June 23, 2015

A tough week of baseball for the Walleye

By Neal A. Shipman
Farmer Editor

After getting off to a quick, 2-0, start to their baseball season, the Walleye have struggled to get back into the winning column.
Watford City was able to manage a split against Sidney last Tuesday, but then the Walleye lost their next nine games to drop to a 4-9 season record. Last week, the Walleye dropped games to Beulah, Williston, Glasgow and Des Lacs-Burlington.
“We had a rough week,” stated Pat Spacher, Walleye head coach. “The kids played hard and got better as the week progressed. We have to continue to hit the ball while minimizing our mistakes defensively. Overall, we are starting to play good baseball and are moving in the right direction.”
This weekend, the Walleye will be at Corbett Field in Minot where they take on Eden Prairie, the Minot Metros, the Minot Vistas and Carrington in the Vista’s Tournament. Watford’s next home action will be on Tuesday, June 30, when the Walleye host Washburn with game time set for 4 p.m.

Walleye 10, Sidney 7
Walleye 2, Sidney 12

The Walleye split with Sidney last Tuesday with Watford City taking the first game, 10-7, before dropping the final game, 12-2.
In the first game, the Walleye held a 2-1 first inning lead before scoring three runs in the bottom of the third with a two-run home run by David Kline and a Nick Wright double that scored Brandon Roth.
Watford City’s solid pitching by Keegan Thompson and strong defense held Sidney scoreless in the next three innings as the Walleye tacked on two runs in the fourth inning to take a 7-4 lead.
The Walleye would then close out their scoring with three runs in the sixth inning as Kline, Andrew Sampsel and Brandon Roth crossed the plate.
The Walleye, who had 16 hits in the game, were led in batting by Preston Milstead, Brandon Roth and Nick Wright, who all were three for four at the plate. Kline, Sampsel, Roth, and Cody Johnson had two RBIs each for Watford City.
Keegan Thompson earned the win on the mound for Watford City.
In the second game, Sidney turned the tables on the Walleye as they scored 12 runs on 14 hits to defeat Watford City, 12-2.
Sidney scored five runs to open the game with the Walleye scoring their only two runs in the bottom of the first inning.
Sidney then tacked on seven runs in the final two innings to take the win.
Andrew Sampsel was three for three at the plate. Sampsel and Brandon Roth both had one RBI in the game.
Devyn Marquart took the loss on the mound for the Walleye.
Game 1                                                              R    H    E
Sidney                    1    0    3    0    0    0    3    7    11    0
Watford City           2    0    3    2    0    3    0    10    16    0
Game 2                                                              R    H    E
Sidney                                  5    0    0    4    3    12    14    0
Watford City                          2    0    0    0    0    2    8    0

Beulah 12, Walleye 2
Watford City could only muster two runs on four hits as the Walleye fell to Beulah, 12-2, on June 17.
Beulah led Watford City throughout the game with the Walleye’s only two runs coming in the bottom of the fifth inning.
Andrew Sampsel led Watford City in hitting as he was two of three at the plate with two RBIs.
Sampsel took the loss on the mound for the Walleye as he struck out five batters, while giving up nine hits and eight runs in three innings of work.
                                                                            R    H    E
Beulah                        2    0    4    4    2    0    12    13    0
Watford City               0    0    0    0    2    x       2    4    0

Williston 15s 10, Walleye 9
Watford City got off to a good start against the Williston 15-year-old team as the Walleye jumped out to a 7-1 lead after three innings of play. But the Walleye could not hold onto the lead as Williston scored nine runs in the final three innings to take the 10-9 win on June 19.
Andrew Sampsel had the hot bat for Watford City as he was three for four at the plate with three RBIs, while Preston Milstead was three for five.
David Kline took the loss on the road for Watford City as he gave up seven runs and walked seven batters while striking out three in five innings on the mound.
                                                                                    R    H    E
Watford City                        3    2    2    0    2    0    9    15    0
Williston                              1    0    0    5    0    4    10    12    0

Glasgow 10, Walleye 6
An eight-run third inning powered Glasgow past the Walleye as Watford City suffered an 8-6 loss on June 19.
Watford City trailed Glasgow, 2-1, after the first inning before scoring  three runs in the top of the second inning to take a 4-2 lead.
But Glasgow’s eight runs in the bottom of the third took the wind out of Watford City’s sails.
Brandon Allex and Andrew Sampsel had two RBIs each in the loss.
Cody Johnson took the loss on the mound for the Walleye as he struck out five and walked five batters while giving up five hits.
                                                                               R    H    E
Watford City                   1    3    0    0    2    0    6    8    0
Glasgow                        2    0    8    0    0    x    10    5    0

Walleye 8, Williston Oilers 6
Watford City got back in the winning column on Saturday as the Walleye edged the Williston Oilers, 8-6.
Watford City led the Oilers, 7-0, after three innings of play, and then held off Williston in the final three innings to take the win.
Brandon Allex led the Walleye at the plate with two doubles and four RBIs.
Preston Milstead earned the win for Watford City on the mound as he struck out seven batters while giving up seven hits and three walks.
                                                                                      R    H    E
Watford City                    2    3    2    0    0    1    0    8    7    0
Williston                          0    0    0    1    1    4    0    6    7    0

Williston 15s 10, Walleye 9
Williston’s 15-year-old squad got the better of Watford City again as the Walleye suffered a 10-9 loss on Saturday.
Williston led the Walleye 6-3 after the first inning before Watford City battled back to trail, 10-8, after three innings.
Watford City was able to cut the deficit to one run, 10-9, in the top of the fifth inning. But that would be as close as the Walleye would get as they failed to score in the sixth inning.
David Kline led the Walleye at the plate with four RBIs on two singles and a home run.
                                                                                    R    H    E
Watford City                        3    2    2    0    2    0    9    15    0
Williston                              1    0    0    5    0    4    10    12    0

Des Lacs-Burlington 8, Walleye 6
Watford City wrapped up a tough week of play on Sunday as the Walleye fell to Des Lacs-Burlington, 8-6.
A two-run home run by Andrew Sampsel in the bottom of the first inning tied the game at 2-2. But DLB would rattle off the next four runs to lead Watford City, 6-2, after four innings of play.
Watford City would rally in the bottom of the fifth inning scoring three runs to draw to a 6-5 deficit. But DLB would add an insurance run in the top of the sixth to secure the win.
Andrew Sampsel led the Walleye in hitting with four RBIs.
Hunter Neether took the loss on the mound for the Walleye as he struck out two batters, while walking five and giving up 10 hits.
                                                                                          R    H    E
Des Lacs-Burlington        2    1    0    3    0    1    1    8    10    0
Watford City                        2    0    0    0    3    0    1    6    9    0

WATFORD CITY WEATHER