South Winn sophomore Seth Greve takes a big swing at a pitch during recent Warrior baseball action. SW clinched the Upper Iowa Conference title with a sweep of Clayton Ridge on Monday, July 2, with a combined two-game score of 25-0 . (Kris Van Sickle photo)

Warrior BB wins UIC, tunes up for postseason

Zakary Kriener

News Writer
zkriener@fayettepublishing.com

The South Winn baseball team captured the Upper Iowa Conference championship after sweeping Clayton Ridge/Central Elkader in a two-game series on Monday, July 2.

In game one, the Warriors earned a 13-0 shutout win over CR/CE, a game that featured 18 hits by the red and white.

Blue Devils falter in first-round action

By Chris Deback
cdeback@thefayettecountyunion.com

The West Central softball team’s season came to an end with a 4-0 loss to the BGM Bears in the first round of the Class 1A Region 3 playoffs on Tuesday, July 2. 

Even though the Blue Devils traveled to BGM for the game, they were the home team. 

The Blue Devils held their own against a solid Bears squad that scored two runs in the first inning, and one run each in the second and third. 

“In the first inning, I think our nerves got the best of us a little bit,” said Nick Robinson, West Central head coach. “We gave them a couple runs, but after that, [senior pitcher Mary McDonough] really settled in and pitched well.” 

Jaxson Ludgren combines power and form in recent action for the West Union swim team. (Jerry Wadian photo)

Conference Swim Meet Saturday

By Jerry Wadian
jwadian@thefayettecountyunion.com

The West Union swim team heads to Sumner Saturday for the Conference Swim Meet. At the meet, warm-ups will begin at 9 a.m. with the competition starting at 10 a.m.

Last week, the swimmers had just one meet, losing to always powerful Decorah, 462-178, in Decorah.

Brooks Hovden wears a protective mask while pitching the TigerHawks to a 14-4 victory in the District opener Saturday over Sumner-Fred. The mask became necessary after the junior had a bunt attempt earlier in the week go into the air, breaking his nose. Despite that, Hovden singled twice and went 3 1/3 allowing three hits and three runs. He also had a bunt attempt during the game. (Kris Van Sickle photo) 

TigerHawk BB advances

By Jerry Wadian
jwadian@thefayettecountyunion.com

NFV advanced in the Class 2A District 5 baseball playoffs Saturday in Waukon, pasting Sumner-Fredericksburg, 14-4, in six innings.

  Both teams pushed two runs across in the first, but the Columbia blue, black and silver gave itself breathing space with a six-run second. Two more in the third and fifth innings gave NFV a 13-4 lead later ended the game in the sixth with a solo run.

 In all, the TigerHawks collected 11 hits and six walks; they also stole six bases.

Julie Mackey gets a face full of dust as she slides safely into third after the NFV sophomore went from first to third on an infield single. Mackey had three hits, scored once, and drove in a run in the TigerHawks’ 12-7 playoff win over Oelwein on Tuesday, July 3, in West Union. (Jerry Wadian photo)

Softball opens Regionals with a win

By Jerry Wadian
jwadian@thefayettecountyunion.com

  NFV ended a four-year drought in Regional playoffs Thursday with a 12-7 win over Oelwein Tuesday in West Union. The last time the TigerHawks advanced out of the first round was 2013, when it shut out Maq. Valley, 7-0.

  While the Huskies at 9-21 do not have the program that the ranked teams like Crestwood, New Hampton and Columbus have that have eliminated NFV in past first rounds, Oelwein does have some good athletes and some good hitters through the top half of the lineup.

South Winn SB wins three more

Zakary Kriener

News Writer
zkriener@fayettepublishing.com

As the end of the regular season quickly approaches, the South Winn softball team added three more wins to its record and currently holds an even 13-13 record.

Turkey Valley

In game one of an Upper Iowa Conference doubleheader against the Trojans on Monday, June 25, TV emerged with a 12-6 win.

South Winn second baseman Jaron Todd makes the play to first during recent Warrior baseball action. The Warriors currently sit with a 20-6 overall mark and lead the Upper Iowa Conference with an 11-1 record. (Kris Van Sickle photo)

Warrior baseball hits 20 wins

Zakary Kriener

News Writer
zkriener@fayettepublishing.com

The Warrior baseball team continues to play in tip-top form as it went 4-2 over the last week and hit the 20-win mark on the season.

Turkey Valley

South Winn took on Turkey Valley at home on Monday, June 25, splitting a doubleheader.

West Central’s Rachel Walenceus throws a pitch in a recent matchup with Oelwein. Walenceus had her best outting of the season when she gave up just one hit and struckout four batters in a 12-0 win over Postville on Monday, June 25. 

WC softball season nears end

By Chris Deback
cdeback@thefayettecountyunion.com

A valiant pitching effort by Mary McDonough wasn’t enough to push the West Central Blue Devils softball team past Class 1A No. 1 Kee High on Wednesday, June 27. The Blue Devils fell at home, 4-0 and 12-0.

In the first game, Kee High scored one run in the top of the first, two in the top of the sixth and another run in the top of the seventh inning for a total of four. McDonough gave up three earned runs on six hits with two strikeouts. 

NFV shortstop Macy Halverson makes a nice stop on this hard grounder in the hole and flips to second to force the lead runner. The senior has given the infield a steadying presence as well as hitting over .300 with 15 RBI. (Jerry Wadian photo)

Regular season over for NFV softball

By Jerry Wadian
jwadian@thefayettecountyunion.com

The regular season ended this week for the NFV softball team.

During the final week, the TigerHawks won three of four conference games but had the confrontation with Kee cancelled by the weather.

The TigerHawks started the week with an unusual split at Clayton Ridge. NFV easily won the opener, 20-7, but 14 runs in the nightcap weren’t enough as the TigerHawks allowed 13 unearned runs in falling, 16-14.

Wyatt Van Sickle makes a nice running catch of this little pop-up behind second. The TigerHawk senior has been a regular catcher, pitcher and outfielder, and like Thursday in Oelwein, a second baseman. (Kris Van Sickle photo) 

TigerHawk baseball wins 3 of 5

By Jerry Wadian
jwadian@thefayettecountyunion.com

NFV baseball won three of its five games last week. The three wins were all against conference teams as the TigerHawks downed Postville twice in Postville on Monday, June 25, and beat Clayton Ridge at home on Wednesday. The losses came at home Tuesday, June 26, to Kee and Thursday at Oelwein.