The West Fork baseball team recently concluded their season in a second straight district final, falling 8-0 to Wapsie Valley on Saturday.
The Warhawks were guided by three Top of Iowa East all-conference seniors, including Ashyr Wiseman, Trevor Despenas and Nolan Shreckengost. Head Coach Kayden Ames on the trio’s impact.
“Those three right there are everything that we’ve been able to do in the last three years. I came in, they were sophomores and there was upperclassmen above them but everything was kind of built around them,” says Ames. “They’ve been the core of the team for the last three years and I couldn’t thank them enough for everything that they’ve done. All three are going to go on and be very successful in their adult lives. I hate to see those three go but it’s just the way it is.”
Wiseman and Shreckengost each batted over a .300 avg on the season. Despenas led the pitching staff with an ERA under 2.00. Ames on the next step for the team entering the offseason.
“It’s just growth and experience. They grew throughout the season this year and gained experience. Some of those sophomores, Zander, Braylon and Brett, they’ve played three years now of full-time varsity baseball. They still have two good years left ahead of them and have as much experience as anyone. A lot of them probably won’t touch a bat or a baseball for a solid six months. They’re going be active, becoming better athletes, doing things that will benefit them when baseball season comes around.”
The Warhawks are projected to return 18 players next season, including Top of Iowa East all-conference honoree Zander Hansen, who led the team in RBIs and strikeouts thrown, all-conference honoree Braylon Shreckengost, and Brett Behr, who had the second most RBIs on the team.
West Fork concluded the year at 12-11.
