Being a team that is out to prove something works best in playoff situations, says Allen County Community College head softball coach Ed Wilkerson.
Wilkerson has stressed this to his Red Devils players all week. For the second year in a row, Allen County is one of the higher seeds in the NJCAA Region VI, Division II playoffs, hosting a first-round best 2-of-3 series.
“It’s a similar scenario as last year,” Wilkerson said. “We swept Kansas City in two close games near the end of the season then hosted them for the playoffs. KCK came in as a team out to prove something and beat us.
“I’ve told our players the teams which move on in the playoffs are the teams that keep proving it. I want us to be a team that has something to prove.”
Saturday will be the day to do that as the Red Devils host Hesston College Larks. First pitch is 1 p.m. at the ACCC softball field.
The teams are slated to play two games Saturday. If a third game is needed, it will be played at noon Sunday.
Allen County is the No. 6 seed and Hesston, an independent member of the Region VI, is seeded No. 11. That puts the teams in the District E Tournament of Region VI, Division II softball.
Region VI, Division II softball is divided into two districts. Winners of the opening playoff series move into a double-elimination tournament within the district, May 7-8, at Hummer Park in Topeka. Winners of both district tournaments advance to the NJCAA Division II Softball National Tournament, May 18-21, in Illinois.
“Playing our game and the way we’re capable of playing, we’ll be the team moving on but Hesston is coming in ready to prove something,” Wilkerson said.
Allen County beat Hesston 4-0 and 3-2 earlier this season at Hesston. The Red Devils went on an 11-game winning streak after losing four straight in the middle of the season.
Allen County (38-16) won 24 of 28 games to end the season. Hesston is 16-22 overall.
“Our offense has been coming around of late and we have two good starting pitchers. Lenzie and Alex usually keep us in the games,” Wilkerson said. “We’ve been good down the stretch of getting people on base and moving them around plus playing good defense.”
Wilkerson will start sophomore Lenzie Boring in the opener Saturday. Boring is 23-8 with a 1.25 Earned Run Average (ERA) with 266 strikeouts and 50 walks in 196 innings pitched.
Alex Hill, a freshman, is 15-8 with a 2.82 ERA. She has 97 strikeouts and 25 walks issued in 154 innings pitched.
Leading a potent offense are sophomore third baseman Jenna Sigg and sophomore outfielder Callie Umholtz.
Sigg is hitting .491 with a team-leading nine home runs and seven triples in her 79 hits. She leads the team in runs scored, 62, and is second with 40 RBIs. Sigg is 34 of 35 in stolen base attempts.
Leading the team in RBIs is Umholtz with 45 plus she has scored 45 runs. Umholtz is hitting .392 and is second in doubles with 11. She is 14 of 16 in stolen base attempts.
Boring and sophomore catcher Kylie Taylor hit .308. Boring has 32 RBIs.
Freshman designated hitter Kelsey Walters has 13 doubles. Sophomore shortstop Kelci Owens was successful on 23 of 24 stolen base attempts.
The Red Devils have a team fielding average of .952. They have made 65 errors in 1,032 putout attempts.
Allen County is 99 of 118 in stolen base attempts this season.
2011 NJCAA Region VI, Division II
District Softball Tournaments
Saturday and Sunday
(Best 2 of 3 Series at Higher Seed)
District E Softball Tournament
Independence (4-35) at (35-14) Cowley, 1 p.m.
Neosho County (20-29) at (30-18) Pratt, 1 p.m.
Fort Scott (11-34) at (33-11) Highland, 1 p.m.
Hesston (16-22) at (38-16) Allen County, 1 p.m.
May 7
At Hummer Park, Topeka
G1— Cowley/Indy Winner vs Neosho/Pratt Winner, Noon
G2 — Highland/Fort Scott Winner vs Allen/Hesston Winner, Noon
G3 — Loser G1 vs Loser G2, 4 p.m.
G4 — Winner G1 vs Winner G2, 4 p.m.
May 8
G5 — Winner G3 vs Loser G 4, 10 a.m.
Championship Game
G6 — Winner G4 vs Winner G5, Noon
G7 — ( If Necessary) 2 p.m.
Winner advances to NJCAA Division II National Tournament
Bloomington/Normal, IL, May 19-2
District D Softball Tournament
Dodge City (5-35) at (38-13) Labette, 1 p.m.
Kansas City KS (18-18) at (23-18) Cloud County, Noon
Brown Mackie (17-37) at (36-16) Hutchinson, 2 p.m.
Coffeyville (10-28) at (24-24) Johnson County, 1 p.m.
May 7
At Hummer Park, Topeka
G1 — KCK/Cloud Winner vs Labette/Dodge Winner, 10 a.m.
G2 — Hutch/BMC Winner vs Coffeyville/Johnson Winner, 10 a.m.
G3 — Loser G1 vs Loser G2, 2 p.m.
G4 — Winner G1 vs Winner G2, 2 p.m.
May 8
G5 — Winner G3 vs Loser G 4, 10 a.m.
Championship Game
G6 — Winner G4 vs Winner G5, Noon
G7 — (If Necessary), 2 p.m.
Winner Advances to NJCAA Division II National Tournament Bloomington/Normal, IL, May 19-21
