WNC roundup: baseball ends at home on high note; softball sweeps

It was only fitting that Western Nevada College won its final game at John L. Harvey Field on a well-executed bunt by a power hitter.

Daniel Nist’s two-out bunt along the third-base line brought home Chandler Barkdull, providing WNC with a 2-1 Scenic West Athletic Conference baseball victory over College of Southern Nevada on Friday.

“I’m proud of that, very proud that Dan just wants to win,” said WNC coach D.J. Whittemore of Nist’s fundamental play. “It’s not about him, and he gets it. It’s about us. It’s awesome team baseball.”

Because of nasty weather on Thursday, the Wildcats completed a suspended game, played two seven-inning contests and honored their sophomore players and alums during the program’s final day.

Earlier on Friday afternoon, the Coyotes wrapped up the SWAC regular-season title, 6-3, behind the combined eight-hit pitching of Mikey York and A.J. Jones. Their victory came after WNC rallied for a 4-3 victory in a game suspended on Thursday because of rain and lightning.

“They are the league champs for a reason,” Whittemore said. “They have a great club. They have great pitching. They have great hitting. They are gonna be tough to beat on their field.

“Our guys did what they do: They showed up, competed, and CSN was better in the second game.”

The Coyotes finished atop the SWAC standings with a 28-8 record, 1½ games ahead of the Wildcats, who wound up with a 28-11 mark. The SWAC title means the Coyotes host the Region 18 tournament, which begins on Wednesday in Henderson.

Many parents, alums and fans milled around the field afterward, taking pictures with the Wildcats and their coaches. Players and coaches from both teams were photographed with the Nevada state flag, and players signed autographs for children.

“To me, the important thing was sending them out in style and giving them the credit and the respect they earned and deserved,” said Whittemore, who honored the team’s 14 sophomores during a special ceremony between the second and third games.

Nist’s game-deciding bunt in the bottom of the sixth came after CSN’s Blake Wiggins tied the score in the top of the inning with a mammoth homer to left.

“They didn’t expect it, and that’s why I did it,” Nist said. “The third baseman was way back, expecting me to pull the ball, and I just put it down.”

Josh Mill and Jordy Van den Heuvel blanked the Coyotes on four hits through five innings. Jordan Ragan (5-1) got the win with an inning of relief, and Kyle Thompson earned his second save by keeping the Coyotes off the scoreboard in the seventh inning.

The full day of baseball started with Ty Fox striking out Jordan Hand looking with two runners in scoring position, securing the Wildcats’ 4-3 come-from-behind victory.

“We decided to challenge him,” Fox said. “(Hand) was over the plate because he couldn’t hit that outside fastball, so I gave him the inside fastball.”

CSN meant business when the suspended game resumed with two Wildcats runners on base in the fifth inning. Coyote coach Nick Garritano decided to bring in closer Alec Hutt to face D.J. Peters. The move paid off as Peters popped up to second base, ending the threat.

WNC scored two runs against Hutt in the bottom of the sixth. Bradley Lewis’ triple into the right-center alley fueled the rally. Abe Yagi cashed in Lewis with a single up the middle. With Hutt rattled, Nist executed a hit and run to move pinch-runner Brogan Secrist to third base.

Most of the large crowd in attendance knew what was coming next, and the strategy still worked. Casey Cornwell put down a bunt along the first-base line, squeezing in Secrist from third to put WNC in front, 4-3.

In the Coyotes’ title-clinching victory, they scored all six of their runs — three on wild pitches by Chase Kaplan — in the third inning. CSN registered just two more hits, but the damage was done.

“We competed, we bled and they came out on top this year,” Peters said. “I’m sad today was the last game on this field.”

SOFTBALL

WNC sweeps

HENDERSON — Led by the hitting of Dakota Robinson, Western Nevada College swept College of Southern Nevada in a Scenic West doubleheader Friday.

WNC won the opener, 16-4, and took the second game, 15-1. Both games went just five innings.

Robinson went 5-for-7 with six runs scored and 11 RBI.

“She was just on fire,” said WNC coach Leah Wentworth of Robinson, who raised her season home run total to five. “We noticed in Colorado that Dakota’s stride was really long and she was just missing under the ball and popping everything up. We’re making sure she’s standing tall and doesn’t change the plane she’s striding on.”

The rivals were tied at 2 after one in the opener, but the Wildcats scored one in the second, two in the third, one in the fourth and 10 in the fifth to pull away.

Robinson led the charge, going 3-for-3 with two homers, five RBI and four runs scored. Robinson had a three-run homer to highlight the 10-run fifth. Freudenberger had a two-run single in the big inning,

Freudenberger, Briauna Carter and Bailey Henderson all added two hits apiece.

Kristina George went the distance, scattering seven hits and striking out two in her route-going effort.

The Wildcats continued their barrage at the outset of the second game, scoring three in the first and seven in the second.

Freudenberger hit a sacrifice fly and a wild pitch and a run-scoring hit by Gabi Canibeyaz accounted for the other two runs.

In the second inning, the Wildcats used singles by Henderson, Triniece Lesky and Melanie Meacham plus a three-run double by Robinson and three walks for their seven runs and a 10-0 lead. Freudenberger hit a two-run homer in the third to make it 12-0.

WNC pitcher Kaitlyn Jimmy threw three scoreless innings before allowing a run in the fourth. WNC closed it out in the fifth when Robinson hit a three-run homer.

Canibeyaz, Freudenberger and Mecham all had two hits apiece.

Jimmy allowed two hits, fanned two and walked two.

“She did a great job for us,” Wentworth said. “She had a lot of groundball outs, which is what we expect when she is in the circle. We needed that from her going into regionals.”

The Wildcats have won nine of their past 10 games and equaled a program record with 23 overall victories. The Wildcats can match the 2015 team’s 20 SWAC wins by sweeping the final two games of the series against CSN today. WNC (18-20 in SWAC and 23-26 overall) can also post its first-ever .500 season in conference play.

“I’m really, really happy with the way we’re playing, and the team chemistry has a lot to do with it,” Wentworth said.

“I couldn’t be happier with the way we’re performing down the stretch. It’s such a great confidence boost going into regionals.

“From the beginning of the year we’ve talked about finishing strong and going out with a bang. I know every game they are playing for that.”