The North Platte Community College softball team gave up 26 runs on Tuesday but found a way to score 29 runs, and swept Northwest Kansas Technical College 11-9, 18-17.

“It was a great day for ball, the weather was perfect and we came out with two wins, we couldn’t ask for anything more,” said North Platte Coach Janelle Higgins.

Hallei Morales (North Platte) went four-for-four with a pair of home runs and six RBIs to help fuel the Knight offense in the first game. In the second game Willow Chitty (North Platte) and Kayleigh Bucio (Rialto, Calif.) were a perfect nine-for-nine at the plate combined, scoring 10 times and driving in 10 to lead the 20-hit Knight attack.

“Hitting is contagious and once it gets going the atmosphere gets hyped and good things happen, Higgins said. “It’s great when we have athletes — who have been struggling in some aspect of the game — respond with a great at bat or great day on the mound or in the field.”

North Platte improves to 11-17 on the season and will be in action Saturday at home against Central Community College in games at 1 and 3 p.m. and on Sunday against Southeast Community College in games at 2 p.m. and 4 p.m.

“Every day we are able to get games in we get stronger as a unit and we will only continue to get stronger as the season progresses,” Higgins said.

Game 1 – North Platte CC 11, Northwest Kansas Tech 9: Willow Chitty broke up a 7-7 game in the fifth inning with a go-ahead home run to propel the Knights to the win.

“We started out a little slow and tight in Game One but ended up hitting the ball well and our defense held strong to come out on top,” Higgins said.

Hallei Morales homered twice, doubled and singled in four at bats to help fuel the Knight offense. She doubled in the first, homered in the third, homered in the fourth, and singled in the fifth.

Emily Marsden (Papillion) was in the circle for Knights. She surrendered nine runs on 11 hits over seven innings.

“Our athletes showed a ton of grit today, they never stopped and never gave up. From the top of our order to the bottom to the dugout everyone was in sync,” Higgins said.

Kayleigh Bucio (Rialto, Calif.) had a four bagger in the fourth inning. Mikayla Gibson (West Valley, Utah) had a three-hit game. North Platte also got multi-hit games from Chitty, Bucio, and Alea Binkly (Council Bluffs, Iowa).

Game 2 – North Platte CC 18, Northwest Kansas Tech 17: With the game tied at 15-15 in the sixth inning, Kayleigh Bucio delivered a two-run triple (one of four hits she had in the game) to put North Platte in the lead for good.

The Knights had built a 13-7 lead in the fifth inning but Northwest Kansas Tech scored eight times in the sixth to take a 15- 13 lead.

Ashylnn Krueger (Littleton, Colo.) was credited with the victory for Knights. She went five innings, allowing ten runs on ten hits, striking out four and walking none. Hailey Wilkins (Tyler, Texas) threw two innings in relief out of the bullpen to earn the save for Knights.

Bucio went yard in the second inning. She tripled and singled twice scoring five runs in the game along with seven RBIs. Chitty went five-for-five, scoring five runs and driving in three. The Knights also got three-hit games from Emily Marsden and Maddie Liddell (Glenwood, Iowa).

The North Platte Area Sports Commission brings the 2019 Major League Baseball Jr. Home Run Derby to North Platte on Saturday, April 27th at the American Legion/North Platte First Nationals Baseball Field. This fun and exciting youth competition is a free way for talented youngsters to showcase their hitting abilities, with the opportunity of competing at the National Finals during MLB® All-Star Week™.

Boys and girls are divided into two age divisions: 12U and 14U, and will have the chance to advance through three levels of competition. The Local Champions from both age divisions will advance to the Regional Level, and Regional Champions will advance to the National Finals, which will take place during the 2019 MLB® All-Star Week™ in Cleveland, Ohio.

All participants must bring a copy of their birth certificate and have their parent or guardian fill out a registration/waiver form prior to the start of the competition. To pre-register or for more information, go to PlayNorthPlatte.com, or contact the local coordinator, Samantha Geisler at 308-221-6865. This is a FREE event for both participants and spectators.

North Platte Area Sports Commission strives to bring in bigger tournaments and more events for our youth! For more information on the North Platte Area Sports Commission go to PlayNorthPlatte.com! The North Platte Area Sports Commission is a division of the North Platte/Lincoln County Visitors Bureau.

Mid-Plains Community College resumed the 2018-19 rodeo season with two second place finishes over the weekend – despite running into some hard luck.

The MPCC Rodeo Team competed at the South Dakota State University Jackrabbit Stampede in Brookings, S.D. Friday and Saturday.

Bull rider Koby Jacobson, of Haiku, Hawaii, finished second as did his team roping teammates, Caden Kinderknecht, of Almena, Kan., and Trenton Solida, of Phillipsburg, Kan.

“Koby has been trying real hard on both ends of the arena,” said Garrett Nokes, MPCC Rodeo Team timed event coach. “He’s really been working at being a major part of the team, and that finish put him to where, he’s still third in the standings, but it’s a very strong third.”

Nokes said Jacobson hasn’t officially punched his ticket for the College National Finals Rodeo, however, he is in a position that will be difficult for his competitors to beat.

“I’m happy for him and real proud,” Nokes said. “Koby’s close to accomplishing a goal he set for himself, and he has a chance to qualify for nationals in the steer wrestling, too, if things go right these next few rodeos.”

Nokes is also impressed with Kinderknecht’s work ethic and how far he has come in the past six months.

“There’s no end to what Caden can accomplish,” Nokes said. “As for Trenton, he’s had a lot of success recently. He’s placed in the top six in the last three rodeos, and just keeps plugging along and doing great things for us.”

In the other events, Seth Pearson, of Valentine, placed fifth in the tie-down roping for MPCC. J.D. Draper, of Oakley, Kan., was sixth in the steer wrestling.

Overall, MPCC ended up fifth in the men’s team standings. It was sixth in the women’s team standings.

The team suffered a setback Saturday when a bronc flipped over on Landon Sivertson, of Ree Heights, S.D., causing him to sustain injuries that will temporarily take him out of competitions.

“Landon has contributed really well to the rodeo team as a freshman,” Nokes said. “We’re really going to miss having him compete with us this weekend, and depending on what the doctors say, possibly the rest of the season. He’s a good kid and about as hardworking of a kid as I’ve ever coached. I’m sure going to miss him, but there’s no way that he won’t be back in the fall. He’s too driven.”

The Jackrabbit Stampede was the first rodeo of spring for the Great Plains Region. MPCC will compete in three more rodeos through the first week of May. The next one will be Friday and Saturday at Black Hills State University in Spearfish, S.D.

BEATRICE – The North Platte Community College softball team dropped a pair of games to Southeast Community College Sunday losing the first game 13-5 and the second game 9-3.

“We played hard and fought back both games, but just didn’t have the gas to get over the hill we created early,” said North Platte Community College coach Janelle Higgins.

In both games the Storm had at least seven runs before the end of the second inning.

“They got in our heads early and we couldn’t shake them. We had glimpses of playing our game, but we were not consistent today,” Higgins said.

The condition of the field was also a factor in the game according to the coach.

“We did better today fielding fly balls but the field was super soft today, so everything died quickly and we rushed our throws on easy grounders.” Higgins said.

Southeast improves to 8-6 on the year and 2-0 in conference.

North Platte falls to 8-16 on the year and continue a six-game road swing through the Nebraska Community College Athletic Conference with a pair of games Monday at Columbus against Central Community College at 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. The next games are set for April 10 at McCook Community College at 4 p.m. and 6 p.m.

“We are very proud of our athletes for how they handled themselves today on the field,” Higgins said.

Game 1 – Southeast CC 13, North Platte CC 5: The Storm jumped on the Knights for four runs in the first inning and added six runs in the second.

North Platte cut the gap to 4-2 in the top of the second. Emily Marsden (Papillion) led off with a single and went to second on a sacrifice bunt from Erika McClung (Victoria British Columbia). With two out Marsden scored on a Southeast error and the Knights cut the margin to two runs on a Sienna Pfaff (Salem, Utah) RBI-single.

Southeast took a 10-2 lead in the second and stretched it to 11-2 in the third and 13-2 in the fourth before the Knights added three runs in the fifth. Pfaff, Kayleigh Bucio (Rialto, Calif.) and Mikayla Gibson (West Valley, Utah) singled to load the bases. Hallei Morales (North Platte) had a two-run single and a Marsden ground out provided the final North Platte run.

Marsden started the game in the pitching circle allowing nine runs on six hits in 1.1 innings. Hailey Wilkins (Tyler, Texas) went 2.2 innings and gave up four runs on five hits.

Gibson and Pfaff both had two hits each for the seven-hit North Platte offense.

“We had some solid hits but played most of the day hitting the ball right at them,” Higgins said.

Game 2 – Southeast CC 9, North Platte CC 3: It was another early big-run inning in the second game that North Platte was unable to recover from, giving up seven runs in the second inning.

Hallei Morales singled to lead off the North Platte second, went to second on an error and scored on a two-out Erika McClung single to give the Knights their only lead of the day.

After the Storm took a 7-1 lead in the second, North Platte did fight back to cut the lead to 7-3 in the top of the third. Willow Chitty (North Platte) was hit by a pitch to lead off the third, she stole second, went to third on a Kayleigh Bucio single and scored on a groundout off the bat of Mikayla Gibson. With two outs, Alea Binkley singled in Bucio, but that’s as close as the Knights got as Southeast added runs in the fifth and sixth to close out the game.

Sophomore pitcher Ashlynn Krueger (Littleton, Colo.) took the loss for North Platte she went six innings, allowed two earned runs on 11 hits.

Members of the North Platte Community College Softball Team spent their spring break helping flood victims in eastern Nebraska.

Fifteen players, two coaches and a bus driver, dedicated almost seven hours to cleaning up a basement belonging to the parents of Emily Marsden. Marsden is one of the players on the team. Her hometown of Papillion suffered significant flood damage from storms earlier this month.

On March 21, Marsden’s teammates joined her in carrying out wet carpet, padding, woodwork and furniture from her family’s home. They also helped push water out of the house and sandbag around the property.

“Those girls were rock stars,” said Cheryl Marsden, Emily’s mother.

Inspired by the players and coaches, the team’s bus driver, Todd Hanneman, made a generous contribution as well. In addition to helping with the cleanup, he drove the team to Papillion for free.

“I figure since the team wanted to donate their time and efforts to help, I can do the same,” said Hanneman.

The cleanup was one of many volunteer projects the team has taken on this year and was part of an overall lesson Head Coach Janelle Higgins hopes to instill in her players.

“I just want them to always do their part,” Higgins said. “Papillion isn’t our community, but it’s home to part of our family, and we take care of our own. Our true goal goes beyond wins on the field. It’s about being pillars in the community and kind and caring people overall.”

STERLING, Colo. – The Northeastern Junior College Plainswomen downed the North Platte Community College softball team twice Wednesday by the scores of 11-3 and 14-6.

“Today was a great day for softball, we had great weather and we never stopped fighting,” said North Platte coach Janelle Higgins. “We chalk today up to a tough learning experience but we would rather have these learning moments now and not at the end of April.”

The Knights were up 3-1 in the first game heading to the fifth inning and were out-scored 10-0 in the final two innings. North Platte scored a pair of first-inning runs in the second game but gave up at least three runs in all four defensive innings.

“We are a very competitive team and do not like losing but we always learn more from these tough losses than we do the wins — but we would much rather win.”

North Platte falls to 8-12 on the year and will return home Thursday for a makeup doubleheader with Lamar Community College that was postponed March 7. Games start at 2 p.m. and 4 p.m.

Game 1 – Northeastern JC 11, North Platte CC 3: Willow Chitty (North Platte led off the game with a single went to third on a one-out double from Mikayla Gibson (West Valley, Utah) and scored on a sacrifice fly off the bat of Hallei Morales (North Platte) to give the Knights a 1-0 lead.

After NJC tied the game in the bottom of the first, North Platte took a 3-1 lead in the third on a Plainswomen error and a two-run home run from Kayleigh Bucio (Rialto, Calif.).

“We hit the ball well from one to nine in the order, but our defense was very up and down and never leveled out,” Higgins said.

The Knights gave up six unearned runs in the game, committed five errors including three in the final 1.2 innings, walked five hitters and hit a batter in the fifth and sixth innings.

NPCC had seven hits in the game including two by Gibson.

Ashylnn Krueger (Littleton, Colo.) pitched 4.1 innings, Emily Marsden (Papillion) the final 1.1. They allowed nine NJC hits, and five earned runs while walking six.

Game 2 – Northeastern JC 14, North Platte CC 6:

North Platte scored two runs in the first, third and fourth innings but couldn’t keep the Plainswomen off the board as NJC scored five in the first, and three each in the second, third and fourth innings.

The Knights started the games with consecutive singles from Willow Chitty, Kayleigh Bucio, and Mikayla Gibson to make it 1-0. An Emily Marsden sacrifice bunt drove home Gibson to make it 2-0.

Trailing 8-2 in the third inning with two outs, the Knights got back-to-back solo homeruns from Hallei Morales and Emily Marsden. Trailing 11-4 in the fourth, Erika McClung (Victoria British Columbia) delivered a two out single and Chitty followed with a two-run homer for the final Knight runs in the game.

“We started out strong scoring first but then dug ourselves into too deep to climb out in both games,” Higgins said.

North Platte had eight hits in the game with two each from Chitty and Bucio.

A trio of pitchers — Hailey Wilkins (Tyler, Texas), Ashylnn Krueger and Marsden were tagged with 10 earned runs in four innings of work, walked five and allowed 10 hits.

North Platte Community College volleyball player Taylin McNair (Imperial) signed a letter Wednesday to continue her volleyball in the Fall at the University of Nebraska-Kearney.

“We are so excited that Taylin has earned this opportunity to play at Kearney,” said North Platte Volleyball Coach Alexa McCall. “Taylin is such an awesome young lady on and off the court and comes from a great family.”

The 5-8 setter who played for Chase County High School, played in 36 matches this past season. She had 752 assists, which was second most among all Region IX Division II players and topped the Region with 47 service aces. Her 297 digs, were ninth best in the Region.

“I chose Kearney because of the great atmosphere and also the great people,” McNair said.

She plans to go into UNK’s interior design program.

“I can’t wait to become a Loper.”

Her college coach McCall said McNair was a Knight team captain because she was a great leader and her teammates trusted her. “She always played composed and mentally tough,” McCall said.

As a sophomore she was named to the Region IX All-Tournament Team and received honorable mention by the Omaha World Herald on the all-Nebraska two-year college team.

“She is also a great student and all around good person,” McCall said. “I am proud of the things Taylin has accomplished here at NPCC and excited to see her continue playing at Kearney.”

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Nebraska has fired seventh-year coach Tim Miles after the Cornhuskers finished 13th in the Big Ten and failed to make the NCAA Tournament for a fifth straight year.

Athletic director Bill Moos announced the firing Tuesday, two days after the Huskers finished a 19-17 season with an 88-72 loss to TCU in the second round of the NIT.

Miles was 116-114 overall and 52-76 in Big Ten regular-season games. Nebraska was 10th or lower in the Big Ten in all but two of Miles’ seasons.

The Huskers started this season 13-4 and appeared in The Associated Press Top 25 for the first time since 2014. The Huskers lost 11 of 13 games in January and February. Winning two games in the Big Ten Tournament wasn’t enough to get them an NCAA bid.

HARRISON, Ark. – The basketball season came to a close Thursday for the North Platte Community College women, who lost a consolation game to South Suburban (Ill.) 82-60 in the National Junior College Athletic Association Division II championships from Pioneer Pavillion at North Arkansas College.

“This was definitely not the outcome we wanted but what we accomplished the last month of the season was outstanding,” North Platte Coach Jeff Thurman said. “Our student-athletes have nothing to hang their heads about.”

The Lady Bulldogs surged to a 12-point lead in the first quarter, but as the North Plate games have been over the past several weeks — the Knights fought back.

Down 22-10 with 1:32 left in the first quarter, North Platte fought back making three free throws in the next 55 seconds. A Trinity Langley (Potter, Neb.) bucket off a Madisyn Francis (Houston, Texas) assist with 32 second left in the half made it a seven-point game. After the Lady Bulldogs hit a basket, Francis came back to hit a bucket with two seconds left to pull the Knights to 24-17 at the end of the first quarter.

After neither team scored in the first two minutes of the second quarter, Francis hit a 3-pointer at the 8:57 mark to make it a 24-20 game. South Suburban muscled up and went on a 19-6 run over the next seven minutes to lead 39-26. The two teams traded baskets over their next possession, but Nahatabaa Nacona, (Chinle, Ariz.) went to the line and hit a free throw with 5 seconds left, missed a second free throw, but got her own rebound and sunk a 3-pointer at the buzzer to pull the Knights back within nine points at the half 41-32.

“We played with great effort and huge hearts today,” Thurman said. “I am extremely proud of each one of them.”

Just 56 seconds into the second half, Emily Joseph (St. Petersburg, Fla.) hit a 3-pointer to make it a six-point game at 41-35, but the Lady Bulldogs were able to put some distance on the Knights making a couple shots from distance, to stretch the lead to 47-35 and kept extending the lead – 15 points at the 6:07 mark, but once again, the Knights fought back.

A Joseph 3-pointer with 3:07 left in the third period cut the Lady Bulldog lead to 55-47 but that’s as close as the Knights got for the remainder of the game. South Suburban made it a 60-49 game at the end of the third period and held a 22-11 advantage in the final 10 minutes

It’s fitting that the two sophomores who led North Platte on the unlikely post-season run – Francis and Nacona led the Knights with 20 points 19 respectively, and they both went down fighting, with each player fouling out in the fourth quarter.

Joseph scored 13 points. Dehje Belmore, freshman, (Denver, Colo.) came off the bench to score six points. Langley led the Knights with nine rebounds (four on the offensive end).

North Platte shot 38.2 percent from the field, made seven of 23 shots from beyond the 3-point line, and 11 of 16 from the free-throw line.

Brianna Joiner led the Lady Bulldogs with 16 points. Yasmarella Thompson scored 15 off the bench. South Suburban also got double-digit games from Zakah Blake with 12 points and 11-point games from Diamond Stallworth and Danish Magette.

The Lady Bulldogs shot 42.5 percent for the game, made seven of 26 shots from the 3-point line (26.9 percent) and were 15 of 24 from the foul line (62.5 percent.) South Suburban out-rebounded North Platte 37-31 and scored 33 points in the paint compared to the 14 for North Platte.

The Lady Bulldogs scored 30 points off 23 North Platte turnovers. SSC turned the ball over 12 times.

South Suburban improves to 26-6 and will continue in the consolation round Friday at 1 p.m. for a chance in the seventh place game Saturday at noon.

North Platte finishes the season at 8-24.

“This year’s squad has set the bar high for next year and the years to follow,” Thurman said. “I’m honored to have coached this team this year.”