Warhawks use three-game win streak to rise above .500 mark

Six games in seven days. With the end of the regular season fast approaching, the West Fork baseball team is beginning its final push for the postseason.

Despite some hiccups at the beginning and end of their week, the Warhawks were able to put together a three-game winning streak. After falling to Newman Catholic on June 21, West Fork rattled off wins against Hampton-Dumont/CAL on June 22, Central Springs on June 23 and St. Ansgar last Friday, before dropping games to Lisbon and Woodbury Central on Saturday at Riverfront Stadium in Waterloo.

Overall, the Warhawks went even keel, which allowed the red and black to peek above the .500 mark. Going into this past Sunday, the Warhawks shifted to 11-10 overall with a 7-6 mark within the Top of Iowa Conference-East division.

West Fork aimed to get some games in before the Fourth of July, which began with a contest against Osage, which took place this past Monday in Osage. This past Wednesday, the Warhawks hosted North Butler at Warhawk Field in Sheffield, and is set to welcome in Garner-Hayfield-Ventura for Senior Night on Thursday at Warhawk Field.

The Warhawks will then wrap up the week by facing Nashua-Plainfield at 6 p.m. on Friday at the Nashua Baseball Field in Nashua. Three of the four games this week are rematches from earlier this season.

Results from West Fork’s pre-Independence Day slate will be reported in an upcoming edition of The Pioneer-Enterprise/the Sheffield Press.

Newman Catholic 15, West Fork 4: Squaring off with the top-ranked Knights, the Warhawks were unable to keep up in a Top of Iowa-East matchup held on June 21 at Warhawk Field in Sheffield.

The Knights didn’t hesitate in putting up runs, with four in the top of the first, four in the top of the second, two in the top of the third and another run in the top of the fourth frame. Following one run in the top of the fifth, the Warhawks stared up at a 12-0 deficit.

West Fork attempted to fight back, plating four in the bottom of the fifth, before the Knights sealed their win by scoring three runs in the top of the sixth inning.

Senior Kellen Cameron led the way for West Fork, putting up two RBIs and a triple. Senior teammate Kayden Ames provided the other RBI, along with a single.

Senior Carter Meints, eighth grader Nolan Shreckengost, senior Jakob Washington and junior Hayden Shreckengost also contributed with singles.

Senior Noah Maske struck out four Newman Catholic batters, and junior Nate Hubka fanned two Knights.

Newman Catholic’s Nash Holmgaard completed a rare home run cycle against the Warhawks, compiling a grand slam in the first inning, a solo homer in the second frame, a two-run bomb in the third inning and a three-run roundtripper in the top of the sixth. His cycle is tied for second in Iowa high school baseball history and his 10 RBIs is tied for fifth all-time.

West Fork 7, Hampton-Dumont/CAL 3: Following their bout with Newman Catholic, the Warhawks took out their frustration on the Bulldogs on June 22 at HDC Athletic Complex in Hampton.

Trailing 3-1 in the top of the sixth, the Warhawks came to life by plating one run in the top of the sixth and followed by a five-run surge in the top of the seventh inning. Over that stretch, West Fork scored six unanswered runs to run to the win column.

Meints put together three RBIs and two singles, while Hubka dished up a double, a single and an RBI for the winning cause.

Cameron reeled in a triple for the second game in a row, along with two singles and a stolen base. On the mound, Cameron fanned three Bulldog batters.

Washington also netted a stolen base and a strikeout for the winning cause. Maske recorded two RBIs and two singles, while senior Levi Janssen chipped in with a single and Hayden Shreckengost had one RBI against the Bulldogs.

West Fork 12, Central Springs 2: The Warhawks continued their winning ways, routing the Panthers by a 10-run difference on June 23 on the campus of Central Springs High School in Manly. The win split the season series between the two clubs.

West Fork jumped out early, building up a 6-0 lead midway through the third inning. Even though the Panthers cut into their lead with one run, the Warhawks then outpaced Central Springs 6-1 to earn their second straight victory.

Janssen flexed on the Panthers, accumulating a home run, a double and a single with four RBIs.

Cameron continued to impress by blasting a home run, a single, a stolen base and two RBIs. While toeing the rubber, Cameron allowed one hit and fanned one Central Springs batter.

Maske whipped up three singles, an RBI and a stolen base, as Ames picked up a single and two RBIs, followed by Meints’ one single and one RBI. Washington also churned out a single, a stolen base and an RBI.

Hayden Shreckengost was credited with an RBI, as well. Junior Riley Peterson claimed the win on the mound, striking out six Panther batters in 98 pitches.

West Fork 6, St. Ansgar 5: Bringing in the Saints, the Warhawks had to use extra innings to win their season series in a Top of Iowa-East tilt held last Friday at Warhawk Field in Sheffield. West Fork’s victory over the Saints also pushed their current win streak to three straight.

By the end of the fourth inning, both teams were tied at one run apiece, before the Warhawks gained the lead with two runs in the bottom of the fifth. The Saints fought back with a two-run homer, before taking a 5-4 lead heading into the bottom of the seventh inning.

West Fork was able to tie the game, but left the winning run on third. Following a scoreless eighth, the Warhawks were able to break through, scoring on an error to win their third consecutive contest.

It was Ames’ turn to pace the red and black, netting two RBIs and a triple. Ames also came out with a win on the pitching mound, allowing just one hit.

Janssen kept up his stellar work at the plate, providing three singles, a double and two RBIs. Maske and Washington each had singles, while Cameron contributed with a stolen base and striking out three St. Ansgar batters in 110 pitches.

Lisbon 10, West Fork 0: After their grueling victory over St. Ansgar and a long roadtrip, the Warhawks came up short against the Lions in a nonleague matchup held last Saturday at Riverfront Stadium in Waterloo.

The Lions were quick to score, plating four in the first inning and two in the second frame. Lisbon continued to put up runs throughout the game, save for a scoreless fourth inning.

Maske, Cameron, Washington and Janssen each recorded singles, while Nolan Shreckengost left with one stolen base and two strikeouts. Hayden Shreckengost also tabbed two strikeouts, and sophomore Casyn Guerrero chipped in with one strikeout.

Woodbury Central 13, West Fork 2: Finishing up their stay in the Factory City of Iowa, the Warhawks held an early lead, but yielding to a barrage from the Wildcats in contest held last Saturday at Riverfront Stadium in Waterloo.

West Fork started the game well enough, plating two runs in the top of the first inning. From there, however, it was all Woodbury Central, as the Wildcats scored in each frame from the bottom of the third inning onward.

Janssen spearheaded the Warhawks, tallying two RBIs and a double. Ames and Meints also tabbed singles, as the former came away with a strikeout. Maske rounded out the stats sheet with a strikeout.