Particularly early on when the game was still up for grabs.

WCHS sprayed seven hits across the diamond in the opening four innings, but had just one run to show for it. The Lynx stranded eight runners during that stretch, seven of them in scoring position.

And those missed opportunities came back to bit WCHS right in the backside in a 9-1 non-conference loss to Ames on the Little Cyclones’ spacious home diamond.

WCHS (2-3) jumped out quickly courtesy of a Caleb Olson RBI double into the gap in deep right-center field in the top of the first. But the Lynx left the bases jammed in the opening frame and it was a sign of things to come.

WCHS first baseman Beau Klaver (32) makes a catch on a towering pop-up on the infield to end the first inning against Ames last night. DFJ photo/Troy Banning

Runners left at first and second in the second.

Runners left at second and third in the third.

A runner left standing on second in the fourth.

You get the point.

WCHS left 13 total runners on the bases, nine of them in scoring position.

DFJ photo/Troy Banning

When Ames (1-1) got its chance to put up a crooked number, it feasted. The Little Cyclones scored six times in the fourth to break open a 1-1 contest. They connected for just three hits in the frame, but sat back and took four walks from WCHS starting pitcher Caleb Olson.

Brady Burkheimer delivered a two-RBI single to right field to give Ames the cushion it needed in the fourth.

WCHS out-high Ames 8-7. Olson and Devon Stoakes both delivered two knocks, while Dylan Steen blasted a shot to straightaway center field for a double in the fourth inning. CJ Hisler lined a single back up the middle in the second inning, Sean Carver reached on a bunt single one frame later and Beau Klaver snuck one through between first and second in the seventh.

Olson took the loss after working 31⁄3 innings. He allowed four hits and struck out three, but issued six free passes. All seven runs he allowed were earned.

Ames 9, Webster City 1

DFJ photo/Troy Banning

Thursday at Ames

Web City 100 000 0 — 1 8 1

Ames 001 602 x — 9 7 0

Caleb Olson, Zach Dyvig (4) and Devon Stoakes. Cameron Galt, Alex Martinez (5) and Brady Burkheimer. WP — Galt. LP — C. Olson. Multiple hits — WC: C. Olson, Stoakes; Ames: Nathan Griffin, Bobby Jens, 2B — WC: C. Olson, Steen; Ames: Jens. RBI — WC: C. Olson; Ames: Burkheimer (3), Jens, Galt, Josh Yloenen, Cael Camenisch, Eliot Jurgensen.