May 27, 2009

Wolves fall to Minot Ryan in Region baseball action

By Neal A. Shipman
Farmer Editor

In spite of being a first-year team, Watford City had high hopes of making it to the State Class B Baseball Tournament this year. And the Wolves very nearly saw their dreams come true as they worked their way through the Region 7 Tournament before falling in the title game to Minot Bishop Ryan 5-4.
“We played and beat six of the seven teams in our region in the tournament and faced each team’s best pitcher,” stated Justin Johnsrud, Wolves head coach. “We played four days of very good baseball and came up just short. It’s tough to win five games in a row like we had to in order to advance to State. And it’s very difficult to beat a good team like Ryan twice. We improved all year long and have a very good start to our high school baseball program. Most of the players will improve over the summer as four or five guys who have not played summer ball the last couple years will be playing this summer.”
Four Watford City players, Trey Jacobson, Dillon Langerud, Kevin Sanford and James Neer, were named to the All Region Baseball Team.

Watford City 12, NSPPB 2
Watford City opened the Region 7 Tournament defeating North Shore-Plaza 12-2 in five innings.
Christian Schulz earned the win for the Wolves as he gave up two runs and struck out six batters.
Dillon Langerud went three for three at the plate for the Wolves while Trey Jacobson was two for three.
Bishop Ryan 2, Watford City 1

On Saturday, the Wolves fell to Minot Bishop Ryan 2-1 in the second game of the tournament.
“An error allowed the leadoff batter for Bishop Ryan to reach base in the bottom of the 7th inning with the game tied 1-1,” stated Johnsrud. “With two outs and two strikes on the batter, John Landsiedel stole home to give the Lions the victory on a very close play.”
Kevin Sanford was the losing pitcher for Watford City. Sanford pitched the complete game hitting one batter, giving up one earned run and striking out seven batters.
Watford City 4, Trinity Christian 3
The Wolves got back on the winning track in their second game on Saturday defeating Trinity Christian 4-3 in loser-out action.
Trailing 3-2, Dillon Langerud scored the tying run in the bottom of the seventh off of a two-out single by Doug Rolfson. Trey Jacobson then scored the winning run in the bottom of the eighth off a two-out Kevin Sanford walk-off single.
Trey Jacobson pitched two innings for the Wolves striking out three batters before James Neer pitched the last six innings.
Watford City 3, DLB 2
Watford City made it an interesting game four of the Region 7 Tournament on Monday as the Wolves let Neer to the bag.
Neer was the losing pitcher for Watford City giving up five runs in the first inning before being relieved by Douglas Rolfson.

WATFORD CITY WEATHER