WNCC softball team ready to open season this weekend

Photo: Mia Migliaccio delivers a pitch during Saturday's scrimmage.

By Mark Rein / Western Nebraska Community College

The Western Nebraska Community College softball team got in some scrimmage time over the weekend during the 60-plus degree weather as they look to open the 2026 season with high hopes to repeat last season’s end-of-the-year accomplishments.

WNCC will open the season on Sunday when they travel to Garden City Community College for a doubleheader and then the following weekend they head to Texas for three doubleheaders against Tyler Junior College, Trinity Valley Community College, and Paris Junior College. That is eight games in eight days.

WNCC interim head coach Nayeli Daiz said this team is ready to get the season going.

“The team extremely excited to get the season started,” Diaz said. “We return a talented group of sophomores who played a significant amount of innings last year and have proven themselves as leaders through adversity both on and off the field.”

The Cougars return six players from a year ago that helped the Cougars to a runner-up place at the Region IX tournament a year ago. Those six that saw plenty of innings on the field a year ago include Alyssa Albaugh of Torrington, Wyoming; Ellie Soper of Sterling; Colorado, Viktoria Sarkanova of Bratislava, Slovakia; Adi Duke of Santaquin, Utah; Tori Travers of Sammanish, Washington; and Tina Horton of New South Wales, Australia.

“The sophomores have set the tone for our program by modeling accountability, toughness, and togetherness,” Diaz, who was an assistant in the program the past two years, said. “Their role will be to continue leading throughout the season, help develop our freshmen, and provide consistent production, which will be a key to our success.”

A big key to the season are how the freshmen mold into the equation of success and, so far, the freshmen have blended in. Diaz said expect the freshmen to make an impact along with the sophomores.

“We also have a talented freshman class that will play a large role and will play plenty of innings this year,” she said.

The 10 freshmen that will need to play a big role include several from Canada in Mackenzie Tindall and Hayley Blumenschein of Alberta; Emma Murdoch and Abbey Arntsen of Saskatchewan. The other freshmen include Gracie Holm of Grantsville, Utah; Rory Weizenegger of Greeley, Colorado; Kenzie George of West Haven, Utah; Dannaca Moss of West Jordan, Utah; Mia Migliaccio of Queen Creek, Arizona; and Jasmine Castro of Spring, Texas.

Just how important will the freshmen be? All the pitchers on the team are freshmen.

“Our pitching staff is made up entirely of freshmen, and these young ladies are eager to compete, learn, and grow,” Diaz said. “As a program, our focus is on daily improvement, competing with confidence, and playing the game the right way. We are excited to travel, challenge ourselves early, and evaluate where we are as a team as each week passes.”

The main pitchers include Mia Migliaccio, Abbey Arntsen, and Gracie Holm, with Kenzie George and Rory Weizenegger starting to pitch last month for more depth.

After the next week when the Cougars are on the road for games on Feb. 15 and then Feb. 20-22, the Cougars will return home the next two weekends. The season opener is set for February 28 and March 1 when Dawson Community College come to Volunteer Field followed by Luna Community College on March 7-8.

Diaz, who has plenty of collegiate playing and coaching experience, said this team can compete for a regional title because of their commitment to the game.

“This team has the potential to compete for a regional title,” she said. “We need strong sophomore leadership, continued development of our pitching staff, and a commitment to our team will be critical as we work toward that goal. If we stay connected, resilient, and committed to getting better every day, we believe we can accomplish special things this season.”