Fresh off their first winning season in almost a decade, AGWSR had some lofty goals this past baseball season. Graduation, as expected, took a chunk out of the arsenal. Still, going better than 5-14 was definitely the goal.
What was supposed to be a magical season for the AGWSR Cougars, was hamstrung before it even got started. But beyond a key injury to the 2018 all-class strikeout leader, everything else was in place for a big run.
The district may have changed, but a group of AGWSR players were recently named to the Iowa Girls Coaches Association All District Team for a second consecutive summer.
One-run losses have defined the AGWSR Cougar (20-7) season. Monday’s 1-0 loss to Algona Bishop Garrigan was their fourth shutout loss of the season, and third by a 1-0 count.
The AGWSR Cougars (20-6), ranked sixth, looked to be on their way to a second tight game Friday in Ackley. After Edging Fort Dodge St. Edmond in the quarterfinal of Class 1A Region 8 play, they again needed a home run to break through, this time against the Mason City Newman Knights (21-14).
The Saint Ansgar Saints (23-9) showed why they are ranked seventh in Class 1A Friday night. Despite All-State pitcher Collin Kramer struggling a bit, they played almost perfect baseball in beating AGWSR 12-2 in five innings. The Cougars’ season ended at 5-14 with the first round Dist. 5 loss…
The last time AGWSR and Fort Dodge St. Edmond faced off, a trip to State was in the balance. That was last season, with AGWSR winning 9-0 on their way to a Class 1A runner-up finish.
AGWSR had their chances right down to the end in Ackley Tuesday night. Three straight strikeouts ended it, however, with one of 14 runners stranded on base.
The AGWSR Cougars held senior night Friday in Ackley. If not for a 6-4 loss to the Aplington-Parkersburg Falcons, they would have celebrated it. Josh Bartling, Alex Hames and Zach Crain – the starting seniors – all showed well in their second to last home game of the season, but it was an un…
The AGWSR Cougars got seven hits in their 4-0 regular season-ending win Wednesday against the West Fork Warhawks. None were bigger than two sent over the home fence in Ackley.
A string of one and no-hitters ion five of their last six games, came to an abrupt halt for seventh-rated in Class 1A AGWSR Cougars Tuesday at Manly. Central Springs, ranked fifth in Class 2A, touched Taryan Barrick for six hits, but none bigger than a single in the seventh inning.
As rough as this season has been for the AGWSR Cougars, they still had a chance at a .500 season or better. But, they needed to beat Hudson Monday night in Hudson. They didn’t, dropping a 9-4 game to go to 4-11 on the season with four regular season games and the postseason to play.