The Western Nebraska Community College baseball team made a run at a regional title and one member of the Cougar baseball team earned plenty of respect from his peers after the Region IX Empire Conference All-Region teams were announced on Monday.

                Freshman Shintaro Inoue picked up three honors on the All-Region team for his play this year.

                Inoue, from Japan, was tabbed a First Team Infielder as well as being a member of the All-Defensive Team. On top of that, Inoue was named the Freshman of the Year.

                WNCC head coach Mike Jones said Inoue had an outstanding freshman season.

                "He had an outstanding season," Jones said. "To get recognized as freshman of the year along with first team all-conference on the infield and the all-defensive team, it shows what kind of season he had and the respect he got from opposing coaches."

                Inoue's freshman season at WNCC was one of leadership. Jones said that Inoue was a leader on the team in more ways than statistics.

                "Shintaro brings such a positive energy to the team," Jones said. "He stays upbeat. He stays positive. He enjoys playing the game and enjoys being around his teammates. He is an outstanding leader for us."

                Inoue led the team in batting average at .376 along with runs scored (50), RBIs (52), home runs (15), triples (3), doubles (13), hits (64), walks (36), and stolen bases (17). Inoue finished the season with a 6-game hitting streak and had a 9-game hitting streak before that. Of the 50 games he played in, he had hits in 37 of the games.

                Inoue was the only Cougar to make the all-region team. The league MVP went to Southeast infielder Tyler Bishop while the Pitcher of the year went to Otero's Phil Carter. The Defensive Player of the Year went to Trinidad State catcher Luis Ayala.

                The First Team members included pitchers Otero's Carter, McCook's Myles Chabi, and Southeast's Cameron Teinert and Levi Gates; infielders Inoue, Biship, Lamar's Brian Ledezma, and Luna's Wilber Henriquez; outfielders McCOok's Ethan Murdoch, Trinidad's Kelvin Agosto, and Otero's Phil Carter; catcher Northeastern's Josh Cote; and designated hitter Northeastern's Tomas Richy.

                Second Team honors included pitchers Luna's Diego Quinonez, Trinidad's Oliver Mabee, Northeastern's Nick Anaya, and Southeast's Bryson Schultz; infielders Luna Jose Villalobos, Southeast's Tyler Palmer, Lamar's Garrett Rede, and Trinidad's Benji Suave; outfielder's Luna's Kohle Kern, Southeast's Avery Moore, and Northeastern's Jackson Trout; catcher Northeastern's Max Valerio; and designated hitter McCook's Michael Quick.

                The All-Defensive team included Trinidad State's Luis Anaya at catcher, Northeastern's Josh Moore at first base, Southeast's Drew Borner at second base, Southeast's Landon Geisler at third base, WNCC's Inoue at shortstop, Southeast's Avery Moore in left field, Northeastern's Jaylan Ruffin in center field, and Luna's Juan Avila in right field.

                Southeast went on to win their second-straight Region IX title, beating McCook twice in back-to-back championship games. Southeast and McCook will both be in the Western District Finals that will be hosted by Southeast Community College this weekend.