2023-24 Western Nebraska C.C. Cougar Baseball News
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WNCC tops NJC 3-2, sweeps series
May 04, 2024STERLING, Colo. – The Western Nebraska Community College baseball team received excellent pitching and defense in taking an Empire Conference contest from Northeastern Junior College Saturday evening in Sterling, Colorado. WNCC’s four pitchers combined for 10 strikeouts and the Cougars scored three late runs to earn the 3-2 win over the Plainsmen. WNCC, who moves to 27-28 on the season, swept the series after taking the first game on Thursday 6-3 at NJC and then the doubleheader at Scottsbluff on Friday 5-4 and 2-1. It was WNCC’s fifth straight win and moves the Cougars to 18-10 in the conference, which is tied with McCook as they get ready for the Region IX tournament that begins Thursday in Colorado Springs, Colorado. WNCC will play either NJC or Lamar Community College who are tied at 10-18 in the conference. Southeast won the conference at 25-3, followed by Otero at 20-8, and both get byes at regionals. -
Pitching, defense propel WNCC to two wins over NJC
May 03, 2024The Western Nebraska Community College baseball team got strong pitching from Rocco Harmon and Zane Hendrickx as the Cougars wrapped up the home portion of their schedule with an Empire Conference doubleheader sweep over Northeastern Junior College on a chilly afternoon at Cleveland Field. The first game saw Harmon go six inning allowing just tw0 runs and striking out four as the Cougars withstood a Plainsmen seventh-inning rally for the 5-4 win. The second game saw the Cougars’ two pitchers Hendrickx and Cam Meyer combine on five hits and just one run in getting he 2-1 win.
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Peterson leads WNCC baseball to win over NJC in 11 innings
May 01, 2024STERLING, Colo. – Bryce Peterson had a career day as a Cougar as the sophomore from Brighton, Colorado, finished with three doubles and six RBIs to help the Western Nebraska Community College baseball team earn a 6-3 11-inning Empire Conference win over Northeastern Junior College Monday in Sterling, Colorado. Peterson’s hot hitting saw the third-baseman smack two doubles that score three runs each to help the Cougars move to 15-10 in conference and 24-28 overall. NJC falls to 10-15 in conference and 24-25 overall. WNCC and NJC will have three more games this weekend. The Cougars will host NJC in a doubleheader on Friday beginning at 1 p.m. at Cleveland Field and then travel to NJC for a 9-inning game on Saturday to close out the regular season.
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WNCC, McCook split conference doubleheader
April 25, 2024The Western Nebraska Community College baseball team split a key Empire Conference doubleheader with McCook Community College Thursday at Cleveland Field. The first game saw WNCC spot McCook five first-inning runs and then scored eight times late in the game to claim the 10-5 win. The second contest saw a tight contest through the first five innings knotted at 2-2. After that, the teams had to endure an hour-plus rain and lightning delay. When play resumed, McCook scored 10 times in the next three innings to win 12-2.
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WNCC baseball drops four games to Southeast over the weekend
April 21, 2024BEATRICE – The Western Nebraska Community College baseball team dropped four games to Southeast Community College in Empire Conference action on Saturday and Sunday. On Saturday, the Cougars fell to the Bobcats 27-1 and 9-6. Sunday’s action saw Southeast plate 30 runs in the two games compared to three for the Cougars. Southeast won the first game 18-1 and the second game 12-2. WNCC falls to 21-26 overall and to 12-8 in conference play. WNCC is fourth as Southeast leads the conference at 18-2 followed by McCook at 16-4 and Otero at 11-7.
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WNCC baseball ties home run record with split with Otero on Sunday
April 14, 2024The Western Nebraska Community College baseball team tied a school record for most home runs in a contest when the Cougars blasted eight home runs in a 22-12 win over Otero College in the second game on Sunday. In the first contest, the Cougars offense wasn’t as explosive as they fell 4-1 to the Rattlers. WNCC dropped 3-of-4 to Otero over the weekend and is now tied with McCook in the Empire Conference at 12-4. Southeast Community College is on top at 14-2. WNCC will be back in action this weekend when they travel to Southeast for a crucial 4-game series. The second game had all the dramatics as the Cougars belted out 20 hits and 22 runs with eight home runs and three doubles. Otero also had the offensive going as they managed 18 hits with two home runs. WNCC’s home run power saw Arturo Montiel blast three including a grand slam followed two from Shintaro Inoue, and one each from Ashton Ross, Caleb Caciari, and Hunter McCollum. The eight home runs in a game ties the record set by the 2003 team when they hit eight in the regional tournament. Montiel came within one home run from tying the record for home runs in a game with his three. He is now tied with Pete Rogers (2003) and Aurello Monteagudo (2004). Rogers hods the record with four home runs in a game with McCook in 2003.
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WNCC baseball falls twice to Otero
April 13, 2024The Western Nebraska Community College baseball team dropped a doubleheader to Otero College Saturday at Cleveland Field in key Empire Conference contests. In the first game, Otero scored nine runs in the first four innings and went on for the 14-3 win in six innings. The second game saw Otero hold WNCC scoreless until the ninth inning, but at the same time plated nine times for the 9-2 win. The two teams will be back at it again on Sunday with first pitch slated for 12 p.m. at Cleveland Field.
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Inoue breaks two records, WNCC takes DH from Lamar on Monday
April 08, 2024LAMAR, Colo. – Shintaro Inoue broke two career records Monday as the Western Nebraska Community College baseball team picked up two wins over Lamar Community College on Monday. Inoue broke the career runs scored record in the first game when the Cougars won 8-2. Inoue then broke the career home run record when he had a solo home run in the eighth inning of game two as the Cougars won 10-1. WNCC swept Lamar in the 4-game Empire Conference series to move to 20-19 overall and remains on top of the conference standings at 11-1. Southeast Community College is second in the conference at 10-2 followed by McCook Community College is 7-3 and Otero College fourth at 5-5. WNCC will have Otero, Southeast, and McCook in contest over the next three weekends. The Rattlers come to Cleveland Field this weekend for a 4-game series on Saturday and Sunday with Saturday’s action beginning at 1 p.m. WNCC travels to Southeast April 20-21 for a key series as well.
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WNCC baseball takes two from Lamar on Sunday
April 07, 2024LAMAR, Colo. – The Western Nebraska Community College baseball team got the offense rolling in an Empire Conference doubleheader win over Lamar Community College on Sunday in Lamar, Colorado. The Cougars spotted Lamar two runs in the first inning of the opening game and then came back and captured the 11-6 win. The second win saw the Cougars score 10 times in the first inning followed by a Tyler Easter grand slam in the fourth for the 17-2 win. WNCC moves to 18-19 on the year but, more importantly, is still on top of the conference standings at 9-1. Lamar drops to 14-22 overall and 4-6 in the conference. Southeast is second in the conference at 8-2 followed by McCook at 7-3.
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WNCC baseball drops doubleheader to Garden City
April 02, 2024The Western Nebraska Community College baseball team couldn’t find their offense in dropping a doubleheader with Garden City Community College on Tuesday at Cleveland Field. The first game saw the Cougars start strong, but then Garden City scored three times in the fourth and sixth inning to claim the 8-4 win. The second game saw WNCC manage just four hits as Garden City rolled to an 8-0 win behind a 10-strike out night from the six Garden City pitchers. WNCC will be back in action Sunday and Monday when they travel to Lamar Community College for a 4-game Empire Conference series.
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WNCC, Trinidad split conference games Saturday
March 30, 2024PUEBLO, Colo. – The Western Nebraska Community College baseball team split an Empire Conference doubleheader Saturday in contrasting fashion in Pueblo, Colorado. The first game saw the Cougars score five times in the fifth and Valentin Blanc went the distance, striking out six in helping the Cougars to the 5-2 win. The second game saw an offensive contest with the teams combining for 31 runs and 34 hits. In the end, Trinidad State got two solo home runs in the bottom of the ninth to claim the 16-15 win. WNCC moves to 16-17 on the season and are still in first in the conference standings at 7-1 just ahead of McCook, who split contests with Otero on Saturday. McCook is 6-2.
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WNCC sweeps Luna on Saturday, captures fifth straight
March 23, 2024The Western Nebraska Community College baseball team swept Luna Community College on Saturday in an Empire Conference doubleheader at a chilly Cleveland Field on Saturday. The first game saw Scottsbluff’s Hunter McCollum register five RBIs including a go-ahead 2-run home run in the sixth inning for the 6-5 win. The second contest saw the Cougars get strong pitching from Nick Tremblay and Gus Allred as the two combined on nine strikeouts for the 7-5 win. WNCC has now won five-straight and are sitting on top of the North conference at 4-0 with McCook in second at 3-1, Northeastern Junior College at 2-2 and Southeast at 1-2. McCook took 3-of-4 from Lamar Community College over the weekend while NJC split with Trinidad State. WNCC will be back in action Friday and Saturday when they hit the road for a 4-game series at Trinidad State.
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WNCC baseball takes two from Luna Community College
March 22, 2024The Western Nebraska Community College baseball opened Empire Conference action with a doubleheader sweep over Luna Community College Friday at Cleveland Field. The first game was action-packed as Luna hit five home runs and led 9-8 in the Cougars final at bat and the Cougars scored twice in the final inning as Shintaro Inoue had the game-winning double that scored Mathieu Levesque with the game-winner for the 10-9 win. The second game saw WNCC score nine times in the third inning in registering the 13-1 win in a contest that saw Adrian Short toss a strong six inning on the mound, striking out five and allowing just one run. WNCC and Luna will be back in action for another doubleheader on Saturday beginning at 12 noon to wrap up the 4-game series at Cleveland Field.
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WNCC comes back to down Paradise Valley to end Spring Break trip with a win
March 15, 2024PHOENIX, Ariz. – The Western Nebraska Community College baseball team used some late-inning magic in capturing a 7-4 win over Paradise Valley Community College Friday afternoon in Phoenix, Arizona, to wrap up their Spring Break trip. The Cougars will next be in action March 23-24 when they host Luna Community College in four Empire Conference contests at Cleveland Field. Friday afternoon, the Cougars fell behind 3-0 before they mounted a comeback in the seventh and eighth inning. Paradise Valley was cruising along with a 3-0 lead after scoring twice in the first and one in the third.
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WNCC baseball drops contest to South Mountain in high-scoring game
March 13, 2024PHOENIX, Ariz., -- The Western Nebraska Community College baseball team got behind early and never could catch up as South Mountain Community College scored in all six innings in posting a 19-7 win over WNCC Wednesday at Arizona. WNCC has dropped seven straight on the current road trip. WNCC will look to get back on the winning track when they face Mesa Community College in Arizona on Thursday.
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WNCC baseball team comes up short against South Mountain
March 12, 2024PHOENIX, Ariz. – The Western Nebraska Community College baseball team was in a battle against South Mountain Community College on Tuesday in a 9-inning game and just game up short in falling to South Mountain 5-3. It was a game where the Cougars did everything they needed on the mound, defense, and offense, but South Mountain just did a little bit more.
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WNCC baseball falls to No. 6 Central Arizona
March 11, 2024PHOENIX, Ariz. – The Western Nebraska Community College baseball team continued their Spring Break trip with a doubleheader with Central Arizona College and dropped a doubleheader on Monday to the No. 6-ranked team in the NJCAA national poll. The first game saw the Cougars manage just two hits in falling 8-1. The second contest saw Central Arizona score early to claim the 13-0 win.
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WNCC baseball falls to Madison College
March 10, 2024PHOENIX, Ariz. – The Western Nebraska Community College baseball team started their Arizona Spring Break trip off with a contest with Madison College in Phoenix, Arizona, falling to Wolfpack out of Madison, Wisconsin, 4-1. The Spring Break opener was actually a competitive contest as WNCC’s Hunter McCollum threw five scoreless innings to open the game and was matched by Madison’s Adison Tevz, who also went five scoreless innings.
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WNCC baseball takes two from Dawson
March 02, 2024The Western Nebraska Community College baseball team evened their overall record at 8-8 after taking the 4-game series with Dawson Community College on Friday and Saturday at Cleveland Field. After defeating Dawson 17-4 and 10-2 on Friday, the Cougars continued playing strong defense and timely hitting on Saturday, topping the Bucs 11-1 and 10-5. The Cougars are now 8-8 on the season and have won seven straight contests, which is fourth in the record book. The last time the were even in overall record or even more wins was back in the 2021 season when the Cougars won the Region IX tournament. Saturday’s game were a mixed bag. The first game saw WNCC score eight times in the second and won with a run in the fifth for the run-ruled game. The second game was closer as the Cougars trailed 5-4 late in the game before scoring six times in the eighth for the win.
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WNCC baseball captures doubleheader from Dawson
March 01, 2024The Western Nebraska Community College baseball team scored 27 runs in two games and took a doubleheader from Dawson Community College Friday afternoon at Cleveland Field. In the first game, Hunter McCollum went all five innings in striking out six while the Cougar offense blasted four home runs to get the 17-4 win. The second game saw a tight ball game through six innings before the Cougars plated seven runs in the last two at bats for the 10-2 win. WNCC and Dawson will wrap up the 4-game series with a doubleheader on Saturday at Cleveland Field beginning at 11 a.m.
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WNCC gets offensive in doubleheader win over Miles
February 25, 2024The Western Nebraska Community College baseball team combined for 35 runs, 29 hits, and six home runs in taking a doubleheader from Miles Community College on Sunday at Cleveland Field. Both games saw WNCC behind in the fourth inning and it was what they did afterwards that opened the flood gates for runs. Game one saw Miles hold a 4-2 lead after 3 ½ innings before the Cougars scored five in the bottom of the fourth and nine in the sixth to capture the 16-4 10-run-rule contest. Game two saw Miles score three times in the second and fourth to hold a 4-1 lead before the Cougars erupted for 15 runs in the fifth inning as Alex Ainsworth missed hitting for the cycle by a double as the Cougars won 19-6.
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WNCC baseball splits with Miles in home opener
February 24, 2024The wind was blowing out to rightfield on the breezy Saturday afternoon which meant it was a hitter’s ball park at Cleveland Field for the Western Nebraska Community College baseball team’s home opener Saturday with Miles Community College as the two teams split a doubleheader. The first game saw a combined eight home runs hit between the two teams, three of which came from WNCC, but it wasn’t enough as Miles registered the 8-6 win. The second game saw a combined 20 runs scored in the 9-inning game that saw Dylan Harris smack two home runs and Tyler Easter get two triples as the Cougars earned the 17-3 win in just seven innings. WNCC and Miles will back in action Sunday for another doubleheader beginning at 11 a.m. at Cleveland Field.
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WNCC baseball opens this season at New Mexico Military
February 05, 2024The Western Nebraska Community College baseball team will begin their 23rd season when they open this weekend against New Mexico Military Institute in Roswell, New Mexico, as the team hopes to duplicate the feat of the 2022 team when they won the Region IX tournament. WNCC head coach Mike Jones said the team is excited to get the season started as there is plenty of positive energy on the team this season. “Opening weekend is always exciting,” Jones said. “You are not going to be 100 percent ready to go this early in the season. We have energy and we are ready to go to play; I don’t know if we are 100 percent ready. The team should be in better shape this year compared to last year where the team seldom got to get outdoors during January and February because of the snowy weather. This season, the team has seen plenty of action outside in preparing for the season opening weekend.
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Scottsbluff’s Carter Reisig signs with WNCC baseball
November 08, 2023The Scottsbluff High multi-sport athlete will be taking his athletic talent to Western Nebraska Community College after signing to play for the Cougar baseball team Tuesday evening. Reisig, who has played with the WESTCO and Gering American Legion teams, said he is excited to continue playing baseball in college, a sport that he has played since he as a tiny tot. “I would like to say that Coach (Mike) Jones helped me a lot, too, the last couple of years and guided me to where I wanted to be today,” Reisig said about his decision to play baseball for the Cougars. “He has been watching me for a long time. I have been going to his camps since I was 10, so I always looked up to him and all the players, too, so I knew right away that I had to go.”
