CCC Players Earn Region IX Honors

Five Central Community College softball players have earned 2017 Region IX Division II Softball honors.

Freshman shortstop Mackenzie Eller of David City, sophomore outfielder Maddie Kucera of Genoa and freshman catcher Danica Schaefer of Wayne were named to the All-Region IX team.

Sophomore infielder Cassidy Edwards of Wasilla, Alaska, and freshman infielder Toni Rodriguez of Grand Island joined Kucera and Schaefer on the Region IX All-Tournament team.

Eller sported a .396 batting average, logged 37 RBIs and scored 48 runs. She knocked one homerun, 14 doubles and three triples.

Kucera finished the season with a .402 batting average, totaled 29 RBIs and crossed the plate 40 times. She also belted a single homerun, nine doubles and five triples.

Schaefer was the leading hitter for the Raiders with a .462 batting average to go along with 35 RBIs and 37 runs. Schaefer netted four homeruns, 16 doubles and a pair of triples.

"All three of those girls are the mainstays of what we did this year," said CCC head coach Jack Gutierrez.

Edwards batted .326 for the season, knocked in 20 RBIs and scored 17 runs.

Rodriguez sported a .357 batting average, 45 RBIs and 25 runs. She also recorded six homeruns and six doubles.

"Both Edwards and Rodriguez played great in the tournament, and deserved to be named to the all-tournament team," said Gutierrez.

The Raiders made it to the Region IX championship series but were swept in two games by North Platte Community College. CCC finished the 2017 season with a mark of 16-33.