July 28, 2010

Walleye advance to State American Legion Tournament

By Neal A. Shipman
Farmer Editor

It’s been a long time coming for Watford City baseball fans! And now after a fifty-year hiatus, the Watford City American Legion baseball team has finally earned a berth to the State American Legion Baseball Tournament.
And the Walleye earned their long awaited trip to State with three resounding wins at the Section 6 Tournament in Lansford this past week. Watford City opened the tournament with a 7-2 win over Makoti, and then advanced to the title game defeating Crosby 12-1. In a rematch of their second game, the Walleye once again faced Crosby for the right to advance to the State Tournament and this time blasted the Cubs 10-4.
“It was great to watch the boys play so well,” stated Pat Spacher, Walleye head coach. “They were great all tournament. Our pitchers gave up only one earned run in all three games and our bats came alive in the championship game against a good pitcher.”
Watford City’s first action in the State Tournament, which will be held in Grafton on July 28-31, will be at 3 p.m. on Wednesday against Casselton.
“The boys have worked hard for this from the start of high school ball until now, and I’m ecstatic that they get to go to State,” says Spacher. “Everyone involved in Watford City baseball owns a little piece of this championship.”

Section 6 Tournament
First Game
Walleye 7, Makoti 2

Solid hitting gave Watford City a first-round win in the Section 6 Tournament as the Walleye defeated Makoti 7-2.
Watford City led throughout the game with the Walleye holding a 3-0 lead after two innings of play. While Makoti would score one run in the third inning, Watford City would score two runs in the fourth and then add one run in each of the fifth and sixth innings to take the win.
Trey Jacobson picked up the win on the mound for the Walleye striking out nine batters while giving up two walks and four hits.
                                                                           R    H    E
Watford City              0    3    0    2    1    1    x    7    8    2
Makoti                       0    0    1    0    0    0    1    2    4    2
Highlights: Dillon Langerud, 1-3, 1 run; Nick Liebel, 1-3, 3 RBI; Doug Rolfson, 2-3, 1 double, 2 runs; Reid Johnson, 1-2, 1 RBI, 2 runs; Chris Larsen, 1-3, 1 RBI; Doug Nordby, 1-3, 1 RBI, 1 run.

Section 6 Tournament
Second Game
Walleye 12, Crosby 1

Watford City took advantage of Crosby miscues to score 12 runs on just three hits en route to a 12-1 win over the Cubs in semifinal action of the Section 6 Tournament.
The Walleye had six runs cross the plate before Crosby got on the board in the bottom of the fourth inning, and then Watford City would add five more runs in the fifth inning to complete the 10-run win.
Doug Rolfson picked up the win on the mound for Watford City as he struck out three batters while giving up four hits.
                                                                        R    H    E
Watford City                    1    2    0    4    5    12    3    1
Crosby                               0    0    0    1    0    1    4    3
Highlights: Dillon Langerud, 2-3, 3 RBI, 3 runs; Doug Rolfson, 1-3, 2 RBI.

Section 6 Tournament
Championship Game
Walleye 10, Crosby 4

Every game has its momentum- swinging moment and Nick Liebel provided the Walleye with that moment when he stole home in the fourth inning to deadlock the Section 6 title game at 4-4. After that, Watford City cruised to an easy 10-4 win over the Crosby Cubs to advance to the State American Legion Baseball Tournament for the first time since 1960.
Watford City got on the scoreboard first against Crosby with a two-run first inning, but the Cubs would answer back scoring three runs in the second inning to lead 3-2. Crosby would then add one run in the top of the fourth inning but Liebel’s stealing home effort would cap off a two-run at bat for Watford City to tie the game at 4-4.
The Walleye would then hold the Cubs scoreless in the next three innings while adding three runs in each of the fifth and sixth innings to take the win.
Ben Haugeberg picked up the win on the mound for the Walleye, while Trey Jacobson was credited with the save. Haugeberg struck out five batters and gave up four runs on five hits in five innings of work, while Jacobson struck out four batters and gave up just one hit in two innings of pitching.
                                                                              R    H    E
Watford City             2    0    0    2    3    3    x    10    14    2
Crosby                          0    3    0    1    0    0    0    4    6    0
Highlights: Trey Jacobson 4-5, 2 doubles, 2 RBI, 1 run; Dillon Langerud, 1-3, 1 RBI; Nick Liebel, 1-3, 2 runs; Ben Haugeberg, 2-4, 1 double, 1 RBI, 1 run; Doug Rolfson, 1-3, 1 RBI; Lucas Nicholson, 1-1, 1 double, 1 RBI, 1 run; Chris Larsen, 2-4, 1 RBI, 1 run; Doug Nordby, 1-3, 1 double.

WATFORD CITY WEATHER