June 8, 2016

Girls softball team takes 5th at State

By Neal A. Shipman
Farmer Editor

After three years of finishing in eighth place at the State Class B Girls Fast Pitch Softball Tournament, the Watford City varsity girls softball team finally got into the win column.
“We were hoping that we’d finally win a game this year,” stated Devin Langerud, Wolves’ head coach. “And we accomplished that goal.”
The Wolves opened this year’s state tournament with a 2-0 loss to Central Cass, but Watford City rebounded to defeat Wilton-Wing, 6-0, in the consolation semifinals on Friday. Watford City then capped off their state tournament run by crushing Des Lacs-Burlington, 6-1, to take fifth place in Saturday’s consolation championship.

State Class B Tournament - Quarterfinal Round
Central Cass 2, Watford City 0

In a defensive struggle that wasn’t settled until the seventh inning, the Watford City Wolves girls softball team fell to Central Cass, 2-0, in the quarterfinals of the State Class B Girls Softball Tournament on Thursday, June 2.
After six scoreless innings of play, the Squirrels got on the scoreboard in the top of the seventh inning as Central Cass would send two runners across the plate on a hard hit grounder that got by Watford City’s second baseman.
Mikka Haugeberg took the loss on the mound for Watford City as she struck out six batters.
                                                                         R    H
Central Cass    0    0    0    0    0    0    2    2    8
Watford City      0    0    0    0    0    0    0    0    10

State Class B Tournament - Consolation Semifinals
Watford City 6, Wilton-Wing 0

The Wolves jumped out to an early lead on Wilton/Wing and captured a 6-0 victory on Friday at the State Class B Girls Fast Pitch Softball Tournament.
Mikka Haugeberg was impressive on the mound for the Wolves as she pitched a shutout, striking out four batters and giving up just three hits in seven innings of work.
While Haugeberg kept the Wilton offense in check, Watford City had a field day as they scored six runs on six hits to control the game.
The Wolves jumped out to a 3-0 first inning lead on a two-run double by Kaytlyn Grimes and an RBI single by Teddi Dwyer. Bailey Shannon’s steal of home in the second inning helped fuel the Wolves’ offense.
“Our six runs in the first three innings allowed us to put the game away early,” stated Langerud.
Dwyer was solid at the plate for the Wolves as she was two of three in hitting as she drove in one run and scored one run.
                                                                    R    H
Wilton                   0    0    0    0    0    0    0    0
Watford City        3    1    2    0    0    X    6    6

State Class B Tournament Consolation Championship
Watford City 6, Des Lacs-Burlington 1

Watford City capped off their best performance at the State Class B Girls Fast Pitch Softball Tournament on Saturday as the Wolves crushed Des Lacs-Burlington, 6-1, to take the consolation championship.
“DLB couldn’t get anything going so long as Mikka Haugeberg was on the hill,” stated Langerud.
The Lakers managed just two hits off Haugeberg, who allowed one earned run, walked three and struck out five during her five innings of work.
After a scoreless first inning, Watford City would get on the scoreboard with a run in each of the second and third innings to hold a 2-0 lead.
But the Wolves would go on a four-run scoring blitz to slam the door on Des Lacs-Burlington to take the fifth place title.
Kaytlyn Grimes capped off her senior season as she belted out a two-run homer in her last plate appearance in the fourth inning.
                                                         R    H
DLB                  0    0    0    1    0    1    2
Watford            0    1    1    4    X    6    7

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