GRANGER — Both games of Thursday’s WCAC twin billing between Van Meter and Woodward-Granger were decided in the final turn to the plate.
Or, more precisely, one outcome was decided and one left unresolved.
Van Meter (3-0-1), the home team in the opener, rallied for a 4-2 deficit for three runs with two outs in the bottom of the seventh to steal a 5-4 win, with W-G (3-1-1) tying the nightcap, 2-2, with two tallies when they batted in the bottom of the seventh. At that point weather interrupted, forcing the game to be called a tie.
The Bulldogs scored in the first and the Hawks in the third of the opener, with two Van Meter runs in the fourth creating a 3-1 lead. The hosts scored once in the sixth and then twice in the top of the seventh to snatch a 4-3 lead.
The guests had no runners on and were down to their final strike before launching an improbable rally. A walk and a hit put runners on the corners, with a come-backer off the pitcher allowing the tying run to score. Moments later a clean single back up the middle gave the Bulldogs the win.
Alex Bice went five innings for W-G, allowing three runs (one earned) on five hits and two walks. He hit two batters and struck out out five, with Worth Henry tossing 1-2/3 frames of relief, yielding two runs three hits while fanning two. Caden Easter tried to finish up, allowing one hit.
Reese Jamison had a RBI single for the hosts, with Colby Tague having a single, double, run scored and RBI. Bryce Achenbach had a single, a run and a steal, with Henry and Christian Husmann also scoring while Bice had a RBI.
Statistical information for Van Meter — from either game — was not available.
Single runs in the top of the second and again in the fourth gave Van Meter a 2-0 lead in the nightcap before W-G rallied to plate a pair of runs in their final at-bat, with Tague providing a clutch RBI hit.
Achenbach had a double in the seventh and score, with Henry scoring and providing a single. Easter and Grell also had singles for the Hawks.
Easter started and threw four innings, surrendering two runs on four hits while setting five players down on strikes. Collin Nardini pitched a frame of relief, fanning two, with Jay Dorenkamp allowing two hits and walking two in two innings on the bump.
W-G will host a series of games Saturday. The Hawk freshmen face Pella Christian at 11 a.m., with the JV teams playing a 1 p.m. and the two varsity squads at 3:30 p.m. W-G will then face Ankeny Christian in a varsity bill at 6:30 p.m.
W-G hosts West Central Valley Monday, visits Martensdale-St. Marys Tuesday and hosts Madrid Wednesday before entertaining South Tama County June 26.
