Webster City’s Keegan Hisler steals second base in the second inning. (DFJ photo by David Borer)

The thrill of victory and the agony of defeat is often used in describing sporting events.

In the span of 48 hours the Webster City baseball team experienced both ends of the spectrum.

Monday’s thrilling 6-4 come-from-behind win over Gilbert was bookended Wednesday night with a humbling 19-5 loss to Winterset in a Class 3A substate final at Lynx Field.

An anticipated pitching duel between Webster City’s Zach Dyvig and Huskie Justin Hackett, a TCU recruit, never materialized as Winterset chased Dyvig from the mound in the first inning.

The Huskies sent 12 batters to the plate racking up nine runs on eight hits, a walk and taking advantage of two Lynx errors. The deficit was too large for the Lynx to overcome.

“We had too many little mistakes early making it hard to come back, but the kids battled until the very end,” said Lynx Coach Adison Kehoe. “We needed to play a perfect game in order to win, it just didn’t happen.”

Eighth-grader Gavin Griffith relieved Dyvig to record the final out in the first and the Huskie offense continued the relentless attack for the remainder of the contest as they scored three runs in the second, two in the third, three more in the fourth and two additional in the fifth.

Winterset would end the game totaling 19 hits with seven different players having at least two, led by Jensen Kaldenberg who was 4-for-5 at the plate– including two doubles — three RBI and four runs.

Ty McKinney singled to start the Lynx off in the first and went to second on a ground ball out. CJ Hisler then drew a walk, one of four issued by Hackett, but the Huskie hurler struck out the next two batters.

The Lynx got on the board in the bottom of the second when Keegan Hisler opened the frame reaching on an error. He would come around to score after stealing second, going to third on a passed ball and crossing the plate on a wild pitch.

Hackett walked three Lynx batters in the second, but also fanned three as Webster City left the bases loaded.

The Lynx scored three times in the third as Briar Klaver was hit by pitch, Keegan Hisler added a double, Connor Hanson reached on a dropped third strike and Matthew Tesdahl singled into center driving in two runs.

Devon Stoakes opened the Lynx fourth with a hit and then went to second on a wild pitch, third on a passed ball and scored on Dyvig’s sacrifice fly to center. Klaver then doubled but was stranded.

Josh Stansfield had the other Lynx hit, a single up the middle in the fifth.

“I could not have asked for a better team,” Kehoe said. “The senior leadership of Zach and Devon was huge in our success and we have a special group of underclassmen.

“This game does not define these kids or our season — we won 22 games, won our fourth straight North Central Conference title and played for a berth in the state tournament. All great accomplishments.”

Webster City closed the season at 22-8 while Winterset, now 16-14, moves on to the 3A state tournament in Iowa City on Monday.

Winterset 19, Webster City 5

Winterset 932 32 — 19 19 3

Webster City 013 10 — 5 6 5

Justin Hackett and Ben Porter; Zach Dyvig, Gavin Griffith (1), Keegan Hisler (5) and Devon Stoakes; WP – Hackett (6-4, 5 IP, 5 R, 6 H, 11 K, 4 BB, 1 HBP). LP – Dyvig (10-1, .2 IP, 9 R, 8 H, 1 K, 1 BB), Griffith (4 IP, 10 R, 11 H, 1 K, 3 BB, 5 HBP). Hisler (.1 IP, 0R, 0 H, 1 K, 0 BB). 2B – W: Jensen Kaldenberg (2), Austin Jordan, Hackett, Joel Akers; WC: Hisler, Briar Klaver. RBI – W: Hackett (3), Kaldenberg (3), Porter (3), Jordan (2), Reilly Hoven (2), Akers; WC: Matthew Tesdahl (2), Klaver. LOB – W: 9; WC: 9.