WF softball takes one of four in second week of play

The second week of the 2021 campaign was not a kind one for the West Fork softball team. On the slate, the Warhawks faced off against two ranked clubs in ninth ranked (Class 1A) Newman Catholic and top-ranked (Class 2A) Central Springs.

Despite a close loss against the Knights on June 1 in Mason City and a tough outing against the Panthers on June 2 at the West Fork Baseball/Softball Complex in Sheffield, the Warhawks were able to clinch a victory with a 10-run triumph over Clarion-Goldfield-Dows last Thursday in Sheffield. However, West Fork came out empty handed in a 2-1 battle against St. Ansgar a closely contested game held this past Friday in St. Ansgar.

Despite the rough stretch, the Warhawks were one game under the .500 mark, shifting to a 3-4 overall record and a 2-3 mark within the Top of Iowa Conference-East.

This week, West Fork will have two more ranked squads on a busy docket. The Warhawks start the week with a home matchup against Osage, held this past Monday at the West Fork Baseball/Softball Complex in Sheffield.

This past Wednesday, West Fork will collide with 14th-ranked (Class 1A) North Butler in Allison, before traveling to Clarksville to take on the 12th-rated (Class 1A) Indians at 6 p.m. on Thursday. The Warhawks welcome in Nashua-Plainfield on Friday, before hosting the annual West Fork Softball Tournament on Saturday in Sheffield.

Results from Warhawk girls’ eventful third week of play will be reported in an upcoming edition of The Pioneer Enterprise/the Sheffield Press.

Newman Catholic 9, West Fork 7: Starting off the week against the ninth-ranked Knights, the Warhawks fought back from an early deficit, but couldn’t complete the rally in a hard fought battle held on June 1 at the Newman Softball Field in Mason City.

Trailing 3-0 in the top of the third inning, the Warhawks got on the board by plating one run before the third out. The Knights countered by scoring five runs in the bottom of the frame.

Both sides traded runs in the fourth inning, which left West Fork in a 9-1 hole heading into the fifth inning. The Warhawks stormed back, plating three runs in the top of the fifth and scoring two runs in the final frame.

However, West Fork’s rally was cut short.

Junior Maddie Hubka paced the Warhawks with a home run, a single, two RBIs and a stolen base, while eighth grader Libby Trewin came away with two RBIs and two singles. While in the circle, Libby struck two Newman Catholic batters.

Senior Makenzie Fessler recorded two stolen bases, a double, single and an RBI, as junior Madisyn Bonner, junior Kalli Trewin and junior Haley Grady each collected hits.

Sophomore Keelee Sheriff picked up two stolen bases, while senior Sadie Latham, freshman Mallery Meier and freshman Breea Weaver contributed with one stolen bases, respectively.

Central Springs 11, West Fork 3: Squaring off against the top-ranked Panthers, the Warhawks were unable to put together a late rally, before being handed their second straight setback on June 2 at the West Fork Baseball/Softball Complex in Sheffield.

Facing a 10 run deficit midway through the fourth inning, the Warhawks mustered three runs, cutting the Panther lead to seven. Central Springs tacked on a run, and prevented West Fork from continuing a late comeback.

Kalli Trewin spearheaded the Warhawks against the Panthers, tallying a double, a single and an RBI. Grady chipped in, as well, netting a double and an RBI, while Bonner logged a double against Central Springs.

Fessler also chimed in, with two singles. Libby Trewin had a tough time against the Panthers, reeling in just one strikeout in 127 pitches.

West Fork 10, Clarion-Goldfield-Dows 0: Following a two-game slate that featured ranked teams, the Warhawks took their frustrations out on a hapless Cowgirls team, defeating CGD via a 10-run differential last Thursday at the West Fork Baseball/Softball Complex in Sheffield.

With the win, West Fork snapped their two-game skid.

The Warhawks didn’t wait to start piling up runs, plating two in the bottom of the first frame and scoring two more in the bottom of the second inning. West Fork then turned the trickle into a flood, racking up six runs in the bottom of the fifth inning to seal the victory.

Hubka punished the Cowgirls at the dish, going a perfect 4-of-4 with two stolen bases.

Libby Trewin got into the thick of the action, picking up a double and a single. Within the circle, Libby also fanned eight Cowgirl batters and allowed just one hit.

Fessler also tabbed an RBI and a single, as Grady also contributed with a single. Latham then hauled in a stolen base, alongside Meier.

St. Ansgar 2, West Fork 1: Rounding out the week on the road, the Warhawks’ early lead couldn’t hold off a late rally from the Saints in a closely contested matchup held this past Friday in St. Ansgar.

West Fork took the lead in the top of the third inning, holding a 1-0 lead for most of the game. The Saints scored in the bottom of the seventh, before winning via a walk-off run in the eighth inning.

Bonner paced the Warhawk effort, finishing the game with a double and an RBI. Both Trewins, Grady and Hubka each collected hits against the Saints, while Sheriff was the lone stolen base for West Fork.

Despite the loss, Libby Trewin was solid while toeing the rubber, fanning eight St. Ansgar batters and allowing just two hits in 83 pitches.