It wasn’t the ultimate trophy South Winn baseball was dreaming about, but they were able to raise the Participation Trophy for being one of just eight teams in Class 1A to make the State Baseball Tournament in Des Moines. It was the first back-to-back trips to the State Tournament in school history. Helping to raise the trophy are the five seniors (l-r) Noah Tieskoetter, Seth Greve, Carter Wenthold, Kody Kleve, and Jaron Todd. The five have combined for 54 wins over their Warrior careers (Marie Conway)

Dream over, 3-1

By Jerry Wadian
Contributing Writer

The South Winn baseball team entered the 2020 season with a dream of becoming the first team in school history to make back-to-back appearances at the State Baseball Tournament in Des Moines.

They achieved that dream Tuesday, July 21, in Cresco when they beat Saint Ansgar, 3-0, to avenge their only regular season loss.

However, the dream of becoming the first group of Warriors to advance in a State Tournament died Friday when they fell to Don Bosco, 3-1, in the opening round.

“We knew coming in it would be a close, low-scoring   game,” stated SW head coach Alex Smith. 

The Dons of Gilbertville were making its sixth visit to Des Moines in the past eight years.

The game started with a bang as Don Bosco’s leadoff hitter clubbed a home run on a 0-2 count. 

Undaunted, SW leadoff hitter Noah Tieskoetter singled and Jaron Todd followed with a double. However, Tieskoetter was cut down at the plate on a perfect throw and relay.

NFV FB camp next week

NFV football camp will run Monday, Aug. 3 through Friday, Aug. 7.

The camp for students in grades 5-12, will run from 8 a.m.-11 a.m.

For further information or to access registration forms, go to the NFV football page on Facebook.

Football returns . . . with a different schedule

By Jerry Wadian
Contributing Writer

Unless things change due to Covid-19, high school football will have a 2020 season. However, the Iowa High School Athletic Association (IHSAA) has dramatically altered the schedule.

The first day of practice will still be Monday Aug. 10, the first games will still be Friday Aug. 28, and the State finals will still be Nov. 20-21.

However, there will only be a seven-week regular season with the option of playing five, six, or the full seven games. 

NFV is in Class 2A which will play the five district teams beginning in week three. The first two weeks are up to the school whether or not they play and who they play.

NFV head football coach Justin Heins indicated that the TigerHawks would keep their first two games: against South Winn in Calmar and Sumner-Fredericksburg at home.

It was razor-thin close Saturday night in Calmar as the ball is in the MFL/MM fielder’s glove as  Winn DH Logan Hageman slides into the bag. The call was a quick and emphatic, “Safe,” as the SW sophomore steals his second base of the game.’ The Warriors wound up with seven thefts in the four inning, 15-0 District championship victory. (Jerry Wadian photo) 

District champ Warriors one away from State

By Jerry Wadian
jwadian@thefayettecountyunion.com

South Winn baseball won both District 6 baseball games last week, giving them the District championship and leaving them just one win away from the State Baseball Tourney at Principal Field in Des Moines.

The Substate 3 game for the right to go to Des Moines was scheduled for Tuesday, July 21, in Cresco. The opponent was Saint Ansgar, the only team to put a blemish on the Warrior’s record this  season. Results of that game will be in next week’s Bee.

South Winn made it to the Substate contest Saturday night by beating visiting MFL/MM, 15-0, in four innings.

NFV shortstop Justine Cowley makes a terrific effort to stop this stolen base Wednesday night against New Hampton in Cresco. The throw was to the third base side. Cowley gloved the toss, spun to her left and made this leaping dive towards the bag. NFV was eliminated from the playoffs with a 12-0 loss in four innings. (Jerry Wadian photo)

TigerHawk softball stopped by Chicks

By Jerry Wadian
jwadian@thefayettecountyunion.com

New Hampton ended NFV’s softball season Wednesday in Cresco. The Chickasaws used a nine-run fourth to end the game early, 12-0.

The contest started okay for the TigerHawks with leadoff batter Emma Ney nailing a hard-hit single to center; however, NFV couldn’t move her around the bases.

Morgan Kriener (14) slides into third as the NFV fielder awaits the throw during the end of the regular season double header in Calmar against the TigerHawks. SW swept by identical 6-5 scores. (Jerry Wadian photo)

South Winn softball falls to Kee

By Jerry Wadian
Contributing Writer

South Winn softball’s trek to New Albin Monday, July 13, ended the season as the Warriors fell to Kee, 7-1.

Kee took a 1-0 first inning lead, but SW came right back to tie the game in the second.

However, that was it for the O as Kee scored three in the fourth and added three more over the next two innings for the W. 

No stats were available by press time Tuesday morning.

South Winn ended the regular softball season at home, sweeping both Postville and North Fayette Valley.

Monday, SW downed the Pirates, 14-4 and 11-1.

It was a race between Cael Kuboushek and the baseball (seen near his waist) as the right fielder does a headfirst slide into third during SW’s three-run third inning Saturday against Maq Valley. Kuboushek won the race for an RBI triple as the Warriors beat the Wildcats, 10-0 in six innings. (Jerry Wadian photo)

Warrior baseball moves on

By Jerry Wadian
jwadian@thefayettecountyunion.com

South Winn advanced in the Class 1A District 6 baseball playoffs with a 10-0 win over visiting Maq Valley in six innings.

Heavy rains forced the game to be delayed with the first pitch thrown around 8:15 p.m.

Ethan Luzum dominated the Wildcats, fanning 14 of the 18 batters he faced in pitching a one-hit shutout.

Seth Greve singled home a first-inning run and SW used three runs in the third and five in the fifth to break the game wide open. 

Kody Kleve singled home two of the third-inning runs and Cael Kuboushek tripled home the third run. 

With the win, the Warriors were scheduled to face  Ed-Co Tuesday, July 12, at 7 p.m. in Calmar. However strong thunderstorms are expected that afternoon and evenings so the game may be delayed or even postponed.

Bryleigh Rouses (10) races in from third to field this little squibber in front of the mound Monday (July 13) during the 8-3 loss to N-P. Rouse nails the runner easily as Devil catcher Mikaela Kime looks on. (Jerry Wadian photo)

Devils upset by N-P

By Jerry Wadian
Contributing Writer

West Central was upset in the opening round of Class 1A Regional softball Monday (July 13) in Maynard as Nashua-Plainfield used a five-run fourth inning to upend the Devils, 8-3.

The game was hitless through three innings but the Husky bats came alive in the fourth.

WC has been the ‘comeback kids’ throughout the season, but could muster little magic against N-P, plating a run in the fourth and two more in the fifth; only two of N-P’s runs were earned. The Huskies put the game away with two in the sixth and added the dagger with a run in the seventh.

NFV junior Jonah Moore slides safely into second with a stolen base Saturday night in New Hampton. The game was postponed until Monday due to rain, and Osage used 10 NFV errors to win 14-2. (Jerry Wadian photo)

Errors oust TigerHawk baseball

Jerry Wadian
Contributing Writer

Saturday’s Class 2A District 6 baseball game between Osage and North Fayette was postponed by rain.

NFV trailed 1-0 in the second when the contest was resumed Monday night (July 13) in New Hampton, the TigerHawk defense failed the squad as 10 NFV errors led to 13 unearned runs.

Three TigerHawk pitchers combined on a seven-hitter, but, oh, those errors.

Bryce Elsbernd absorbed the loss with 2 1/3 innings of three-hit ball; despite the loss, the freshman still managed and ERA of 0.00 for the game as all of the runs charged to him were unearned.

NFV pitcher Lynzee West applies a sweeping tag, nailing a SW runner with plenty to spare. The Warrior runner tried to score on a pitch that went to the backstop but TigerHawk catcher Abby Reichter was quick enough to snare the hard carom and fire to West for the easy out. (Jerry Wadian photo)

NFV softball plays in Cresco Wednesday

Jerry Wadian
Contributing Writer

North Fayette Valley softball ended the regular season last week with a record of 5-10. 

The TigerHawks open Regional action tonight (Wednesday, July 15) at 5 p.m. in Cresco against New Hampton.

Monday, July 7, NFV dropped a twin bill to powerful Jesup, 12-0 and 15-4, in Jesup.

Game one ended in four innings as the 12-3 J-Hawks used three in the second and seven more to overpower the TigerHawks.