Knights Softball wins one/loses one in Region IX Championship

The North Platte Community College Softball Team won its first game and lost the second during the first day of a round robin style Region IX Championship in Columbus Saturday. 

The Knights got out to a six-run lead in the fourth inning and held on for a 6-5 victory over the Southeast Community College Storm in the first game. 

North Platte got things started in the second inning when Jenny Singer drove one in on a single. 

The Knights followed that up with four runs in the third inning. Their offense came from a single by Lili Kuku?ková and a home run by Jayden Horner. 

Taelyn Dakamas led things off in the circle for the Knights. The righty went seven innings, allowing five runs on six hits and striking out seven. 

NPCC tallied 11 hits altogether. Singer, Horner and Cameron Rollison each collected two. 

The Knights faced off with Central Community College in the second game and fell 3-1. Both teams were powerful in the pitcher's circle, but the Raiders were just a little bit stronger at the plate. 

Dakamas started the game for the Knights and recorded 18 outs. The pitcher surrendered two runs on four hits over six innings, striking out five. 

Rollison grounded out in the first inning, scoring one run. 

Central pulled away for good with two runs in the fourth inning. 

Kuku?ková led the Knights with two hits in three at bats. 

"We fought hard and played solid," said NPCC Head Softball Coach Janelle Higgins. "We just couldn't get our offense rolling in game two. We showed our grit and just have to make a few minor adjustments tomorrow. These girls can do it." 

North Platte will play Southeast again at 11 a.m. Sunday. The winner of that game will face-off against Central in a championship round at 1 p.m. 

The games will be livestreamed at: https://portal.stretchinternet.com/centralcccolumbus/. 

The Knights entered the championship as the No. 3 seed. They ended their regular season with a record of 5-32.