The little slip-ups or unhealthy habits Fort Dodge was in a position to get away with throughout the first week and a half of the baseball season had nowhere to cover throughout Friday’s doubleheader at McNeil Subject towards Waukee.

Dodger head coach Blake Utley admits that was by design.

After profitable six of their first seven video games to start out the 2023 marketing campaign, Fort Dodge was held in test by the Warriors yesterday night because the guests swept by scores of 10-3 and 8-1.

Utley needed to verify his squad obtained a really feel for the deep finish forward of Monday’s Iowa Alliance Convention Northern Division opener at residence towards Mason Metropolis. After caring for enterprise towards Des Moines Hoover, Hampton-Dumont/CAL, Des Moines North and splitting with Waterloo East, the diploma of issue modified in a rush versus Waukee.

“We would have liked to verify we’d see a extremely strong opponent earlier than (this coming week, beginning with the Riverhawks),” Utley stated. “No disrespect to the groups we’d confronted to this point, however once we have been making the schedule, we knew we needed to additionally face (a program) that might inform us the place we would have liked to get higher.

“Typically, once you get away with issues and nonetheless win large, you get a false sense of the place you’re really at as a ballclub. It’s an vital reminder of the place we actually are and the areas we have to work on. Early on (in a season), you’re getting fixed suggestions from an opponent. It permits for a greater total image of the place you actually stand.”

The Warriors (5-4 total) plated 4 runs to take early management of the opener within the high of the third inning. The Dodgers (6-3) responded with a two-run single by senior Dalton Rosalez within the backside half of the body, however Waukee opened the floodgates with a five-run fourth.

4 of the runs FDSH pitchers Landen Grandors and Nathan Beekman surrendered have been unearned following errors, and the duo issued 4 walks, had three wild pitches and hit a batter.

In the meantime, the Dodgers gave themselves loads of probabilities on the plate — with 5 hits and 7 walks — however they stranded 9 runners, together with seven within the fourth, fifth and sixth innings mixed with out scoring.

The nightcap was extra of the identical. Waukee jumped forward 5-0 early, however Fort Dodge was on the cusp of seizing momentum a number of instances. As an alternative, the Dodgers left the bases loaded in each the third and the fifth with the tying run on the plate.

“It was form of the story of our night time,” Utley stated. “I do know individuals will see the scores and suppose we weren’t actually in it, however we may have been. We had loads of runners on, however credit score the (Warrior) pitchers for placing out the fires.”

Rosalez had two hits within the second contest. Sophomore Rylan Kingrey doubled, as did sophomore Jase Nekvinda.

Nekvinda and juniors Jace Johnson and Karch Smith roped doubles within the opener.

Freshman Jaxson Dencklau was spectacular in reduction, working 3• innings earlier than Waukee lastly obtained to him with three runs within the seventh.

“Jaxson did an important job. Actually, all of our pitchers had their moments (of success),” Utley stated. “We obtained burned by some errors within the area, some baserunning (miscues), and instances the place we simply didn’t execute at a excessive sufficient degree to count on to beat a group like (the Warriors). If you give an excellent ballclub additional outs, it tends to snowball on you.

“That is the place you lean in your seniors and extra skilled guys, and be sure to study from (the bodily or psychological errors). Even (in defeat), it’s a chance for us to get higher from it.”

Fort Dodge was with out the providers of sophomore Royce Pederson and junior Drew Moritz, who’re each nursing accidents.

The Dodgers sq. off with Mason Metropolis for a Memorial Day doubleheader again at McNeil Subject. First pitch is ready for 1 p.m.

WAUKEE 10, FORT DODGE 3

Waukee 003 501 0 — 10 10 1

Fort Dodge 002 000 1 — 3 5 3

WP–Colin Driscoll (4 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 2 BB, 5 Ok); LP–Landen Grandors (4 IP, 9 R, 6 ER, 3 BB, 3 Ok). 2B–FD: Jase Nekvinda, Karch Smith. 3B–W: Grant Sorensen. SB–W: Carter Johnson, Connor Macalpine, Hunter Reed.

WAUKEE 8, FORT DODGE 1

Waukee 311 000 3 — 8 9 2

Fort Dodge 001 000 0 — 1 5 2

WP–Nate Danielson (4 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 8 Ok); LP–Landen Hout (2.2 IP, 5 H, 5 R, 4 ER, 1 BB, 3 Ok). 2B–FD: Jase Nekvinda, Rylan Kingrey; W: Grant Sorensen, Colin Driscoll. 3B–W: Conner Macalpine. HR–W: Brady Eklund. SB–W: Grant Sorensen 2, Carter Johnson, Conner Macalpine.

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