Right now it doesn't matter about wins or losses. That doesn't have no effect on us. When we get into conference play it will be more important to take care of the win and loss column."

First Game

Miles                     (10)01 03 – 14 11 0

WNCC                   001 00 – 1 4 3

LP - -Jonathan Bermudez; 2B – Mitch Lightbody.

Second Game

Miles                     031 133 – 11 8 1

WNCC                   000 010 – 1 2 2

LP – Blake Slaymaker.