VAN METER — Many things went right for the Woodward-Granger baseball team during their WCAC twin bill at Van Meter Thursday.
Unfortunately for the Hawks the number of things that went wrong was the greater sum, including a series of events completely uncharacteristic of recent W-G squads.
W-G (12-3, 10-3) saw a 2-0 lead disappear into a 10-4 loss to Van Meter (11-2, 9-1) in the opener, then inexplicably lost a 9-0 lead after the top of the first in falling, 13-12, in the nightcap, in which numerous errors allowed the hosts to score 11 unearned runs.
The Hawks led, 2-0, when the Bulldogs scored five times in the top of the third and twice more in the fourth to knock Brandon Worley from the mound in a most unusual early exit for the junior ace.
Both teams scored twice in the sixth, with Van Meter tacking on a final run in the top of the seventh, as they were the visiting team in game one.
Worley yielded seven runs on 10 hits and a walk while striking out two in 3-1/3 innings. Trevor Simmons went 2-2/3 frames on the bump, allowing three runs on three hits and a walk while Justin Wheeler gave up a hit in one inning of work. Both Simmons and Wheeler had one strikeout.
Bryce Achenbach had a triple and a single while driving in two runs, with two Worth Henry hits plating a run while Jack Grell had a RBI hit. Reese Jamison smacked two doubles, with Tate Lettow adding a pair of base hits.
Statistical information for Van Meter from either game was not available.
W-G stormed to a 9-0 lead in the nightcap, only to see the hosts score six times in the bottom of the first to trim their deficit. Five Bulldog runs in the second made the score 11-9, with only one Van Meter run earned.
The Hawks recovered their composure to score twice in the third to tie the score, but Bulldog runs in the fourth and fifth (one earned) dropped W-G into a 13-11 hole. The guests scored once in the sixth to close back to within a run but could come no closer in taking the frustrating loss.
Caden Easter went one inning on the rubber, allowing nine runs (eight unearned) on five hits and three walks while striking out one. Jay Dorenkamp yielded four runs (three unearned) on six hits in five frames of relief. He struck out one batter.
Jamison had a home run (the first for the Hawks this season) and a single, with Joe Rhodes recording two singles and a double while Achenbach had a double. Rhodes drove in four runs, with both Achenbach and Jamison haviing two RBIs apiece.
W-G visits Stuart Monday for a doubleheader with West Central Valley. They will welcome Martensdale-St. Marys for a non-conference JV/varsity set Tuesday, then entertain Woodward Academy for a WCAC twin bill Thursday.
