FAIRBANK — Wapsie Valley had just one successful sacrifice bunt 12 games into the season.
Landen Moulds made it two late Thursday.
The sophomore second baseman put the ball in play in the bottom of the 11th inning during a North Iowa Cedar League East contest against Oelwein, and the ensuing play gave the Warriors a 3-2 win.
Classmate Cadyn Dana was on second as Brady Burkhart delivered an 0-2 pitch.
Moulds’ bunt dribbled toward third base, sending Dana on his way to third. The throw to first was off target, which sent Dana scurrying home with the victory.
“My first bunt I got down of the season,†Moulds smiled. “They weren’t holding on second, so Cadyn could get a big jump. We were hoping to just advance the runner, and (Oelwein) overthrew it and got a run in.â€
Added Dana of his role: “I’m just watching the pitcher’s back foot, making sure he’s going to go home. Try to get a good jump in case he gets a bunt down.â€
Dana reached on a seven-pitch walk, then stole second on the first pitch to Moulds.
Moulds’ late-game heroics ended a long night in which the area rivals combined to leave 21 runners on base, collect just seven hits and not score from the fourth through 10th innings.
Wapsie head coach Blayde Bellis told his team he was glad it won but wasn’t necessarily happy it accumulated just two hits. Wapsie (11-2, 5-1) saw Bryar Bellis go 1 for 5 with a run batted in and Garet Shannon go 1 for 5, but no one else get a hit off Landon Dowd or Burkhart.
Dana walked three times and Blake Hesse walked twice.
Bellis drove in Andrew Wehling in the third for a 2-1 score, then scored on a wild pitch to tie the game.
“It’s obviously good we got the win, but we should have batted a lot better,†Moulds said. “Only (two) hits in an 11-inning game is insane. We have to be better, adjust better.â€
Oelwein (2-11, 0-6) took a 2-0 lead in the top of the first off starter Briggs Boehme. Landen Whitaker doubled home Burkhart and came home on Landon Rechkemmer’s single.
Burkhart walked twice and went 1 for 3 while Rechkemmer went 3 for 4. Whitaker was 1 for 6.
No batter outside of Wapsie’s top two and Oelwein’s top four in the lineup got a hit.
Hesse got the win with a strikeout in the top of the 11th. Garet Shannon worked 7 2/3 innings of relief, striking out 11, while Boehme pitched three innings.
Dowd went eight innings in his first start; he balanced six walks and two hits with three strikeouts.
“We competed really well,†head coach Colin Morgan said. “Obviously, Landon was exceptional on the mound, and the defense played well.
“We just missed the timely hits, which is a key part of baseball.â€
