The Western Nebraska Community College Cougars came up just short in their bid for a 4th straight Region IX softball game, falling at home Friday night to Otero Junior College 2-1 in 11 innings in deciding game of the best-of-3 final round.
WNCC ends with a school record 55-10, but the heartbreaking loss left the players in tears. Head Coach Maria Winn-Retliff said afterward that it was still a fabulous season that saw Cougars set records and do things that will be hard to duplicate.
“There are a lot of things that happened to us this year such as records got broken and there are a lot of special people on this team,” she said. “For me there are a lot of memories that were made, but I sure wanted to be a champion and I know they wanted to be one, too.
There will be a lot of things that no one can take away from them. i am proud of the group, but sad it is over. I am sad to see some kids leave. But, unfortunately, I have to have a short-term memory and start preparing for next year.”
As for the game itself, Winn-Retliff said both teams played hard and well. “I thought both pitchers did a great job and we had some great defensive plays on both sides of the field. We scored a run and then I thought we played with a little bit of confidence,” she said.
“Then, in the seventh inning, they did what they were supposed to [and score a run]. We then had four innings to put a run across the board and we just couldn’t produce when we needed to.
“I have to give a ton of credit to Otero, they fought and they believed they were in the game, and they found a way to score a run. That is what champions do. Unfortunately they are holding the trophy and we are not. But, our kids fought hard and I am very proud of them. It is a tough way to lose.
The game started a little rocky for WNCC as the Cougars needed a bases-loaded double play to get out of the top of the 1st without giving up a run.
They drew first blood in the 3rd inning as Kayla Romey scored off a sacrifice fly to left field, and the scored stayed 1-0 until the top of the 7th. The Cougars were one out away from victory when Otero tied the scored on a double.
WNCC had base runners in the 8th, 9th and 10th innings, but couldn’t get the bit hit to plate a run. Otero finally broke the tie in the top of the 11th with a lead-off double and an RBI single. That held up as WNCC’s Lindsey Shiels-Brophy came up inches short of going over the fence in the bottom of the inning.
Otero outhit WNCC 9-4 as the usually heavy-hitting Cougars had just one extra-base hit…a double by Jennifer Cottle. Kasey Cash reached base 3 times, all by getting hit by a pitch.
Both pitchers went all 11 innings. Bianca Duran, the WNCC season and career recordholder for wins, suffered the loss, giving up just 9 hits and striking out 7 while facing 46 batters and throwing 160 pitches, 98 of them for strikes. She finishes the year 36-2 with 2 saves.
Otero’s Taylor Hall had to work even harder Monday…throwing 187 pitches, 110 of them strikes, in facing 44 batters and giving up just 4 hits.
Otero now moves into the NJCAA District E playoffs this Thursday and Friday, hosting Region 6 champion and #1-ranked Butler Community College of Kansas. Winn-Retliff says she wishes the Rattlers the best of luck and hope they can represent the region well and be able to compete against Butler.
Monday’s Game
Otero (53-9) 000 000 100 01 — 2 9 0
WNCC (55-10) 001 000 000 00 — 1 4 3
WP — Hall, LP — Duran; 2B — WNCC (Jennifer Cottle), Otero (Rebecca Walker, Savana King).