The Northwood-Kensett baseball team had its season come to an end over the weekend with a loss in the opening round of postseason play to North Iowa.

Despite a lead in the fourth inning and recording more hits than the Bison, the Vikings were unable to push the necessary runs across the plate, falling 8-3.

North Iowa got on the board right away in the first inning with a fielder’s choice that brought in one run, while also recording the second out. Northwood-Kensett got two baserunners aboard in the bottom half of the inning when senior Gavin Varner was hit by a pitch and sophomore Cade Hengesteg was walked. However, a pop fly ended the inning before they could score.

Senior Trey Waldemar and junior Caden Schrage hit singles in the second, but again could not score.

The Vikings took a lead in the bottom of the third inning, scoring two runs. With two outs already on the board, Hengesteg reached on a dropped third strike. After another three wild pitches from North Iowa, Hengesteg came around to score. Sophomore Brandon Varner drove in a run with a well-hit ball to center field, but was called out in an attempt to take second base.

The Bison took the lead right back in the top half of the fourth inning thanks to a single and three straight errors from the Vikings.

Northwood-Kensett went on to struggle at the plate through the next few innings. Schrage and Gavin Varner doubled in the fourth and fifth innings, respectively, and had the bases loaded in the sixth with only one out. However, no runs scored and North Iowa had built up a commanding 8-2 lead with just one inning to play.

Gavin Varner stepped up to lead off the seventh inning and crushed a home run over the left field fence to cap off his senior year. That is where the scoring would stop, however, as the Vikings failed to capitalize on another bases-loaded opportunity.

The Vikings end the season with a 14-14 record and will look to improve next season after only losing four seniors from the squad.

 

Game results

North Iowa 8, Northwood-Kensett 3

NI    100   322   0 — 8

NK   002   000   1 — 3

Northwood-Kensett pitching: Trey Waldemar 4 IP, 1 H, 4 R, 0 ER, 2 K, 2 BB; Ethian Tasker 3 IP, 6 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 4 K, 1 BB

Northwood-Kensett batting: Carter Severson 0-4; Isaac Renteria 0-4; Gavin Varner 2-3 1 2B, 1 HR, 1 R, 1 RBI; Cade Hengesteg 0-3, 1 R, 1 BB; Ethian Tasker 1-3, 1 R, 1 BB; Brandon Varner 2-4, 1 2B, 1 RBI; Kael Julseth 0-3; Trey Waldemar 1-3, 1 BB; Caden Schrage 2-3, 1 2B, 1 BB