Wins keep piling up for Wolves
By Neal A. Shipman
Farmer Editor
Watford City kept its winning streak intact as the Wolves swept Trinity Christian and New Town in high school baseball action last week.
The Wolves took two games from Trinity Christian on April 26 defeating the Crusaders, 1-0 and 3-2, and then Watford City swept New Town, 13-0 and 13-1.
The next action for the Wolves will be on Wed., May 4 when Watford hosts Kenmare, and on Thursday when the Williston JV comes to town.
Watford City 1, Trinity Christian 0
After six scoreless innings of play, Douglas Rolfson provided Watford City the winning run on an overthrow as he stole third base.
“It was a well-played baseball game by both teams,” stated Justin Johnsrud, Wolves’ head coach. “Trinity Christian had runners in scoring position in the second and fifth innings, but our solid defense and pitching kept them from getting on the scoreboard.”
After failing to score with runners on base earlier in the game, the Wolves finally had their chance to win in the seventh inning.
“We finally had runners on first and second with no outs in the bottom of the seventh inning,” stated Johnsrud. “In a situation like that, you can manufacture runs even when you’re not hitting the ball that well. Thankfully, it worked out in our favor.”
Not only did Rolfson score Watford City’s only run, but he pitched an exceptional game, striking out 11 batters and giving up just one walk as he pitched the complete game.
Watford City 3, Trinity Christian 2
The second game of the double-header proved to be equally close as Watford City edged the Crusaders 3-2 with Nate Egeberg picking up the win on the mound for the Wolves.
The only scoring in the game was in the first inning with Trinity Christian scoring two runs to open the game, and the Wolves answering back with three runs to close out the inning.
Egeberg struck out five batters and walked four in the win.
Game 1 R H E
Trinity Christian 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 5 1
Watford City 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 3 1
Game 2 R H E
Trinity Christian 2 0 0 0 2 2 0
Watford City 3 0 0 x 3 4 0
Watford City 13, New Town 0
Watford City had their bats going for the first time this year as the Wolves scored 13 runs on 13 hits to 10-run New Town in the first game of double-header action last Thursday.
“New Town is a very young team, and our pitching was excellent,” stated Johnsrud.
Watford City got on the scoreboard in the second inning as four Wolves’ players crossed the plate. And then the flood gates opened as Watford City padded its lead scoring six runs in the third inning before scoring three more in the fourth.
Trey Jacobson picked up the win for the Wolves on the mound striking out four and walking one in two innings of work, while Nick Liebel struck out eight batters in the final three innings.
At the plate, Jacobson was two of three with two runs scored and two RBIs, Liebel was three for three with two runs scored and two RBIs, while Douglas Rolfson was two for three with one run scored and two RBIs.
Watford City 13, New Town 1
After securing their conference win, Watford City’s bench players got to see a lot of action in the second game against New Town.
And they delivered in a big way as the Wolves blasted the Eagles 13-1 in three innings.
“This was a good game for our younger players to see some action,” stated Johnsrud. “With a shortened season due to weather, they don’t always get to play as much as I would like them to. They made the most of it tonight with every player in the second game getting a hit.”
Lucas Nicholson picked up the win for Watford City striking out four batters and giving up two walks in two innings while Brandon Taylor struck out one and gave up two walks.
Offensively, Clay Billing and Brandon Taylor were each two for two with one RBI and two runs scored, while Karson Knudtson was one for one with two RBIs.
Game 1 R H E
New Town 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Watford City 0 4 6 3 x 13 13 1
Game 2 R H E
New Town 0 0 1 1 1 0
Watford City 5 8 x 13 12 0