NPCC Knights – Page 42 – North Platte Post Archive

NPCC Knights Softball Games Today & Tomorrow Canceled, Knights head to Region IX Division II Tournament

Posted on April 28, 2014

North Platte – The North Platte Community College softball team (10-26) canceled games scheduled for today against Barton Community College and tomorrow against Colby Community College due to weather. The games being canceled means the Knights finish the regular season portion of their schedule with a 10-26 record as they head to the Region IX Division II Tournament on Friday, May 2.

The Knights open up the Region IX Division II Tournament with a familiar foe, the Southeast Community College Storm (2-35) at 11 a.m. The winner advances to play the winner of the Central Community College Raiders (15-15) and the Dawson Community College Buccaneers (25-15) at 1:30 p.m. while the loser will play the loser of Central and Dawson.

The tournament is double-elimination that will resume on Saturday at 12 p.m. The Knights have played the Storm three times winning 12-4, 12-2 and 10-6. The Knights have not played the Buccaneers this year and have played the Raiders only once, falling 4-7.

The North Platte Knights can be heard throughout the tournament on ESPN Radio 1410 and online at northplattepost.com with Robert Lovell on the call.

The winner of the Region IX Division II Tournament will advance to and host the District F Championship on May 7-8.

NPCC Knights Softball Knock off Rival McCook, Drop Two against Garden City

Posted on April 27, 2014

North Platte – The North Platte Community College softball team (10-26) knocked off their rival, the McCook Community College Indians (31-20) in both games of a double-header Thursday before falling twice to the Garden City Community College BroncBusters (19-30) on Friday. The Knights defeated the Indians 8-6 and 9-6 in their annual “Beat Cancer” game while losing to the BroncBusters 2-13 and 7-16.

In the opening game against McCook, Shannon Lieber earned the win on the mound as she gave up five hits and only one earned run. Katharine Savolt earned the save giving up two hits and one unearned run.

Lieber led the Knights at the plate going 2-2 with a home run and two RBIs. Britlee Anderson was 2-3 while Soliel Atenza was 2-4 with an RBI and Sydney Standage was 1-3 with a double, a walk and scoring two runs.

The Knights followed up their game one win against the Indians with another win in the second game as Savolt earned the win as she gave up five hits and only one earned run. Lieber got the save as she gave up four hits and three earned runs to go along with three strikeouts.

Savolt led the Knights at the plate going 2-4 while scoring a run. Standage was 1-2 with a walk, a sacrifice and scored a run. Shaylynne Campo and Brooke Wakefield were both 1-2 and scored two runs.

“We played solid on Thursday for our “Beat Cancer” game,” said head coach Janelle Higgins. “Everyone played hard and we had solid at bats. Our pitchers pitched two solid games.”

Against the BroncBusters of Garden City, Shannon Lieber took the loss on the mound giving up 13 runs with six unearned on nine hits.

Katharine Savolt was 2-3 at the plate while Lieber was 1-1 with a run and walk. Soliel Atenza was 1-3 and scored a run.

The Knights also fell in the second game against Garden City. Savolt took the loss on the mound giving up 12 runs of which four were earned on seven hits.

Britlee Anderson was 3-4 with an RBI while Atenza was 2-3 with a walk and a scored run. Savolt went 2-4 with 3 RBIs and home run. Alexis Bryant was 2-3 while Christina Rodie had a walk and reached on an error while scoring two runs.

“Friday we had a few changes in our line-up but our team really showed heart and determination to fight back in both games after getting down early in the first innings of both games,” said Higgins. “I am proud of our girls for the fight.”

The Knights’ double-header with Western Nebraska Community College scheduled for Saturday, April 27 were canceled due to weather. The Knights return to the diamond on Monday, April 28 as they take on Barton Community College at 2 p.m. and 4 p.m. The Knights then host Colby Community College on Tuesday, April 29 at 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. before travelling to Beatrice for the Region IX Division II Tournament on May 2 where they open with Southeast Community College.

NPCC Knights Softball Splits with Hastings College JV

Posted on April 22, 2014

Hastings – The North Platte Community College Softball team (8-24) split the two games of their double-header with the Hastings College JV Broncos Monday afternoon in Hastings. The Knights fell in the opening game 1-3 before coming back to defeat the Broncos in the second game 6-5 in extra innings.

In the opening game, the Knights struggled to score until the seventh inning when they tried to mount a comeback. Siarra Velasquez got on base and scored but the Knights were unable to get any other runs across the plate the in the 1-3 defeat.

“We had a slow start in the first game and just couldn’t get runners across the plate,” said head coach Janelle Higgins.

Velasquez went 1-3 from the plate. Sydney Standage and Soliel Atenza each went 2-4 while Shannon Lieber and Brittany Odum both went 1-3. Katharine Savolt had the lone RBI on a sacrifice. Savolt was the losing pitcher going six innings, giving up four hits and three runs to go along with one strikeout and five walks.

The Knights rebounded with a game two victory as Shannon Lieber was the winning pitcher going all eight innings, giving up five hits and five run to go along with one strikeout and one walk. Both Britlee Anderson and Alexis Bryant led the way at the plate getting two hits apiece on four at bats. Anderson also scored two runs.

“It was a huge second game for us,” said Higgins. “We had base runners throughout the whole game, but just couldn’t get them across until the top of the 7th. (Shaylynne) Campo stepped up huge for us to help get the win.”

Other players getting hits for the Knights were Standage who was 1-3 with an RBI, Savolt who was 1-4 with a run, Atenza who was 1-4 with a run, Lieber who was 1-3 with two RBIs and a run scored, Brooke Wakefield who was 1-4 and Shaylynne Campo who was 1-2 with two RBIs.

“Our pitchers are doing a great job of getting ground balls and pop flies and our defense is playing solid. We just have to get our bats going from the start of the game. The girls are playing hard and never giving up,” said Higgins

The Knights return to the diamond on Thursday, April 24 with a doubleheader at home against McCook Community College at 5 p.m. and 7 p.m. The Knights remain at home the following day as they host Garden City Community College on Friday, April 25 at 3 p.m. and 5 p.m.

Knights Named to The World Herald’s All-Nebraska Teams, Montalvo & Merritt First-Team

Posted on April 21, 2014

North Platte – Ethan Montalvo and DaVontaye Merritt were both named to The World Herald’s All-Nebraska Junior College teams published by the Omaha World Herald over the weekend. Montalvo is joined by teammates Cameron Williams and Tim Simmons on the second-team along with Jake Maslo and Marco Pascolo as Honorable Mentions. Merritt is joined by Courtney Widick on the second-team along with Jordan Dickerson and April Stull as Honorable Mention.

The First-Team All-Nebraska selection for Ethan Montalvo, a sophomore from Omaha Bryan, adds to his long list of honors from the season. Montalvo was named an All-American Honorable Mention, All-Region IX, All-Region IX Tournament Team and All-NCCAC. Montalvo averaged 18.9 ppg and is the Knights 5th All-Time leading scorer with 1,171 career points. Montalvo has signed to play basketball at Division I Texas State University next year.

Tim Simmons, a sophomore from Stamford, Conn., was named Second-Team All-Nebraska after averaging 11.8 points per game for the Knights and being their defensive stopper. Simmons was also named to the All-Region IX Tournament Team and All-NCCAC Second-Team. Simmons is the Knights 40th All-Time leading scorer with 700 career points.

Cameron Williams, a freshman from Omaha South, was also named Second-Team All-Nebraska after averaging 13.7 points per game for the Knights. Williams was also named to the All-NCCAC First-Team. Williams scored 439 points during his freshman campaign.

Jake Maslo, a sophomore from Omaha Bryan, and Marco Pascolo, a freshman from Udine, Italy, were both named All-Nebraska Honorable Mention. Maslo averaged 6.5 points per game for the Knights while Pascolo scored 11.0 points per game.

DaVontaye Merritt, a sophomore from Plantation, Florida, was named First-Team All-Nebraska after averaging 16.0 points per game for the Lady Knights. Merritt was also named to the All-Region IX Division II Team, All-Region IX Division II Tournament Team and the All-NCCAC Team. Merritt is the Lady Knights 3rd All-Time leading scorer with 863 career points.

Courtney Widick, a sophomore from Brady, was named Second-Team All-Nebraska after averaging 9.5 points per game for the Lady Knights. Widick was also named to the All-Region IX Division II Team, All-Region IX Division II Tournament Team and the All-NCCAC Team. Widick is the Lady Knights 18th All-Time leading scorer with 570 career points.

Jordan Dickerson, a sophomore from Westminster, Colo., and April Stull, a freshman from Sweeney, Texas, were both named All-Nebraska Honorable Mention. Dickerson averaged 8.6 points per game for the Lady Knights while Stull scored 11.3 points per game.

Click here to read the full article.

NPCC Lady Knights Sign Two to National Letters of Intent

Posted on April 18, 2014

North Platte – The North Platte Community College Lady Knights basketball team announced the signing of two athletes to National Letters of Intent, Maddie Seamann of Hershey High School and T’Keyah Stapleton of Omaha Central High School. The two signees are the first of the 2014 class for the Lady Knights.

Seamann, a post player, joins the Lady Knights basketball program after helping lead the Hershey Lady Panthers to a 23-4 record during her senior year, including a SPVA Championship. Seamann averaged 8.5 points and 6.4 rebounds as a senior. During her junior year, the Lady Panthers finished third in Class C2 at the 2013 State Tournament and won the SPVA Tournament. The Lady Panthers also qualified for the 2012 State Tournament during Seamann’s sophomore year.

“Maddie will add depth to the post position on our team,” said head coach Richard Thurin. “I like her competitive spirit.”

Stapleton, a guard, joins the Lady Knights program after helping the Omaha Central Lady Eagles to a 29-1 record and the 2012 State Championship. She was awarded the 2012 Gilson Sixth Man Award for Class A as a senior.

“T’Keyah will add depth to the point guard position,” said Thurin. “I like her quickness and speed and ability to drive the basket and see the floor.”

Ethan Montalvo Inks Letter of Intent with Division I Texas State

Posted on April 17, 2014

North Platte – Sophomore Ethan Montalvo signed a National Letter of Intent Wednesday afternoon on National Signing Day with the Texas State University Bobcats, a NCAA Division I school located in San Marcos, Texas.

“It’s an awesome feeling to be signed to a D1 school,” said Montalvo. “My dreams have come true and I am really excited for the next two years to compete at the highest level.”

Montalvo was named to the 2013-14 Honorable Mention All-American Team earlier this week, becoming 8th player in program history to be named an All-American.

Along with being named an All-American, Montalvo was named All-Region IX 1st Team, All-Region IX Tournament Team and All-NCCAC 1st Team. As a freshman, Montalvo was All-Region IX 2nd Team, All-Region IX Tournament Team and All-NCCAC 1st Team.

Texas State University competes in the Sun Belt Conference where they finished the year 8-23 under first-year head coach Danny Kaspar.

“We are extremely excited to add someone the caliber of Ethan Montalvo to the Texas State Basketball family,” said assistant coach Talvin Hester. “We expect Ethan to make an immediate impact in our backcourt with his overall basketball skill set.”

“In addition, he brings a great attitude, high basketball IQ and a competitive edge to Bobcat Nation. He’s a winner. Ethan won in high school and at NPCC. We look forward to Ethan instilling some of that winning culture and attitude to our team next season.”

This season Montalvo led the Knights in scoring at 18.9 points per game and in steals at 2.2 per game while also contributing 3.3 rebounds and 2.6 assists per game.

Montalvo finishes his career with 1,173 points to finish 5th All-Time and ties Chase Grabau, Ben Wilson and Aboubacar Casse for most games played in a Knights uniform at 68. Montalvo started every single game of his Knights career.

“We will miss Ethan Montalvo here in North Platte,” said assistant coach Nathan Wieseler “but we are very excited for him to continue his career at Texas State. The staff at Texas State has done a great job recruiting him and has made sure he knew he was their top priority at his position since September. We know that Ethan will have a very successful career as a Bobcat!”

Montalvo has been a part of the most successful two year stretch in program history as the Knights compiled a 57-11 record during his career, including a Region IX Championship in 2013 and National Tournament appearance. The 57 wins are the most in program history in a two year stretch and the 11 losses are the fewest. Montalvo has never known defeat at McDonald-Belton Gymnasium finishing a perfect 28-0 in two years, also a school record.

NPCC Knights Softball Fall Twice at Iowa Western, Defeat Hastings JV Twice

Posted on April 16, 2014

Council Bluffs, IA – The North Platte Community College Softball team (7-23) traveled to Iowa Western Community College on Tuesday where they fell 1-2 and 1-6 in two tightly contested games. Last week the Knights won two games at home against the Hastings College JV 8-7 and 3-2.

In the first game against the Hastings College JV Shannon Lieber gets the win giving up six hits, four earned runs and striking out three. Katharine Savolt had a walk off double in the bottom of seventh inning to win the game while going 3-4 with two doubles and 4 RBIs. Soliel Atenza was 2-4 with an RBI and Britlee Anderson was 3-4 with 2 RBIs and a homerun.

The second game against Hastings College JV went nine innings with Savolt earning the win on the mound giving up two hits and 1K, while Lieber got the save giving up four hits and 1 strikeout. Savolt again had a walk off double to win the game and a hit in the seventh inning to tie the game as she finished 2-4 with 2 RBIs. Siarra Velasquez was 2-4 with 2 doubles and 3 stolen bases. Sydney Standage was 2-2 with a RBI and two walks. Brittney Odum was 2-3.

“We played two solid games Friday,” said head coach Janelle Higgins. “The girls really stepped up and were aggressive and disciplined at the plate when we needed to be and got two great wins both on walk off hits by Katharine Savolt.”

Yesterday in the first game against Iowa Western Shannon Lieber took the loss on the mound giving up six hits and one earned run. Sydney Standage was 1-3 with a double and an RBI. Soliel Atenza was 1-3 with a single and Brittney Odum got on base on an error and scored the lone run of the game for the Knights who left 3 runners on base.

In the second game of the day in Council Bluffs, Lieber again took the loss giving up three hits and only one earned run to go along with one strikeout. Siarra Velasquez had a in the park homerun on an error in the outfield. Brooke Wakefield, Katharine Savolt, Brittney Odum were all 1-3 while Britlee Anderson 1-2 with a walk.

“I am very proud of our girls for playing two very tough games against IWCC,” said Higgins. “They are a very disciplined and solid team that is at the top of their region and we were right there with them both games.”

“We just couldn’t string our hits together like we needed to in order to get the wins. In game two we had a few errors that cost us some runs but their pitchers did a very good job of keeping us off balance and not getting solid hits.”

The Knights games with Colby Community College scheduled for April 17 have been postponed. The Knights return to the diamond on April 21 when they travel to face the Hastings College JV. The Knights are next at home on April 24 with a doubleheader against McCook Community College at 5 p.m. and 7 p.m.

NPCC Knights Siarra Velasquez Signs with William Penn

Posted on April 11, 2014

North Platte – The North Platte Community College Knight’s Siarra Velasquez signed a National Letter of Intent to continue her softball career at William Penn University, a NAIA institution, for her junior season.

“I chose to go to William Penn because I like both the academic and athletic opportunities I am offered through the school and softball program,” said Velasquez.

Last season, Velasquez appeared in 36 games and had 108 at bats. She compiled 36 hits, including eight doubles and two homeruns to go along with 10 RBIs and 25 runs scored. Her batting average was .380.

This season Velasquez has appeared in all 24 games and leads the team with 69 at bars. She has compiled 20 hits, including a double, two triples and two home runs good for a .290 batting average. Velasquez also leads the team with 22 runs scored 10 walks.

“Coach Christner’s coaching philosophy is very straight forward and similar to what I experienced here at NPCC,” said Velasquez

“Although I am leaving a great program here at NPCC with Coach Higgins, I will take everything I learned both on and off the field and transfer it over to continue to grow both as a student and athlete into the program at William Penn University. I am very blessed and excited for this opportunity that I have been given.”

“We are excited to have Siarra here at William Penn University,” said William Penn head coach Mike Christner. “Siarra is a hard worker and we believe will be a good fit here at WPU. We look for her to be a contributor to the Statesmen program over the next couple of years.”

NPCC Knights Softball Signs Shelby Clark of Greeley, Colo.

Posted on April 11, 2014

North Platte – The North Platte Community College Softball team announced the signing of a National Letter of Intent by Shelby Clark of Greeley, Colo. Clark will play 1st and 3rd base for the Knights.

“I’m excited to play softball at the next level here at North Platte Community College,” said Clark. “I loved that I fit in not only with the team, but on campus as well.”

“I’m looking forward to what the next two years will bring and being a part of Coach Higgins’ program,” said Clark.

“Shelby will give us depth on our corner positions,” said head coach Janelle Higgins. “She will be able to add depth power wise in our batting line up.”

Ethan Montalvo Named Honorable Mention All-American

Posted on April 10, 2014

North Platte – Sophomore Ethan Montalvo was named to the 2013-14 Honorable Mention All-American Team on Tuesday afternoon. Montalvo becomes the 8^th player in program history to be named an All-American.

“Ethan will go down as not only one of the school’s all-time great players,” said head coach Kevin O’Connor “but did so with character and class. His work ethic and desire helped him achieve great things as a Knight. He was a privilege to coach and will be hard to replace.”

Montalvo joins Glover Cody (1989-90), LeMont Daniels (1993-94), Doug Rogers (1996-97), Jason McDonald (1998-99), Donta Watson (2003-04), Eugene Bain (2008-09) and Joseph Ragland (2009-10) as All-Americans to wear a North Platte Knights uniform.

Click here to see previous All-Americans

“I am extremely honored and blessed to be named an All-American,” said Montalvo. “I want to thank my teammates and coaches for helping me along the way. It is a perfect way to end my career at North Platte Community College.”

Along with being named an All-American, Montalvo was named All-Region IX 1^st Team, All-Region IX Tournament Team and All-NCCAC 1^st Team. As a freshman, Montalvo was All-Region IX 2^nd Team, All-Region IX Tournament Team and All-NCCAC 1^st Team.

This season Montalvo led the Knights in scoring at 18.9 points per game and in steals at 2.2 per game while also contributing 3.3 rebounds and 2.6 assists per game.

Montalvo finishes his career with 1,173 points to finish 5^th All-Time and ties Chase Grabau, Ben Wilson and Aboubacar Casse for most games played in a Knights uniform at 68. Montalvo started every single game of his Knights career.

Click here to see the 2013-14 All-Americans