The North Platte Community College Knights softball team defeated the Central Community College Lady Raiders 5 – 4 to claim the 2015 National Junior College Athletic Association Region IX Division II softball championship.

Central got the scoring started when Logan Zeleney homered in the top of the second to give Central a 1 – 0 lead.   The Knights answered back in the bottom of the third with four runs.  Jessica Jarvis singled with two outs. The next hitter Mehana Chang hit a two-run homerun.  Sara Villalobos then singled and scored on a home run by Sara Runia.

The score stayed 4 – 1 until Jayd Roberts and Zeleney  hit back-to-back home runs to cut into the Knights lead 4 – 3.  It was Zeleney’s second home run of the day.  Janey Pasold in the fifth singled, stole second, stole third and then scored on the throwing error to tie the score at four.

In the Knights’ sixth, Tara Crouch walked and scored the winning run on a double by Jarvis.

The Lady Raiders threatened in the seventh when Kira Ramirez walked and advanced to third on a single by Morgan Uldrich.  Runners were on first and third and Roberts lined to Baileigh Oleson, the Knights’ pitcher, to end the ball game.

Oleson pitched the complete game for the win. Oleson allowed four runs on seven hits and two walks.  She also struck out two Lady Raiders.

Knights Head Coach Janelle Higgins said, “They wanted to win; they wanted to show that their hard work paid off.  They came out here ready to go, ready to fire. They battled.  They could have gave up but battled through it and it’s great.”

Higgins received a bucket of ice over her head by her jubilant players.

Central defeated Southeast in the first game of the day 3 – 1 to eliminate Southeast.

The Knights, who are now 19 – 27, continue their season and will play the winner of Region 11 on May 1 – 2 at the home field of the winner of Region 11.  The Region 11 tournament was postponed until Sunday due to inclement weather.