The North Platte Community College Knights softball team will travel to Alamosa, Colorado and play the Adams State University Grizzlies Junior Varsity in a doubleheader on Friday, March 6.

The Knights enter the contest with a 1 – 9 record and are coming off a loss to Division I 15^th rated Western Nebraska Community College.

The Knights are led offensively by Shannon Lieber, who is batting 0.345 in 35 plate appearances. Lieber has a slugging percentage of 0.621 with five doubles and one home run.  Sara Villalobos and Brittney Odum each have two home runs for the Knights.

Lieber also anchors the pitching staff. Lieber has a 5.28 earned run average in 29.0 innings pitched.  She has 14 strikeouts and has allowed four home runs.

Game times are scheduled for 3:00 p.m. and 5:00 p.m. CST.

 

The North Platte Community College Knights softball team was defeated by the Western Nebraska Community College Lady Cougars in a doubleheader Monday afternoon 12 – 6 and 15 – 1.

In the first game the Lady Cougars scored four runs in the first inning.  Andy Hancock had three runs batted in on two hits, a single in the first and a home run in the fifth. The Knights started off the second inning with a home run by Sara Villalobos, a walk to Shannon Lieber and a single by Sara Runia to start a rally.  However, the Cougars pitcher Whitney Fields struck out the next two batters, allowed a single by Jessica Jarvis to load the bases, but got Caroline Motis to pop out to the third baseman.

The Cougars scored one more run in the bottom of the second and two in the third.  The Knights scored two in the second on a two-run home run by Shannon Lieber and three runs in the third on a bases loaded walk to Audrie Connor, an RBI single by Brittney Odum and an RBI single by Sara Villalobos to close the deficit to one 7 – 6.   The Cougars opened up the game in the fifth inning by scoring five runs.

Andy Hancock pitched the final two innings and didn’t allow a base runner for the Knights.

Shannon Lieber took the loss for the Knights.  Lieber pitched six innings, allowed eight earned runs on 13 hits, striking out two and allowing a home run.

In the second game of the day, the Lady Cougars opened the game up in the first inning by scoring six runs on a two-run double by Kenzie Sawyer, an RBI single by Lindsay Guymon, and a three-run home run by Andy Hancock.  It was Hancock’s second three–run home run of the day.

The lone run for the Knights was scored by Jessica Jarvis, who walked in the fifth inning, reached third on a single by Sara Runia and then scored on a fielder’s choice by Sara Villalobos.

Hancock pitched four scoreless innings for the Cougars to pick up the win.  Sara Runia took the loss for the Knights allowing nine earned runs on eight hits and four walks and one home run in two innings.

The Knights record drops to 1 – 9 on the season.  The Cougars improve to 15 – 3.

The Knights are on the road again when they travel to play Adams State University Junior Varsity in a double header on Friday, March 6.  Game times are at 3:00 p.m. and 5:00 p.m. CST.

The North Platte Community College Knights softball team’s weekend games have been canceled.

The Knights were to travel to Borger, Texas to participate in the Frank Phillips Tournament on Friday and Saturday, but the tournament was canceled due to impending inclement weather in that area.  Forecasts are predicting an 80 percent chance of rain and snow.  The Knights were to play against Dodge City Community College, Barton Community College and Frank Phillips College twice in the tournament.

Also the games Sunday at Garden City Community College are canceled also because of predicted low temperatures and inclement weather.  The high on Sunday is expected to be in the mid-teens.

The Knights are in action next when they do travel to Borger, Texas to play Frank Phillips in doubleheaders on Feb. 28 and March 1.

The North Platte Community College Knights Softball Team spit a doubleheader with the Murray State College Lady Aggies on Saturday losing the first game 6-4 and winning the second game in convincing fashion 14-0 in five innings.  The win was the Knights first win of the season and puts the season record at one win and seven losses.

In game one, the Knights jumped out to an early two to nothing lead on runs by Caroline Motis and Shannon Lieber.  In the second inning, the Knights added one more run when Sara  Villalobos doubled to left field driving in Motis for her second run scored for the game.

The Lady Aggies scored one run in each of their half of the third and fourth inning with runs by Haley Dixson and Kenzi Clapp.  The Lady Aggies took the lead in the bottom of the fifth when Rachel Noble hit a two-run home run scoring Aubrey Wooden.

The Knights tied it up in the sixth at four when Motis scored her third run of the game.

The game remained tied until the bottom of the seventh when Bryanne Knox singled to left field and then scored on Wooden’s walk-off home run.

The Knights were led offensively by Caroline Motis, who reached base three times and scored three runs.  Baileigh Oleson pitched six innings, allowed four earned runs on eight hits, two home runs and striking out six to take the loss.

Murray State were led by  Wooden, who had three hits, including the game winning home run. Jordan Dabney was the starting pitcher for the Lady Aggies. Dabney pitched 5.2 innings allowing six hits and two earned runs. Dabney struck out six. Kaitie Miller pitched 1.1 innings of relief to get the win.

The second game was all Knights.  Brittney Odum hit a three-run home run in the first inning scoring Caroline Motis and Audrie Conner.

The big inning came in the fourth when the Knights scored eight runs. Knights scored  on a two-run single by Shelby Clark, a two-run double by Tara Crouch, a two-run single by Jessica Jarvis, an RBI single by Caroline Motis, and an RBI single by Shannon Lieber.

The Aggies only managed to get one hit off of Knights starter Shannon Lieber.  Lieber pitched five innings  and struck out four.

Andrea Quiroga, Jarvis and Motis each had two hits for the Knights.  Jarvis had four runs batted in. Motis also had a stolen base.

The Knights are in action next when they travel to Borger, TX to participate in the Frank Phillips Tournament on Feb. 20 – 21.

The North Platte Community College Knights lost a couple of heartbreakers to the Grayson College Lady Vikings 7-6 and 11-10 in eight innings to drop to 0-6 on the season.

Knights Head Coach Janell Higgins said “We lost a hard fought two games. Losing is tough and even harder when on the road but we are making strides forward every game. We hit the ball well today. Our defense was strong and weak at the same time.  We made the tough plays and struggled to make the routine plays.  Our girls showed a tremendous amount of fight and played as a team. I am very proud of them for their effort.”

In the first game the Knights jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the second inning when Sara Villalobos scored on a single by Shelby Clark.  The Lady Vikings took the lead in the bottom half of the second scoring two runs.

The Knights took the lead in the top of the third with runs by Caroline Motis and Jazmin Chang on a single by Brittney Odum.  Grayson tied the score in the bottom of the third when Whitlock doubled to center scoring Logan Pennartz.

The Knights scored three runs in the fifth inning by Andrea Quiroga, Jazmin Chang and Brittney Odum to give them a 6-4 lead.  The Lady Viking’s Chelsea Whitlock scored on an error by the Knights in the fifth cutting the Knights lead to 6-5.

The Lady Vikings took the lead for good in the sixth inning on runs by Boyd and Pennartz on a single by Christina Guckes to centerfield.

Shannon Lieber took the loss for the Knights.  Lieber pitched six innings, allowed eight hits, seven runs of which three were earned.  Lieber struck out two and walked two.

The Lady Vikings’s Megan Rosewell pitched seven innings to get the win. Rosewell allowed only one earned run on four hits, striking out six Knights and walking two.

Andrea Quiroga led the Knights in game one offensively by going one for two with one run scored and a double and a stolen base.

In game two , Lady Vikings jumped out to a 2-0 lead, but the Knights battled back by scoring two runs in both the third and fourth innings to take a 4-2 lead.  In the bottom of the fourth, the Lady Vikings took the lead, 8-4 with a six-run inning of its own in the fourth. The Lady Vikings scored on a solo home run by Jordan Gundersen, a single by Christina Guckes, and a single by Taren Dillion.

The Knights came back and cut into the Lady Viking lead when Tara Crouch singled. Shannon Lieber doubled scoring Crouch and then Sara Villalobos two-run homerun for three runs in the inning to make the score 8-7 in favor of the Lady Vikings.  The Knights tied the score in the sixth on a run by Crouch on an error by the Lady Vikings leftfielder Rachel Morgan.

The Knights took the lead in the seventh when Sara Runia homered.  In the bottom of the seventh, the Lady Vikings’ Marlee Boyd homered to tie the game and send the game to extra innings.

In the eighth inning the Knights scored the go ahead run when Shannon Lieber doubled and then scored on a single by Sara Runia.  In the Lady Viking’s eighth Chelsea Whitlock singled to left field and was sacrificed to third by Brooklin Olson. With two outs in the inning, the game ended on a controversial home run by Goodman with Olson on base.

Shannon Lieber led the offense for the Knights in the second game going three for five with three doubles, three run scored and one run batted in.  Sara Runia and Sara Villalobos added a home run each. Shelby Clark added a triple, scored a run and knocked one run in.

Baileigh Oleson pitched 7.2 innings but took the loss.

The Lady Vikings had three players with home runs: Marlee Boyd, McKensie Goodman, and Jordan Gunderson.  Gunderson had three hits for the Lady Vikings in five at bats with two runs scored and two runs batted in.

McKensie Goodman picked up the win in relief.  Goodman struck out five Knights in 3.2 innings pitched.

The Knights will finish up their weekend by travelling to play Murray State College in Oklahoma in a double header.  Game times are at 2 pm. and 4 pm. CST.​

The North Platte Community College Knights Softball team were swept in a double header by the Barton Community College Cougars 9-3 and 9-1 on a cold and windy Thursday afternoon.

Knights Coach Janelle Higgins said that the temperature was in the low 30’s and there was a stiff 15 mile per hour wind.

“Some of our girls are not use to playing in this cold of weather.” Higgins said.

Game one started out with the Knights taking a 2-0 lead in the first. After Caroline Motis singled and Jazmin Chang was hit by a pitch, Brittney Odum doubled to drive Motis and Chang in.  The Cougars tied the score in the first on a double by Jenna Hosey which scored Bailey Hensley who walked.  The Cougars threatened to score in the third when they had the bases loaded. Shannon Lieber , the Knights pitcher was able to get out of the inning when Holly Posegate grounded out to Lieber to end the inning.  The Knights took the lead in the fifth inning on a Brittney Odum home run to make the score 3-2.  In the bottom of the fifth the Cougars did their damage.  They scored four runs capped off by a three-run home run by Kylie Everil to give the Cougars the lead 6-3.  They added three more runs in the sixth inning, including a two-run home run by Hensley.

Odum led the Knights offensively going 3-4 with two doubles and a home run.  Odum knocked in all three runs and scored one run.

Shannon Lieber took the loss but pitched a complete game and allowed only two earned runs on seven hits..

In the second game, the Knights scored early to take the lead 1-0 on a single by Sara Villalobos, driving in Motis.  The Cougars scored six runs in the second inning to blow the game open.  Erica Harper hit a three-run home run to highlight the Cougar second.  Posegate added a solo home run in the third inning and Hensley tripled and scored a run in the fourth.

Knights starting pitcher Baileigh Oleson took the loss for the Knights.  Oleson pitched two innings, allowed four hits, six runs, zero runs were earned.

Villalobos went 2 for 2 from the plate and drove in the lone run for the Knights.

Barton pitcher Taylor Bugner pitched five innings and gave up one run on five hits to get the win.

Higgins said: “We are a young team and need to play through the kinks.  Brittney had a good first game offensively and Shannon pitched well for us.  We need to cut down on errors .”

The Knights had six errors on the day.  All of them led to runs for Barton.​

The Knights continue their southern road trip Friday when they travel to Denison, Texas to play Grayson College.  Game times are at 1 p.m. and 3 p.m CST​.

The North Platte Community College Knights softball team travel down south to play six games in three days this weekend.

The Knights are 0-2 on the season, falling to Colby Community College in a doubleheader.  The Knights are led at the plate by Jazmin Chang and Shannon Lieber, both are hitting .333.  Chang has two stolen bases and Caroline Motis and Sara Runia each have one double.  Lieber leads the pitching staff with a 1.17 earned run average in six innings pitched.

Knights coach Janelle Higgins said, “This weekend will be a good test for us and our endurance.”

The Knights start out on Thursday when they travel to play the Barton County Community College Cougars in Great Bend, Kan.  The Cougars are 2-0 on the season after defeating Bethany College 11-3 and 9-3.  In the wins against Bethany College Holly Posegate led the Lady Cougars in hitting by going four for six and one home run.  Posegate also was the winning pitcher in the first game pitching a complete game and allowing four hits and three earned runs.  Game times against the Cougars are at 2 p.m. and 4 p.m CST.

On Friday, the Knights travel to Denison, Texas to play the Grayson College Lady Vikings.  The Lady Vikings are 2-2 on the season.  The Lady Vikings are led at the plate by Moriah Mitcheson. Mitcheson is batting .500 going five for ten on the season with one home run.  Marlee Boyd is 6 for 13 at the plate and has hit two home runs in the early season.  The Lady Vikings pitchers are led by Jordan Gunderson who has a 0.58 earned run average in 12 innings pitched. Gunderson has allowed one earned run and 14 hits in her two games.  Megan Rosewell is 1-1 with a 6.52 earned run average and McKensie Goodmen is 0-1 with a 4.20 earned run average.  Game times against Grayson College are at 1 p.m and 3 p.m. CST.

Saturday the Lady Knights finish their weekend road trip by travelling to Tishomingo, OK to play the Murray State College Lady Aggies.  The Lady Aggies are 1-5 on the young season.  They split a doubleheader with Grayson College, losing 13-5, and then winning 7-6.  Game times against Murray State are at 2 p.m. and 4 p.m CST.

The North Platte Community College Knights Softball team will open their spring campaign on Saturday, February 7 on the road in a doubleheader against the Colby Community College Lady Trojans at the Carl Adams Softball Field.

The Knights look to improve on last year’s 10-28 record.  They return five sophomores and added nine freshmen to this year’s squad.  Shannon Lieber, Brittney Odum, and Jazmin ‘Mahana’ Chang are returning starters for coach Janelle Higgins, who is in her fifth season as the Knights head coach.

The Lady Trojans were 10-40 during the 2013-14 season.  The Lady Trojans return 4 players Morgan Worthington, Sarah Churchwell, Breta Alstrom and Kasse Swisher.

Game times are at noon and 2 p.m. CST

The North Platte Community College Knights softball team comes into the spring 2015 season with optimism and high goals.  Knights Head Coach Janelle Higgins, who is in her fifth season with the Knights, said about this year’s squad, “I think we have a good chance to come out pretty decent on the conference side and on the region side.  We have a pretty good group of sophomores that are our core that is returning for us.”

The three starters that return are Shannon Lieber, Brittney Odum and Jazmin (Mehana) Chang.  Sara Runia is returning from an ACL injury last year and Christina Rodie is the other returning sophomore on this year’s team.

The pitching staff will be anchored by Shannon Lieber, who will get a majority of the starts.  Lieber, in the 2013-14 campaign had an earned run average of 4.65 in 75.1 innings pitched.  She had 3 wins and 6 losses on the season.  The Knights have other players who can step in and get some innings.

“Sara Runia has showed a lot of potential in the fall and the spring working on her pitching,” said Higgins.  Higgins also looks to freshman Baileigh Oleson, along with Runia, to be back up to Lieber, and get some starts. “She has a lot of hard work and ‘go after it’ attitude.  She gets it done on the mound,” Higgins said about Oleson”

Other Knights that will compete out of the bullpen will be Sara Villalobos and Audrie Conner, along with Toree Polsley and Andrea Quiroga to provide some relief.  As for pitching, according to Higgins, “We look pretty well depth wise.”

The catcher position is up for grabs.  The Knights will look to freshmen Villalobos and Jessica Jarvis, along with sophomore Rodie to handle the catching duties.  “Villalobos has stuck out as a good candidate to get some starts. Jarvis will get a lot of starts as well.  Jarvis is very quick.  We just have to get her some confidence.  She is a quiet kid and soft spoken kid, so to get her to open up those lungs and be a vocal leader will get her some starts,” Higgins said.

How the infield shapes up is dependent on who is pitching. Runia and Oleson play middle infield for the Lady Knights. Lieber, when not pitching will play first or second.  Polsley can play second.  Caroline Mobis will play first or third. “She is very strong, very quick and has a solid arm. I see her getting a lot of innings at third,” said Higgins.

The outfield has two returning players in it,    Brittney Odum and Mahana Chang.  The third outfielder could rotate depending on who is pitching and catching.  Some of the candidates to fill the third position are Christina Rodie, Sara Villalobos, Jessica Jarvis and Andrea Quiroga.

Hitting wise, Higgins said, “We have some pretty good bats coming back. Odum has been working hard in the off-season cranking the ball, along with Chang.  Lieber has been working hard and Christina Rodie had some key hits in the fall season.”

Higgins noted freshmen that should contribute offensively.  Baileigh Oleson will supply some power.  Higgins also mentioned Caroline Mobis.

“During the fall portion of the schedule, Mobis batted in the leadoff spot. She is very consistant.  She is good at reading the count, reading the batters and reading the pitchers,” Higgins said. Other freshmen that could provide some power Higgins mentioned are Tara Crouch and Andrea Quiroga.  “Out of the 14 kids on the roster, all 14 have the chance to show us some real good at bats” Higgins said.

The running game will miss Siarra Velasquez, who moved on to William Penn University.  Velasquez had 36 stolen bases last season.  The Knights will look to Audrie Conner, Andrea Quiroga and Mehana Chang to provide spark on the base paths.

The Knights open up the season on Saturday, February 7, as they travel to Colby Community College in a doubleheader. Game times are at noon and 2 p.m. CST.

The Knights will be on the road for the month of February.  They will have games throughout the month in Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas, and Colorado before their first home game against Colby Community College on March 8.

ESPN Radio will once again do play by play of many Knights softball games.  They can also be heard on the internet at www.northplattepost.com .  Most of the home games will be live streamed on www.coachesaid.com.