Baseball team improves to 10-3
By Neal A. Shipman
Farmer Editor
Watford City’s baseball team improved its season record to 10-3 this past week as the Wolves crushed New Town, 21-2, and Lewis & Clark, 8-5, last Thursday before edging Trinity Christian, 3-1, on Saturday.
This week, the Wolves will host Des Lacs and Lewis & Clark on Thursday in the wrap-up of their regional season. Watford City will then travel to New Town on Monday with its Junior High/JV squads before taking on Trinity Christian in non-region action on May 14.
The Region Tournament, which will be held in Watford City begins at 12 noon on Monday, May 20.
Watford City 21, New Town 2
Watford City’s bats were popping last Thursday as the Wolves scored 21 runs on 16 hits to defeat New Town 21-2.
“We beat a very inexperienced New Town team,” stated Justin Johnsrud, Wolves’ head coach on the lopsided win. “It was a game where a lot of younger players got some time to swing the bat.”
The Wolves jumped out to a 6-0 first inning lead and then hammered 13 runs in the second inning to put the game on ice.
Keegan Thompson picked up the win on the mound for the Wolves striking out eight batters and giving up four hits.
At the plate Brandon Taylor was four for four with four RBIs, while Keegan Thompson was three for four with a home run.
R H E
New Town 0 0 0 2 2 4 0
Watford City 6 13 2 0 21 16 2
Watford City 8, Lewis & Clark 5
Watford City had a huge second inning as the Wolves rallied for seven runs to overcome a 1-0 first inning deficit to defeat Lewis & Clark, 8-5, in a non-region game on Thursday.
“We had a big second inning taking advantage of a couple of Lewis & Clark’s mistakes and getting some timely hits,” stated Johnsrud.
Lewis & Clark would cut into the Wolves’ lead scoring one run in the third inning and two more runs in the fourth inning. But the Wolves would tack on one more insurance run in the bottom of the sixth inning to secure the win.
At the plate, Brandon Roff and Davis Zubke were two for three with Roff having two RBIs.
Brandon Allex pitched well before being relieved by Nate Egeberg. Dakota Neether earned the save pitching the last inning.
R H E
Lewis & Clark 1 0 1 2 0 0 1 5 10 0
Watford City 0 7 0 0 0 1 0 8 8 1
Watford 3, Trinity Christian 1
Andrew Sampsel pitched an entire game striking out 11 batters and giving up just two walks as the Wolves defeated Trinity Christian, 3-1, in a big Region 7 win for the Wolves.
“Sampsel threw strikes and our defense made the plays behind him,” stated Johnsrud on the win. “Both pitchers threw strikes and forced batters to put the ball in play. The defenses played well behind them.”
After trailing Trinity Christian 1-0 after four innings of play, the Wolves would do all of their scoring in the bottom of the fifth and sixth innings to take the win.
At the plate, Brandon Taylor was three for four with one RBI and one run scored.
R H E
Trinity Christian 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 5 3
Watford City 0 0 0 0 2 1 0 3 8 2