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.

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.

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.

WNCC                     100 00 – 1 2 2
McCook                  110 16 – 9 11 1
LP – Kayli Cooper.
3B – Randi Mitchell