One big inning hoists Wildcats past NV/OM

OGDEN — The Nodaway Valley/OM Wolverines ultimately weren’t able to avoid a difficult inning that cost them last Monday and were eliminated from Class 2A, District 16 postseason contention.

The Wolverines lost a six-inning, 11-1 game to West Central Valley that had to be finished on Monday because of inclement weather Saturday, when the game was originally scheduled.

NV/OM was trailing 1-0 in the bottom of the second with no outs and WCV runners on the corners when the rains came.

“Saturday night, we knew it was going to be tough to get it in with the rain that was coming. But, you about have to try it at that point,” NV/OM head coach Dan Jameson said.

Returning to finish the game, the Wolverines were able to get the first batter they faced to pop up to first baseman Christian Putney, then made a good play on the next batter to get the next out. Putney made another good play on a ground out from WCV’s leadoff batter that got the Wolverines out of the inning with no further damage.

The Wildcats’ starter, Colton Lindsay, sat NV/OM down in order in the bottom of the second. In the top of the third, the Wildcats put eight runs across for a 9-0 lead. Jameson complimented junior Ty Strode’s performance on the mound, the Wolverines just struggled to make plays behind him.

“We had one of those innings that nothing went right on. They bunted and we overthrew first, then we had a double play and didn’t convert it,” Jameson said. “Things kind of snowballed for a little bit there. They found a few holes and we just couldn’t get the bleeding stopped fast enough. They kept us off balance at the plate and we just couldn’t get much contact on the ball.”

In the fifth inning, seniors Eli Harris and Trenton Warner paired up for the only run of the game. Warner drove Harris in on an RBI single. Jameson also liked the play of seniors Paul Berg and Putney in the field on the night.

Strode took the loss on the mound, giving up three earned runs on four hits, walking four and striking out three in three innings of work. Harris and Berg each pitched later.

The Wolverines complete their season 4-16, finishing ninth in the Pride of Iowa Conference, which was won by Martensdale-St. Marys. The league has Lenox and Martensdale-St. Marys still alive, playing Tuesday in a substate final in Osceola.

Save for wins June 4 and 5 against Griswold and Central Decatur, the Wolverines struggled to ever string wins together.

“There were times you felt we were going to get the corner turned here, then all of a sudden the bad inning would kick in. We just couldn’t get away from that bad inning in a game, it seemed,” Jameson said. “The guys worked hard and played hard, had a good attitude toward things, but we just couldn’t get the monkey off our back. That last week felt a little bit better [with some close games] but against West Central we just couldn’t muster it or get it going really.”

West Central Valley advanced and lost in the district semifinals to Tri-Center. The Trojans beat Ogden in the district championship 8-4. Underwood (23-2) plays Tri-Center (19-4) Tuesday at Council Bluffs Thomas Jefferson for a trip to the state tournament.