Baseball team ready to begin season with southern road trips Cougars hoping to claim Region IX title like in 2021

The Western Nebraska Community College baseball team is out to repeat what the team from two years ago did and that was win a Region IX championship.

Last season, the Cougars finished 21-33 and lost in the first-round of the playoffs to Trinidad State College. Two years earlier, the Cougars defeated Lamar Community College 12-10 in the semifinals by scoring eight runs in the ninth inning and then topped Southeast Community College 4-3 for the Region IX championship, the Cougars finished the season 26-29. This season, the outlook looks just as promising as that Region IX championship season in 2021.

“Right now it is a very good group of guys,” WNCC baseball coach Mike Jones, who is beginning his 22nd year at the helm. “We have been trying to get work down here in the winter time and it has

All in the Numbers

been a rough winter on us so far, but their attitudes are pretty good so we are looking forward to the season.”

WNCC will begin the season this weekend when they head to New Mexico to take on the New Mexico Military Institute in doubleheaders on Saturday and Sunday. Jones said the team is looking forward to get the season started.

“The players are all excited to get started this week,” Jones said. “For us it will be important for us to just on the field and get some innings in and get everybody playing baseball again.”

When the Cougars play this weekend, it will be the first time the team has been on a baseball field since November because of the snowy conditions that the area has experienced since December. In the meantime, Jones said his team has been trying to throw outside in cleared parking lots.

“We haven’t gotten on the field at all,” Jones said. “We tried to play catch in some open lots here and there. This has been the most difficult winter since I have been here. But we make it work and eventually it will all melt and it will be great and

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The number of players from France on the WNCC baseball roster this season. The four include Firmin Hassed, Joseph Toubeaux, Valentin Blanc, and Thibault Mercadier.

4

The number of true sophomores on the softball team this year. Overall, there are 13, but one is a redshirt from last year with just one true freshman -- Devyn Priselac.

The number of blocked shots the women’s basketball team has this season. Ola Duda, a freshman leads the team with 40 blocks, which is 14th in the season blocked shots chart.

The number of fouls that Sandi Pagel committed during the 1992-93 women’s basketball season. The 117 fouls leads in the record book. This year, Yara Garcia leads the team with 50 fouls.

173

The number of 3-pointers the men’s basketball team has made this season. Maurice Walker leads the way with 38 3-pointers followed by Daniel Bula with 28 treys.

On the Cover:

Biko Johnson goes up for two points in a game agaisnt North Platte Community College on Feb. 2. The Cougars have five more home regular season games.