Softball: Raiders Close Out 2024 Season

The Central Community College softball team lost both games of the Region 9 championship best-of-three series to Southeast Community College on Saturday in Beatrice.

In the opener, the Bobcats held the Raiders to a single run by Gracie Herman in a 2-1 victory. SCC scored the game-winning run in the sixth inning while CCC was unable to pull out any late-game heroics. Winning pitcher Kendyl Schmitz surrendered on one hit over seven innings while CCC hurler Addison Kudron gave up five hits and recorded one strikeout in the loss.

In the closer, the Raiders were again held to a single run as the Bobcats scored two runs each in the second, third and fifth innings en route to a 6-1 win. Brianne Lawver scored the CCC run while Kudron took the loss. Despite losing both games, CCC head coach Caitlin Simon said both games were a lot of fun.

"It was a pitching, defensive duel and both teams played clean," said Simon. "To only have three strikeouts in two games is great offensively and means we put the ball into play. We just couldn't find a gap to get something rolling."

With the losses, the Raiders finish the 2024 season with a mark of 22-15.

"I'm proud of this team for sticking together and competing until the very end," said Simon. "Our nine sophomores had a tremendous impact on our program and we will miss them. The returners and I have already had conversations and set the bar high for next year, and we can't wait to get the rest of the team on campus in August."

Kudron and Lawver were named to the All-Region 9 Team along with Addison Heule (pictured), McKinna Moats and Andrea Palma. Heule was also named Region 9 Defensive Player of the Year.