Wildcats

Western Nevada College sophomore shortstop Makaylee Jaussi has been selected as the Scenic West Athletic Conference Player of the Week for her performances during a recent four-game softball series against Colorado Northwestern.

Homers haven't been the primary source of Western Nevada College victories in 2016, but that changed on the team's current road trip in Utah.

Abe Yagi smacked a game-tying, two-run homer and DJ Peters slammed a tie-breaking, two-run shot as the Wildcats rallied for a 12-5 Scenic West Athletic Conference baseball victory over Utah State University Eastern on Friday in Price. Tim Lichty homered in Game 2, but the Golden Eagles rallied for an 8-5 victory.

The extended pitching of Kristina George, and home runs by Triniece Lesky and Dakota Robinson propelled Western Nevada College to a doubleheader softball split against Snow College on Friday in Ephraim, Utah.

Kimbri Herring blanked the Wildcats of Carson City on three hits in the opening game as the Badgers won, 6-0, but George hurled a complete game after throwing 3 1/3 innings in the opener as WNC bounced back for a 5-2 victory.

Tim Lichty is on one of those offensive tears that hitters covet. For the second straight game, the Western Nevada College catcher belted a grand slam as part of a two-homer performance, as the Wildcats routed Utah State University Eastern, 10-0, in the first game of a Scenic West Athletic Conference baseball doubleheader on Thursday in Price, Utah.

Losing the opening game of a series hasn't been an omen for the Western Nevada College baseball team this season.

Four times the Wildcats of Carson City have dropped the series opener, only to battle back and win the next game and in most cases, claim the four-game series.

Western Nevada College's hitters showed why discipline at the plate eventually pays off on Saturday at Pete Livermore Sports Complex in Carson City.

With hard-throwing Colorado Northwestern freshman Taylor Reidhead controlling the Wildcats offense for the second straight day, WNC made sure to work the count deep. The tactic only produced a run early, but the dividends rolled in during a four-run fourth inning that triggered a 5-3 and 10-2 Scenic West Athletic Conference softball doubleheader sweep.

Kristina George fired a four-hit shutout and Western Nevada College unleashed a seven-run inning to sweep a softball twin bill against Colorado Northwestern, 2-0 and 12-3, on Friday at Pete Livermore Sports Complex in Carson City.

The spring thaw has arrived, and my event list is getting longer. Carson City has some fun stuff happening this weekend, so please take a look. If you haven’t made it to see Wild Horse Children’s Theater’s production of Disney’s The Aristocats, Kids, or the Carson High spring musical, ‘Kiss Me, Kate.’ what are you waiting for? Keep your eyes peeled for Girl Scouts, this is the last weekend of cookie sales.

SATURDAY:

I hope everyone had a great time yesterday. I also hope you are ready for the party to continue. The Brewery Arts Center has Celtic duo Men of Worth playing in the Black Box Theater, folk singer/songwriter Liam Kyle Cahill is at Living the Good Life, you'll find the Whitehats performing at the West Side Pour House, and Sassafras has a night of rock with Year of the Fist and Double Header. Those who love dance should check out World Dance Open Floor at Comma Coffee or the West Coast Swing night that Yaple's Ballroom hosts every third Friday. Let's kick off this weekend right, Carson City.

A wet weekend forecast in Northern Nevada will cause the Western Nevada College baseball team to move its upcoming four-game baseball series from Carson City to Salt Lake City. WNC will play doubleheaders against Salt Lake at 1 p.m. Friday and noon Saturday.

Western Nevada College pitchers struggled with College of Southern Idaho's powerful softball lineup on Saturday in Twin Falls, Idaho. CSI hit two homers in the first game and four more in the second game to complete a Scenic West Athletic Conference series sweep of the Wildcats, 10-5 and 13-2.

Even in his 11th season at the helm of the Western Nevada College baseball team, D.J. Whittemore can still witness his team do something he's not seen in the past.

In their Scenic West Athletic Conference opener Thursday at John L. Harvey Field in Carson City, the Wildcats erupted for nine first-inning runs, including eight runs with two outs, starting a doubleheader sweep of the College of Southern Idaho.

The spring thaw has begun, and the event listing for the next few days is proof. There are quite a few options for music, art, theater, and more. Downtown offers live music at Westside Pour House and Bella Fiore, comedy at the Carson Nugget, and an Art Show for Carson High Senior, Erica Murray, at the Brewery Arts Center. Living the Good Life and Glen Eagles have dinner music for you. An afternoon treat is best found at Yogurt Beach: all proceeds help the family of three year old Maya Morrison battling leukemia. Keep reading for all of today’s options.

FRIDAY:

After nearly a month layoff, the Western Nevada College softball team will resume its season by traveling to College of Southern Idaho for a Thursday-Friday series that marks the opening of the Scenic West Athletic Conference schedule.

An unfavorable weather forecast for this weekend has prompted Western Nevada College to move up its Scenic West Athletic Conference-opening baseball series.

The Wildcats and College of Southern Idaho will begin their series on Thursday with a doubleheader starting at noon at John L. Harvey Field in Carson City.

Oregonian Jordan Ragan said he didn't have any extra motivation facing an Oregon team on Saturday. Ragan turned in his season-best performance to date by hurling four perfect innings in the Western Nevada College's 10-2 baseball victory over Mount Hood Community College of Gresham, Ore., at John L. Harvey Field in Carson City.

Whoa, there. In the blink of an eye we’ve reached the last few days of February. Grab hold of the present with something fun to do from the comprehensive list below, whether you’re looking for something family friendly or for adults only. Have a great weekend, Carson City.

SATURDAY:

• Annual Community Rummage Sale at Sierra Lutheran High School: 3601 Romans Rd (7am-3pm)

Your complete list of local Friday happenings has arrived. Shake off the work week with a glass of wine and some music at Bella Fiore. If you’re in the mood for a whodunit, then the interactive murder mystery at the Douglas County Museum and Cultural Center is for you. Cheer on the Wildcats during their doubleheader against Mount Hood Community College. Edwin San Juan at Carson Comedy inside the Nugget Casino will have you in stitches.

FRIDAY:

It’s Presidents Day weekend with a Valentine’s Day cherry on top. There is still time for some shopping if you’re looking for something for your special someone. Artsy Fartsy Art Gallery hosts its annual Champagne and Jewelry party Saturday and offers some amazing hand-crafted bling for your sweetheart. Carson Mall is another great bet for last minute gifts. Several crafters, vendors, and shops make it easy to find something unique. The annual Feast of Chocolate returns to the Plaza Event Center; raising funds for scholarships has never tasted so good.

SATURDAY:

It wasn't the home opener that Western Nevada College envisioned Friday after winning four straight games against Cochise College last week.

Roderick Bynum went 4 for 5, scored three runs and drove in three more as Arizona Western College spoiled the Wildcats' first home baseball game, 9-5, at John L. Harvey Field in Carson City.

It's time to kick off this three-day weekend. Satiate your sweet tooth at the Boys and Girls Club; high school senior Larrissa Cruzan has organized a bake sale. Head downtown to check out the Grand Opening reception at Charlie B Gallery on West Telegraph. Stick around for the great band playing at Westside Pour House or have some dinner at one the nearby restaurants. Party Mardi Gras style at Remedy’s and wear something black light reactive.

FRIDAY:

Western Nevada College will welcome an experienced Arizona Western College baseball team for its home opener at John L. Harvey Field on Friday, Feb. 12.

"Arizona Western has a tremendous team and a solid program," said WNC coach D.J. Whittemore. "We are pumped to compete with them and understand we will have to play good-to-great baseball to come out on top."

There has been no shortage of opportunities for Western Nevada College to measure itself against the elite junior college softball teams in the county. A week after losing a tight game with second-ranked Eastern Arizona, the Wildcats squared off with Phoenix College, the National Junior College Athletics Association's top-ranked Division II team, at the Artichoke Classic on Saturday in Scottsdale, Ariz.

Entering the 2016 baseball season, Western Nevada College knew the strength of its club was starting pitching. Opponents are discovering that on their own. Cochise College, the 13th-ranked team by the National Junior College Athletic Association, certainly won't dispute that claim.

It was only his second outing, but Western Nevada College sophomore Matt Young looked like a pitcher in midseason form Friday.

Young fired six scoreless innings and struck out 10 as Western Nevada College of Carson City defeated Cochise, 5-2, in the opening game of a nonconference baseball doubleheader in Henderson.

"It was textbook pitching today by Matt and (catcher) Tim," said WNC coach D.J. Whittemore. "The big difference for him was commanding the strike zone with the fastball. That puts him in counts where he can dictate."

Allowing just one hit through the first six innings, Western Nevada College could have expected to hold a lead against 13th-ranked Cochise on Thursday in Henderson.

Not so, as the Apaches used some aggressive baserunning to build a two-run advantage. But one swing of DJ Peters' bat swung the momentum in the Wildcats' favor in the seventh inning, driving WNC of Carson City to a 6-4 nonconference victory in the first of four games between the clubs.

Peters' laser shot over the left-field fence for a three-run homer completed the scoring, helping the Wildcats end a two-game losing streak.

A day after battering the South Mountain pitching staff for 18 hits and 15 runs, Western Nevada College struggled to put the ball in play on a chilly day in Phoenix.

Justin Wick no-hit the Wildcats into the fifth inning and WNC hitters fanned 11 times as the Cougars held on to win the nonconference baseball game 5-3 on Monday.

The Wildcats of Carson City employed a patient approach at the plate against Wick, drawing five walks through four innings. But without a hit, the Wildcats couldn't exploit the free passes.

Western Nevada College quickly put a season-opening baseball loss to South Mountain Community College behind it on Sunday.

A day after collecting just three hits, the Wildcats of Carson City totaled 18 hits, including three home runs, in a 15-5 rout of the Cougars in Phoenix.

DJ Peters, Justin Mannens and Daniel Nist each homered and combined for 10 hits and nine RBI as the Wildcats made amends for a 6-3 defeat to the Cougars on Saturday.

"It was an incredible offensive explosion," said WNC coach D.J. Whittemore.

Western Nevada College's softball team can depart its first preseason tournament knowing that it can compete with some of the top programs in the country.

Through the first four innings of the 2016 baseball season, Western Nevada College played the type of baseball associated with the program's 10 previous winning seasons.

But the Wildcats of Carson City couldn't hold a three-run lead against South Mountain Community College in their season opener Saturday in Phoenix. WNC pitchers struggled to throw mid-game strikes, leading to a 6-3 comeback victory by the Cougars.