Kale Rodgers gets solid contact as he smashes this pitch into left field for a hit in recent action. The TigerHawk sophomore is not only a proficient hitter, but he is also proficient at getting hit, leading the team by getting struck by a pitch seven times this season. (Jerry Wadian photo)

Baseball moves to third in UIC

By Jerry Wadian
jwadian@thefayettecountyunion.com

With a sweep of MFL/MM Monday, July 1, in Monona, NFV baseball leapfrogged the Bulldogs into third place in the conference standings. 

Both games were slugfests as the TigerHawks won, 10-8 and 15-10.

Despite MFL/MM’s 6-0 lead at the end of five, game one went to extra innings. NFV rallied for seven runs in the sixth for a 7-6 lead. However, the ‘Dogs regained a one-run lead after plating two run in the sixth. 

The TigerHawks staved off defeat by squeezing across a run in the seventh and won the opener with a two-run eighth.

Makenna Koch drops a beautiful bunt Friday against Jesup. The NFV senior raced down the line, forcing the Jesup infielder to rush the throw, which went into right field. Koch wound up on second and Alyssa Bohr motored all the way home from first for the tying run. (Jerry Wadian photo)

NFV ends regular season as UIC champs

By Jerry Wadian
jwadian@thefayettecountyunion.com

NFV softball ended its regular season by winning the UIC championship with a 15-1 record; Kee was runner-up at 14-2. The TigerHawks were 21-12 overall.

The week started with a 7-4 loss at Hudson on Monday, July 1.

The Pirates opened a 7-0 lead before NFV scored its first run in the sixth; it added a three-spot in the seventh, but that was as close as the girls could get.

Taylor Ellis slugged a double and two singles, driving in a pair of runs. Abby Reichter added two hits and two RBI.

Kennedy Lape took the loss, tossing a complete game, allowing eight hits and five earned runs. 

Hits- Ellis 3; Reichter, 2; Lape, 2; Koch, Guenther, Ney, Bohr. Double- Ellis. RBI- Ellis, 2; Reichter, 2.

Jodi Wettleson’s backstroke allows her to glide gracefully across the pool in recent action for the West Union Swim Team. (Jerry Wadian photo)

Swimmers sink Sumner

By Jerry Wadian
jwadian@thefayettecountyunion.com

The West Union Swim Team beat Sumner last week, but lightning Thursday in Calmar, stopped the meet early.

The win Tuesday, June 25, at Sumner saw West Union score well in the medal department.

NFV DH Natasha Guenther swings a big bat from the three-spot in the lineup. Here, she drills an RBI single Tuesday, June 25, at home against Clayton Ridge. She doubled and drove in two more runs in the nightcap as NFV swept 10-7 and 9-8. (Jerry Wadian photo)

Softball still on top in UIC

By Jerry Wadian
jwadian@thefayettecountyunion.com

NFV softball barely hung onto its UIC lead last week, but rallied to sweep Clayton Ridge.

The Eagles threw a scare into the TigerHawks on Monday, June 24.

The visitors jumped to a 2-0 lead in the first inning while the first five NFV batters went down in order.

Abby Reichter broke the string when she clobbered a pitch over the fence in left for her third homer of the season. A tall fan had to stretch his hand up to grab the ball as it sailed for parts unknown.

CR came right back for a run in the third to lead, 3-1. NFV had closed to 3-2 on an RBI single by Julie Mackey when lightning was spotted to the north. 

NFV first baseman Jackson Blue slides home ahead of the throw for one of the TigerHawks’ nine runs in the opening frame against Clayton Ridge-C/E on Wednesday. Blue finished the game with two runs scored and a pair of RBI. (Jerry Wadian photo)

TigerHawk baseball back on track

By Jerry Wadian
jwadian@thefayettecountyunion.com

NFV baseball snapped an eight-game losing streak in a big way last week winning three consecutive UIC games.

The week started with a sweep over Turkey Valley, 15-0 and 13-0, Monday, June 24, in West Union.

Game one was over in four innings with NFV scoring in every inning.

South Winn senior Ashley Kriener awaits the pitch during recent Warrior softball action. (Zakary Kriener photo)

Warrior SB falls to Crestwood

By Jerry Wadian
jwadian@thefayettecountyunion.com

The South Winneshiek softball squad was in action Tuesday, June 18, at Cresco as the Warriors and Crestwood Cadets did battle for the first time this season.

Crestwood got on the board for the first time in the third inning as it took a 1-0 lead, but the Warriors kept it close.

In the fifth inning, the Cadets broke out for a six-run inning as it gave the Warriors a tough, 7-0 loss.

South Winn junior Jaron Todd makes a throw to first during recent Warrior baseball action. The team had a strong week, going 3-1 and picking up a win at the Jeff Houg Memorial Tournament in Waukon. (Zakary Kriener photo)

SW baseball picks up 9th win in last 10 games

Zakary Kriener

News Writer
zkriener@fayettepublishing.com

The South Winn baseball team continued its stellar season last week as it won its ninth game in the last 10, going 3-1 on the week.

The Warriors opened the week Tuesday, June 18, at Wapsie Valley and took a 2-0 lead in the second inning. The rival Warriors retaliated in the bottom of the third as they tied it up, but then went on to score in the fourth, fifth, and sixth innings to win by a score of 6-2.

“We knew going in (that) we would face quality pitching and a good offensive lineup,” said coach Alex Smith following the loss. “Wapsie cape up in the clutch, scoring all of their runs with two outs in the innings. Our guys knew we did execute well in the facets of the game and look for an opportunity to see them again in the playoffs.”

James Baumler is well ahead of his Monona/Postville rival in the opposite lane as the West Union summer helped his team win its first victory of the season Tuesday, June 18, in West Union. (Jerry Wadian photo)

Swimmers win first 2 meets

By Jerry Wadian
jwadian@thefayettecountyunion.com

The West Union Swim Team cracked the win column last week, winning both contests at home.

Tuesday (June 18), the swimmers notched their first win of the season over Monona/Postville, although the final score was not available.

Among the many kudos to be handed out were four first place swimmers.

NFV second sacker Liam McIntyre made a nice play to grab this grounder, and then whirled to make the throw to nail the Wapsie Valley runner during the TigerHawk Baseball Classic Friday morning in West Union. (Jerry Wadian photo)

Tough week for TigerHawk baseball

By Jerry Wadian
jwadian@thefayettecountyunion.com

It was a tough week for NFV baseball after the TigerHawks lost all five games; four of which were, or soon will be ranked teams.

  The week started in New Albin when the Kee Hawks, who have been in the Class 1A rankings almost all season, swept NFV, 5-2 and 5-0.

 The TigerHawks broke out in front with solo runs in the first and third. However, Kee tied the game in the bottom the third, scored the winning run in the fourth, and added a pair of insurance runs in the sixth.

With her power and precision, Kennedy Lape has become the mound leader for NFV softball this season with 11wins. Last week, when added three more to her list. (Jerry Wadian photo)

SB sweeps into first!

By Jerry Wadian
jwadian@thefayettecountyunion.com

With a 4-0 week, including a sweep of Kee in New Albin, the TigerHawk softball team swept into first place in the UIC.

  The game of the week was the Wednesday confrontation with Kee High, which came in 1/2 game ahead of NFV. The TigerHawks switched the standings with wins of 10-2 and 4-3.

 The opener was close until the sixth. Trailing, 2-1, NFV erupted for six big runs, and tacked on three more in the top of the seventh.