Warhawk Baseball has Successful Week

The West Fork baseball team has gotten hot, winning three of their four games they played last week and having won four of their last five games. They took down the North Butler Bearcats 2-0 on Monday, June 2, the Central Springs Panthers 4-3 on Wednesday, June 4, the Clarion-Goldfield-Dows Cowboys 11-1 on Thursday, June 5 before losing to the Saints Ansgar Saints 10-2 on Friday, June 6. 

Their game on Monday versus North Butler was a pitchers duel. The game was scoreless until the bottom of the fifth inning when the Warhawks scored their first run on an RBI fielder's choice from sophomore Braylon Shreckengost. The Warhawks would add another run in the bottom of the sixth inning when sophomore Brett Behr scored on a throwing error to put the Warhawks up 2-0. Warhawks starting pitcher senior Trevor Despanses had a stellar outing, pitching a complete game shutout, tossing seven innings allowing three hits and walking one while striking out five batters. Despanses talked about what was working well for him throughout the outing.

“Throwing strikes, my team did everything else for me,” said Despases “I didn’t have to do too much. I threw good curveballs and good fastballs and let them put it in play for my defense or struck them out.”

The Warhawks would win the game despite not recording a hit. Head coach of the Warhawks Kayden Ames spoke on the importance of playing in close games even this early in the season. 

“It’s huge to be able to play in a game like this,” said Ames. “It’s not always going to be pretty and it’s rare you see a low scoring game like that in Iowa 1A baseball. I knew once we got to about the third inning both pitchers were throwing well and it was going to be one or two runs that won the game.” 

On Wednesday, the Warhawks would be in another tight battle with Central Springs. The Panthers would jump out to a 2-0 lead in the top of the third inning but the Warhawks responded with three runs of their own in the bottom of the third inning. The Warhawks would add another run in the bottom of the fourth inning. The Panthers would make it interesting, scoring a run in the top of the seventh, but the Warhawks would hold on for a 4-3 victory. Sophomore Zaner Hansen had two RBIs while Despansas and Behr each drove in a run of their own. 

The Warhawks would get a more decisive win on Thursday over Clarion-Goldfield-Dows. The Warhawks would win the game in six innings after enforcing the 10-run mercy rule. The Warhawks would score early and often, scoring three runs in the bottom of the first inning, one in the bottom of the third inning, six in the bottom of the fourth inning and one in the bottom of the sixth inning. Sophomore Zander Hansen drove in three runs, while Braylon Shreckengost and Despanses each drove in two runs. Braylon Shreckengost would also have three hits on the day. Nolan Shreckengost would pitch a solid game, tossing six innings and allowing only one run on three hits and three walks while striking out eight batters. 

The Warhawks dropped their last game of the week versus Saint Ansgar. The Saints offense would break out scoring 10 runs, while the Warhawks were only able to push across two runs in the top of the fourth inning. Hansen would be the lone Warhawk with an RBI with a run-scoring double. Hansen would be the Warhawks starting pitcher and would pitch one inning and allow three runs on three hits and did not strike out anyone. 

Despite the loss to end the week it was a good week for the Warhawks with a 3-1 record. This moves the Warhawks overall record on the season to 4-4 as they will look to get over the .500 mark next week. The Warhawks will play four games again next week (see upcoming events).