HENDERSON — The sample size was only five innings, but Western Nevada College’s softball team proved in its season opener on Friday that it could go swing for swing with one of the top programs in the country.
Central Arizona, ranked 12th in the opening National Junior College Athletic Association poll, scored twice in the bottom of the fifth inning to squeak past the Wildcats, 15-14, in a rain-shortened opening game at the College of Southern Nevada Kickoff Classic.
“These girls have so much fight in them. To put 14 runs on the board says a lot,” said WNC coach Leah Wentworth. “It was great offensive production against a team that we have struggled with year after year in the past.
“All in all, it was a great battle. Anything could have happened in the next two innings; it was tough that it was called then.”
The Wildcats were scheduled to play two additional tournament games on Friday, but those games were canceled due to a steady rain that fell throughout the day.
After WNC jumped out to a 4-0 lead in the first inning, Central Arizona battled back to build a 13-6 edge through three innings. The Wildcats scored seven times in the fourth inning to tie the score. Makaylee Jaussi hit a leadoff solo home run, Briauna Carter launched a three-run homer and Samantha Bell hit a a game-tying two-run double to make it 13-13.
WNC took a 14-13 lead in the fifth when sophomore Katilyn Covione scored on a wild pitch with the bases loaded.
“The pitching mound was wet and slippery, and their pitcher was struggling with it in the top of the inning,” Wentworth said. “It was such a competitive game in tough weather conditions that it could have gone either way.”
Melanie Mecham led the Wildcats’ offensive attack by going 3 for 3 with three runs scored. Covione contributed two doubles, while Kelsie Callahan delivered two hits, including a two-run double, Bell, Carter, Jaussi and Kacie Freudenberger each provided a hit.
WNC will play Arizona Western, the No. 3 team in the first NJCAA poll, at 4:30 p.m. today. Weather permitting, the Wildcats are also scheduled to meet El Paso Community College of El Paso, Texas, at 8 a.m. and Yavapai College of Prescott, Ariz., at 10 a.m.
VARSITY BOYS BASKETBALL
Douglas rolls by Wooster
MINDEN — Douglas held Wooster scoreless during a stretch of nearly seven minutes bridging the second and third quarters to take charge of its homecoming contest in a 56-39 win Friday night at Randy Green Court.
Douglas (7-5 Sierra League, 9-13 overall) held a 21-14 lead with 3:25 left in the second quarter and pushed it to 31-14 with 4:33 to go in the third and never looked back en route to the win.
Jace Hart scored 16 points, nine of which came in the fourth quarter, and Zach Kellar added 13 to lead the Tigers. Hart shot 7-for-10 from the floor and Kellar 4-for-7.
Wooster (1-10, 3-17) was led by Martin Orozco with 16 points and Isaac Zinnerman with 15. Zinnerman connected on three straight 3-pointers early in the fourth quarter to bring the Colts back to 45-32, but that’s as close as they got.
VC demolishes Smith Valley
SMITH — Clint Hess scored 22 points and Christian Lindsay added 13 to lead the Muckers to an easy 54-23 Division IV win Friday night.
VC improved to 10-0 in league, and hosts Pyramid Lake today at 5:30.
Virginia City held Smith Valley to just six points in the second half.
VARSITY GIRLS BASKETBALL
Douglas routs Wooster
MINDEN — Leonna Mortimer contributed a double-double with 21 points and 12 rebounds to lead Douglas past Wooster 55-28 in the homecoming contest.
Douglas (10-2 Sierra League, 18-4 overall) scored eight unanswered points to take a 15-7 lead at the end of the first quarter and then extended the margin to 30-12 at halftime.
Mortimer had nine points and five rebounds in the third quarter. Maddy Lowe also scored 10 points and Corryne Millett grabbed 11 rebounds for the Tigers, who have won three straight games and 10 of their last 11.
Tara Garcia scored 10 points to lead Wooster (0-12, 3-17).
Spring Creek rolls by Dayton
ELKO — Christi Ricci had six points and three rebounds, going 4-for-6 from the free throw line in the Dust Devils’ 58-13 loss to the Spartans.
Angela Sikora added seven points, three rebounds and five steals.
“We just didn’t get any offense going against and gave up too many easy buckets inside to their posts,” Dayton coach Kelly Frantz said.
JV BOYS BASKETBALL
Carson routs Damonte
Greg Wallace scored 13 points, Abe Montoya had eight points and Michael Mendoza added six points for Carson (13-7) in its 46-27 home win over Damonte Ranch.
JV GIRLS BASKETBALL
Carson tames Damonte
RENO — Josie Share scored 16 points, Jenae Steele had nine points and Molly Otto and Camiell Simpson each added four points for Carson (17-3, 11-1) in its 42-20 win over Damonte Ranch.
Falcons bury Hawthorne
Sierra Lutheran improved to 6-0 in conference play with a 33-6 win over Hawthorne on Friday.
Elaina Marchegger led Sierra Lutheran with six points.
FRESHMAN GIRLS BASKETBALL
Carson handles Mustangs
RENO — Abbey Paulson scored 12 points and added four assists, and Dajarrah Navarro added 12 points to lead Carson to an easy 41-26 win.
Lauren Lemburg added 10 for the Senators, who improved to 14-6.