Softball Opens Conference Play with Busy Week on the Diamond

The Colby softball team carries momentum into the start of conference play after posting a 4-2 record last week in non-conference action. The Trojans open KJCCC play Wednesday (March 4) on the road at Garden City before traveling to Sterling, CO, for a midweek non-conference matchup against Northeastern Thursday (March 5). Colby then returns home Saturday (March 7) for a conference doubleheader against Fort Hays Tech Northwest.

As a team, the Trojans are hitting .321 while slugging an impressive .578, ranking 21st nationally in slugging percentage in the NJCAA. Offensively, Colby has been powered by Emmy Supernor, who is batting .524 through nine games, third-best in the conference. Brooke Zinken and Ashlyn Pavlov have provided major power in the middle of the lineup, with Zinken blasting five home runs (third-most in the conference) to go along with a double and a triple while posting a team-leading .970 slugging percentage. Pavlov has added four home runs of her own. Briley Christensen leads the team with 11 RBIs while hitting over .500, giving the Trojans consistent production in the middle of the lineup.

Inside the circle, freshman Cheyenne Cramer and sophomore Katelyn Zukewich have anchored the pitching staff, both holding ERAs under 5.50. Cramer is 2-2 in six appearances and tossed a complete-game victory against Northeastern in Sunday's (March 1) series opener. Zukewich has been a strikeout machine, averaging 10.80 strikeouts per seven innings pitched.

Conference play begins against Garden City, which enters at 11-9 overall but on a three-game losing streak. The Broncbusters are led offensively by Maysen Kurene-Iwikau, who is hitting .526 with a 1.105 slugging percentage, totaling 16 extra-base hits, including eight home runs and seven doubles. In the circle, Skylah Breeze Joyce carries a 4.26 ERA across six starts with 27 strikeouts and just 15 earned runs allowed.

Colby then heads to Sterling, to face Northeastern Junior College after splitting a previous meeting Sunday, with the Trojans taking game one. Northeastern enters the week 5-9 overall, hitting .311 as a team with 10 home runs. Four players have two home runs each, while Kelsi Jurczewsky leads the lineup with a .447 average and eight RBIs. Marissa Reyes has logged 24.1 innings in the circle with a 7.19 ERA and a 1-6 record.

The Trojans close the week at home Saturday against Fort Hays Tech Northwest, which comes in 1-7 overall and seeking momentum after its first win since March 13, 2024. Natori Yates leads the conference with a .667 batting average and has seven RBIs, tied with teammate Harley Dehner. Legase Leaumoana is hitting .348 with eight stolen bases. In the circle, Nadia Armstrong holds a 5.02 ERA in 15.1 innings pitched and has recorded the Tigers' lone victory.

With conference play officially underway, the Trojans will look to build on their strong offensive start and steady pitching performances as they navigate a busy week on the diamond.