RETURN TO THE TOP

A little early morning baseball resulted in Webster City claiming a share of the North Central Conference and honoring its seniors here Monday vs. Iowa Falls-Alden.

The Lynx picked up a sweep by scores of 4-2 and 5-1.

With the result, Webster City shared for the league title with Algona. The Lynx won four consecutive NCC championships from 2019-22, but had to settle for second, third and fourth place, respectively, in the last three seasons despite going a respectable 27-14 in league action.

In the opener, Matthew Tesdahl and Carter Mickelson combined on a five-hitter, as Tesdahl struck out four and Mickelson K'd five. Kaleb Hansen drove in two runs on two hits, with Braylon Dyvig recording two hits.

Mickelson and Syrus Willard each added an RBI.

After the Cadets tied it at 1-all in the third, the Lynx plated two in the bottom of the inning, adding another run in the fifth.

Dyvig tossed a complete-game in the second contest, allowing just two hits, no earned run and striking out 11. Jaxon Griffith stole four bases, Dyvig, Hansen and Aiden Hrnicek each drove in a run, and Dyvig had two hits.

Between games, Webster City honored seniors Dyvig, Griffith, Hrnicek, Mickelson, Tesdahl and Willard.

"This particular group of seniors bought into the idea of 'we is greater than me,' and from day one, took the initiative to respect the game but compete," WCHS head coach Adison Kehoe said. "Baseball is a beautifully awful game that can very much humble you, which is what makes it so great. They've understood, and been models, to what persistence is, regardless of immediate result.

"We've preached trusting the process and not the immediate outcome, and because of that, they've left their senior mark on conference. They're eager to continue their journey in the next few days."

The Lynx now head into their regular season finale at Fort Dodge on Tuesday riding a five-game win streak. They open Class 3A district play on Friday at Gilbert.