Walleye bats roaring to start off the season
By Neal A. Shipman
Farmer Editor
Watford City’s American Legion baseball team definitely had its bats working early in the season as the Walleye have scored 46 runs in their first five games to post a 5-1 season record.
So far this season the Walleye defeated Burlington, 12-4; Stanley, 12-6; Surrey, 4-2; and Sidney, 14-9. Watford City’s only loss was an 11-4 defeat to Garrison.
This week, Watford City will be hosting Sidney on Wednesday at 5 p.m. The Walleye will then travel to Beulah for a 5 p.m. game on Monday, June 25 before hosting Garrison at 4 p.m. on June 27.
Garrison 11, Watford City 4
Watford City jumped out to a 3-1 first inning lead over Garrison in the Surrey Tournament, but their bats went cold in the next three innings as the Walleye took an 11-4 loss.
Garrison scored five runs in the second inning and then tacked on one run in the third and fourth innings before scoring three more runs in the fifth inning.
Both teams had six hits in the game with the Walleye committing four errors.
Brice Brenno took the loss on the mound for the Walleye.
R H E
Watford City 3 0 0 0 1 0 4 6 4
Garrison 1 5 1 1 3 0 11 6 2
Watford City 12, Burlington 4
Watford City out-hit Burlington 11 to seven as the Walleye cruised to a 12-4 win.
The Walleye led 4-0 after two innings of play before Burlington would deadlock the game after four innings of play. But Watford City answered with five runs in the fifth inning and then tacked on another three runs in the sixth inning to take the win.
Lucas Nicholson earned the win on the mound for the Walleye.
R H E
Watford City 3 1 0 0 5 3 12 11 0
Burlington 0 0 3 1 0 0 4 7 0
Watford City 12, Stanley 6
Watford City overcame a 6-2 third- inning deficit to knock off Stanley, 12-6, in the Surrey Tournament.
The Walleye began their rally with a four-run fourth inning and then added six more runs in the fifth inning to take the win.
Watford City out-hit Stanley, 11-5, with both teams committing one error each.
Brandon Allex picked up the win for the Walleye as he pitched the first two innings with Nate Engeberg coming in to start the third inning to earn the save.
R H E
Watford City 2 0 0 4 6 0 12 11 1
Stanley 5 0 1 0 0 0 6 5 1
Walleye 4, Surrey 2
The Walleye capped off their Surrey Tournament action with a 4-2 win over the host team.
After three scoreless innings of play, the Walleye’s bats came alive in the fourth inning as Watford City scored four runs.
Surrey would score one run in each of the final innings.
Watford City out-hit Surrey 11-6.
Dakota Neether picked up the win on the mound for the Walleye.
R H E
Watford City 0 0 0 4 0 0 4 11 1
Surrey 0 0 0 0 1 1 2 6 1
Watford City 14, Sidney 9
Watford City opened its home season last Monday as the Walleye out- hit Sidney, 10-9, to improve their season record to 4-1 with a 14-9 win.
The Walleye jumped out to a 7-1 lead after two innings of play before Sidney would tie the game after three innings.
But Watford City would answer the challenge as the Walleye would score one run in the fifth and then add two runs in the sixth, three runs in the seventh and an insurance run in the eighth.
R H E
Watford City 2 5 0 0 1 2 3 1 0 14 10 2
Sidney 1 0 2 4 0 0 0 2 0 9 9 2