Beatrice – The North Platte Community College softball team (10-28) ended their season Friday in the Region IX Division II Tournament falling in the opening game of the tournament to the Southeast Community College Storm (3-36) by a score of 6-7 before falling by the same score to the Dawson Community College Buccaneers (27-17) to end their season.

In the opening game against the Storm, the Knights struggled to get their bats going as they fell behind 0-7 heading into the bottom of the seventh inning. With their backs against the wall the Knights responded by scoring six runs. However it was not enough as the Knights fell in the opening game 6-7. Shannon Lieber took the loss on the mound as she gave up eight hits, two earned runs and one walk to go along with five strikeouts in four innings. Katharine Savolt pitched the first three innings giving up four hits and two earned runs.

Soliel Atenza and Lieber were both 2-4. Atenza had two RBIs to go with a double and run scored. Lieber had an RBI and scored a run. Brittany Odum was 1-2 with two walks and scored a run. Brooke Wakefield was 2-3 with two RBIs, a double and scored a run.

“We played hard and fought back in game one,” said head coach Janelle Higgins. “It was our fourth time seeing Southeast and we didn’t adjust well at the plate until the last inning. We left eight runners in scoring position which is tough when you lose by one.”

In the second game of the day against the Buccaneers Savolt took the loss as she gave up six hits and three earned runs in seven innings of work. Sydney Standage was 1-1 with three walks, Britlee Anderson was 2-3 with an RBI and a run scored, Jazmin Change was 2-3 with an RBI and a double and Siarra Velasquez was 1-2 with a homerun, three RBIs and two walks.

“In game two we bounced back and scored right away and had the lead most of the game,” said Higgins. “We left 7 runners in scoring position in game two.”

Katharine Savolt and Britlee Anderson were named to the All-Region IX Division II Tournament Team while Savolt and Soliel Atenza were named to the All-Region IX Division II Team.

“The season didn’t end how we wanted but we battled injuries, illness and lost close to twenty games because of weather,” said Higgins. “Our girls still fought hard till the very end. I am very proud of these young ladies and am going to miss our sophomores and their leadership and heart next season as they were great role models for our freshman.”

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.

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.

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.

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.