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Colby Community College Athletics

Softball Looks to Rebound in Busy Week of Conference Play

Colby softball heads into a pivotal week of conference play with a packed schedule, traveling to Seward County on Wednesday before returning home for a weekend slate that includes a doubleheader against Barton on Saturday and a makeup game against Pratt on Sunday.

Softball Looks to Rebound in Busy Week of Conference Play
April 21, 2026
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Colby softball heads into a pivotal week of conference play with a packed schedule, traveling to Seward County on Wednesday (April 22) before returning home for a weekend slate that includes a doubleheader against Barton on Saturday (April 25) and a makeup game against Pratt on Sunday (April 26). 

Colby enters the week looking to bounce back after a tough stretch, dropping four straight games on the road against conference-leading Hutchinson before falling at Butler this past weekend.

Offensively, Colby has established itself as one of the most dangerous lineups in the conference, hitting .346 as a team with an impressive .578 slugging percentage. The Trojans' attack is anchored by one of the league's top hitters in Briley Christensen, who continues to put together a dominant season. The National Player of the Week earlier this year is batting .473 (fourth in the KJCCC) with a staggering .891 slugging percentage, 24 extra-base hits, 15 home runs (second in the conference), 32 walks, and 56 RBIs, third-most in the conference.

Alongside her, Brooke Zinken has been just as impactful, hitting .449 with 13 home runs (fifth in the conference) while adding a dynamic speed element with 27 stolen bases (tied for sixth). Her ability to impact the game in multiple ways, combined with strong outfield defense, gives Colby one of the most dangerous one-two combinations in the conference. Overall, the Trojans boast depth throughout the lineup, with seven players hitting above .300. Brooklynn Ekker has been especially hot as of late, totaling six home runs, 30 RBIs, and a .633 slugging percentage on the season.

In the circle, Colby has relied on a balanced pitching staff to complement its offense. Cheyenne Cramer has served as the team's workhorse, compiling an 11–7 record with a 4.28 ERA over 106.1 innings pitched. Katelyn Zukewich has also been a key contributor, recording 98 strikeouts while averaging 7.62 strikeouts per seven innings. She is coming off a strong performance that included a complete-game win over nationally ranked McCook last week, highlighting her ability to deliver in big moments.

The week begins with a road test against Seward County, which enters at 15–27 (7–17 KJCCC). Seward is hitting .313 as a team with a .420 on-base percentage but has struggled to generate power, totaling just 11 home runs on the season. Despite those challenges, they are coming off a win over Barton on the road and will look to carry that momentum into Wednesday's matchup.

Colby then returns home to face Barton, a team that presents a significant challenge at 23–21 (15–11 KJCCC). Barton brings a potent offense of its own, hitting .350 with a .551 slugging percentage and 38 home runs. Karter Alvord leads the way with a .454 batting average and a .857 slugging percentage, while Carly Erpelding paces the team in power with 10 home runs and 20 extra-base hits. In the circle, Ellie Crawford anchors the staff with a 3.76 ERA and averages 5.50 strikeouts per seven innings.

The weekend concludes with a matchup against Pratt, which enters at 6–35 (3–20 KJCCC), while currently riding a nine-game losing streak. Pratt has struggled offensively, hitting .202 as a team with 11 home runs. Kennadie Arevalo has been a bright spot, leading the team with a .317 batting average, 20 RBIs, and a .500 slugging percentage.

With a high-powered offense and a pitching staff capable of delivering key performances, Colby will look to take advantage of this important stretch.