Strong on the mound
By Neal A. Shipman
Farmer Editor
Watford City’s girls varsity softball got off to a strong start in their 2016 season on April 4, as the Wolves crushed the Beulah Miners, 16-0. The Wolves then dropped a 3-1 game to Wilton-Wing, before downing Sidney, 4-2, on April 8.
And for Devin Langerud, Wolves’ head coach, the opening win was important to a team that is looking forward to a repeat trip to the State Class B Girls Softball Tournament.
“We lost four seniors from last year’s team,” states Langerud. “But we have a lot of returning players from last year’s team that took eighth at State so I feel confident in our team.”
While Langerud acknowledges that it will be hard to replace the loss of last year’s seniors, he has seven seniors that he says will bring lots to the table.
“I’m counting on my seniors to step up and help the younger classmen find their roles on the team,” states Langerud.
This week, the Wolves will travel to Kenmare on Thursday and then host Heart River on Monday, April 18.
Watford City 16, Beulah 0
If Watford City’s varsity girls softball team’s opening game against the Beulah Miners was any indication, the Wolves have the pitching and batting to be a dominating team this season.
And the Wolves’ pitching and hitting talent was on display on April 4 as Watford City crushed the Miners, 16-0.
Kamryn Grimes pitched a no-hitter for Watford City as she struck out 11, while walking just two Miner batters in the win.
“Monday was a day Kamryn will set aside for the scrapbook as she threw a no-hitter in our victory over Beulah,” stated Langerud. “No Beulah batter was able to locate Grimes’ pitches during the game and she capped off her performance on the mound by recording a strikeout for the final out of the game.”
While Grimes was able to keep the Beulah batters off the base path, Watford City had no trouble making solid contact with the ball. The Wolves, who were led by Teddi Dwyer, Mikka Haugeberg and Kaytlyn Grimes with two hits each, pounded out 12 hits in the win.
The Wolves scored 10 runs in the first three innings of action and then tacked on six more in the fifth inning to polish off Beulah.
Kaytlyn Grimes led Watford City offensively with four RBIs, while Kamryn Grimes and Teddi Dwyer drove in three runs each.
R H
Beulah 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Watford 3 6 1 6 x 16 12
Wilton-Wing 3, Watford City 1
In a tough defensive game last Tuesday, the Wolves suffered their first loss on the road to Wilton-Wing.
After four scoreless innings, Wing tacked on two runs in the bottom of the fifth inning and then held on to take the 3-1 victory.
Kamryn Grimes took the loss for the Wolves on the mound as she racked up eight strikeouts while allowing three runs on six hits and one walk.
Watford City scored its only run in the top of the seventh inning on a ground out by Maddy Hogue.
R H
Watford 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 4
Wilton 0 0 0 0 2 1 x 3 0
Watford City 4, Sidney 2
Watford City used a three-run, fifth inning rally to defeat Sidney, 4-2, on April 8.
After a scoreless first three innings, Watford City got on the scoreboard following a Teddi Dwyer ground out in the top of the fourth inning. Sidney would answer right back with a two-run homer to lead the Wolves, 2-1, after four innings of play.
But Watford City got the hits they needed to open up the fifth inning as the Wolves would rally for three runs to take the win.
Kamryn Grimes paced the Wolves at the plate as she went two for four, had one RBI and scored two runs. Grimes also picked up the win on the mound for Watford City as she allowed just two runs on three hits in seven innings of work.
R H
Sidney 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 2 3
Watford 0 0 0 1 3 0 0 4 7