Warhawks snap skid, rebound against CGD and St. Ansgar

In any sport, including baseball, it’s hard to shake off a losing skid. To alleviate this, players and coach engage in small superstitions or rituals to convert the bad juju back into good fortunes.

Whatever happened within the West Fork baseball team, it surely worked, as the Warhawks snapped a three-game skid and countered with a two-game winning streak during their second week of play.

After coming up short against No. 1-ranked Newman Catholic on June 1 in Mason City and falling to Central Springs on June 2 at Warhawk Field in Sheffield, the Warhawks smashed Clarion-Goldfield Dows last Thursday in Sheffield.

West Fork then used the momentum to outlast ninth-ranked St. Ansgar, 3-1, this past Friday in St. Ansgar.

In putting together a two-game winning streak, the Warhawks moved to 2-3 within the Top of Iowa Conference’s East Division and 3-4 overall.

The Warhawks began the week anew, as they welcomed in Osage to Warhawk Field this past Monday, before traveling to Allison to face North Butler this past Wednesday. West Fork returns to the road on Thursday, heading east to face Clarksville at the Clarksville Athletic Complex.

On Friday, the Warhawks are set to host Nashua-Plainfield at Warhawk Field. First pitch is scheduled for 7 p.m.

Newman Catholic 7, West Fork 2: Going up against the top-ranked Knights, an early two-run lead by the Warhawks gave way to a seven-run surge from Newman Catholic on June 1 at the Newman Baseball Field in Mason City.

The start of the game started well for West Fork, who plated two runs and held the Knights scoreless through two frames. The Knights then got their sticks going, scoring three runs in the bottom of the third, followed by two runs in the bottom of the fifth inning.

Newman Catholic then tacked on two insurance runs in the bottom of the sixth frame.

Senior Levi Janssen paced the red and black, with his two-RBI single in the first inning. Junior Nate Hubka had the most success at the dish, striking two singles against the Knights.

Senior Noah Maske, senior Kayden Ames, senior Kellen Cameron and eighth grader Nolan Shreckengost each recorded a hit, while Cameron and senior Jakob Washington each picked up stolen bases.

Cameron also toed the rubber against Newman Catholic, fanning five Knight batters despite his loss.

Central Springs 6, West Fork 3: In the first game of a two-game season series against the Panthers, the Warhawks rallied to within one in the fifth inning, before coming up short in a matchup held on June 2 at Warhawk Field in Sheffield.

Trailing 4-0 midway through the fourth inning, West Fork came to life by scoring one run in the bottom of the frame and plating two more runs in the bottom of the fifth inning. The Panthers countered, scoring two runs before fending off the Warhawks to push West Fork’s skid to three straight.

Cameron was the steady hand behind the West Fork effort, collecting a homer, a single and two RBIs against the Panthers.

Hubka also contributed nicely on offense, with two singles and a stolen base. On the mound, Hubka struck out four Panther batters.

Maske, Ames and senior Carter Meints each tallied hits for the Warhawks.

West Fork 16, Clarion-Goldfield-Dows 0: The Warhawks returned to the win column in dominating fashion, corralling the Cowboys in a shortened contest held last Thursday at Warhawk Field in Sheffield.

West Fork scored early and often, plating 11 runs in the bottom of the first inning. The Warhawks then scored five runs in the bottom of the second to snap their three-game losing skid.

Ames went wild on CGD, going a perfect 4-of-4 with four RBIs, a double and a stolen base. Maske tallied two RBIs and a single.

Hubka and Cameron each left with a hit and one RBI, as well as Washington and junior Hayden Shreckengost. Nolan Shreckengost picked up two hits, a stolen base and an RBI for the winning cause.

Washington also recorded a stolen base, alongside Cameron. While on the mound, Washington had one strikeout in the victory.

West Fork 3, St. Ansgar 1: Capping off the week in stellar fashion, the Warhawks pulled off the upset and handed the Saints their first league loss in a close contest held this past Friday in St. Ansgar.

While the first three innings were scoreless, West Fork jumped ahead in the top of the fourth frame with two runs. The Warhawks then scored an insurance run in the top of the sixth inning, before shrugging off a late rally from the Saints.

Cameron was solid at bat, going 3-of-4 with one RBI and a stolen base. Ames was clutch, as well, chalking up two hits and two RBIs.

Maske fared nicely, with a single and a stolen base, while Meints logged two singles against the Saints. Nolan Shreckengost, Washington and Janssen each tallied hits for the winning cause.

Junior Riley Peterson delivered one of his best performances on the mound, fanning five St. Ansgar batters and allowing five hits in a complete game of 93 pitches.