Bad repeat: West Fork falls in back-to-back extra innings contest

Published by editor on Tue, 06/23/2020 - 9:16am

West Fork's Dylan Schlader and coach Tom Shreckengost react after being called out trying to steal third in the Warhawks' 3-1, eight-inning loss to Northwood-Kensett. (Kristi Nixon/Hampton Chronicle)

By:

Kristi Nixon

Regional Sports Editor

SHEFFIELD – First-year West Fork coach Tom Shreckengost had a bad feeling of déjà vu.

In the second straight game for the Warhawks, they dropped a close extra innings game that saw both teams tied at 1-all heading into the eighth.

Much like the first time, West Fork fell to its opponent in the eighth.

“A lot of déjà vu,” Shreckengost said. “Hitting, like usual, we can’t get the bat on the ball in key situations. Our defense is spot-on. We have one of the best defenses in the conference, so we just bobble a couple there, made some bad plays, bad decisions and can’t get the runs in. We’ve got to score, that’s the way it is.

“We played four games and scored six (runs) – that’s not good.”

Clean-up hitter and starting pitcher Ethian Tasker did the most damage against the Warhawks. He was 1-for-2 and got the key lead-off walk in both innings that the Vikings scored against them. Cade Hengesteg also went 2-for-4 with a triple.

Dylan Schlader, who doubled in the second and scored West Fork’s only run, was intentionally walked in the eighth to load the bases with two outs and got Noah Maske to ground out to end the bases-loaded threat and end the game. Schlader also was in scoring position and was called out stealing in the fourth.

“We’ve got to get runs and get score, that’s the way it is,” Shreckengost said. “Carter (Meints) pitched great. Jakob (Washington) came in and pitched great. Kayden (Ames) came in and threw well. We’re deep in pitching, have pitching, we just can’t get runs across the plate.

“We need to regroup, play Newman on Monday and get after them and hopefully we’ll start over and maybe go 4-0 next week, we’ll see. It is what it is.”

Northwood-Kensett 3

West Fork 1 (8)

N-K 000 100 02 - 3 5 4

W. Fork 010 000 00 – 1 7 2

Winning battery— Carter Meints, Jakob Washington (4), Kayden Ames (6) and Kellen Cameron. Losing battery— Ethian Tasker, Kael Julseth (7) and Julseth. Two or more hits– N-K (Cade Hengesteg); WF (Dylan Schlader). 2B— N-K (Hengesteg); WF (Schlader). 3B– N-K (Hengesteg) SB— N-K (Hayden Moore 2); WF (Schlader 2). RBI— N-K 3 (Isaac Renteria, Brandon Varner, Jace Gentz); WF, None.