Although the Chickasaws were defeated by Waverly-Shell Rock three times during the regular season, their confidence wasn’t lacking when the two teams met in the first round of districts. And even though they were defeated 6-5, their effort made their coach proud.
    “Our kids really played well,” he began. “Waverly gave up some runs when we put the pressure on them and we gave up some when they put the pressure on us. Based on previous games, Waverly-Shell Rock should have won easily, but we went there and put ourselves in a position to win.”
    The Chickasaws jumped to a 2-0 lead in the first inning as Ryan Kramer singled, Brad Kamrath walked and Tanner Weigel laced a two-RBI double.
    The Go-Hawks tied the score with a run in the second and one in the third and it stayed that way until the sixth. Kamrath was hit by a pitch to begin the inning; pinch runner Matt Samec took second on a steal and third on a passed ball. On the passed ball, the throw from home to third went into the outfield, allowing Samec to score and Tanner Weigel, on with a walk, to take third. Karch Landers also walked and stole second and Taylor Hopp was safe on a fielder’s choice as Weigel and the throw went home. Weigel was safe, Landers went to third and Hopp to second on the throw. Landers then crossed the plate on a sacrifice fly by Ryan Masters and the score was 5-2, New Hampton.
    Three plays in the bottom half of the sixth were marked down as errors and allowed the Go-Hawks to tie again, 5-5.
    “They were errors, yes, but not really bad plays on our part, as least on two occasions,” recalled the coach. “One ball Ryan Masters took to the chest, the other was in the gap, many shortstops wouldn’t have gotten to the ball, Blaine Hageman made the stop but he couldn’t get a handle on it, they hit the ball hard.”
    New Hampton went down in order in the top of the seventh, but Waverly-Shell Rock scored a run in the bottom half, due in part to a questionable call by a referee. Kamrath tagged a runner at third but the official, standing between second and third, said the glove missed the runner. The call was disputed by players, fans and coach Hopp alike.
    “If that call is made correctly, there would be one out with a runner on first. We would have a chance at a double play and our outfield would not have been playing in.” As it was, the next batter hit the ball over Cole Rausch’s head in centerfield to score the winning run.
    “Our guys played really hard. Garrett Hogeland threw very well. Waverly had the last at bat and that made the difference.”
    Hogeland pitched the full seven innings, striking out two while walking three and allowing six hits; two of his six runs were earned.