April 14, 2010

Wolves split with Williston JV in baseball opener

By Neal A. Shipman
Farmer Editor

The Watford City Wolves opened their 2010 season last Friday afternoon splitting with the Williston Coyote JV team. Watford City took the opening game 6-2 before dropping the second game 7-5.
“Our pitching was good for the first outing,” stated Justin Johnsrud, Wolves’ head coach. “Doug Rolfson, Trey Jacobson, and Nick Liebel all saw action in the first game, while Liebel, Dillon Langerud, Paul Martin and Ben Haugeberg pitched the second game.”
With solid pitching Johnsrud believes that the team has great prospects for the season.
“We threw strikes and only gave up four walks in the two games,” noted Johnsrud. “That will be a key for us during Region play; keeping the ball in the strike zone and letting our defense make plays is what we need to see happen.”
This week the Wolves will open their region schedule when they travel to Bishop Ryan for a 4 p.m. game on Thursday and then host North Shore-Parshall-Plaza-Berthold at 4 p.m. on Friday.
Watford City 6, Williston JV 2
Williston JV 7, Watford City 5

After trailing the Coyotes 2-1 after the first inning of play, Watford City exploded for three runs in the fourth inning and then added two more insurance runs in the fifth inning to open their season with a win.
“For our first game I thought we played well,” stated Justin Johnsrud, Wolves’ head coach. “We gave up some unearned runs on fielding errors but that is going to happen this early in the season”
Douglas Rolfson and Trey Jacobson shared the pitching mound with Rolfson pitching the first three innings of the game while Jacobson pitched the last three. Rolfson struck out six batters while giving up two hits. Jacobson struck out five batters while giving up one hit and one base on balls.
At the plate we made contact and forced Williston to make plays,” stated Johnsrud. “Hitting should improve with every game.”
Jacobson and Ben Haugeberg each went two for three at the plate and belted a double each to lead the Wolves offensively.
In the second game of the day, Watford City got off to a good start leading the Coyotes 4-3 after the first inning but couldn’t hold on as Williston edged the Wolves 7-5.
Nate Egeberg and Shawn Fulwider led the Wolves offensively with both hitting two of three at the plate with Egeberg scoring two runs.
Paul Martin took the loss for Watford City on the mound.
Game 1                                                                        R    H    E
Watford City                1    0    0    3    2    0    X        6    11    3
Williston JV                2    0    0    0    0    0    0        2      4     4
Game 2                                                                        R    H    E
Watford City                         4    0    1    0    0             5    5    5
Williston JV                          3    2    0    2    0             7    5    6

WATFORD CITY WEATHER