Waverly-Shell Rock looks like No. 1

OELWEIN - It was a nearly perfect game during a nearly perfect season for Waverly-Shell Rock.

The No. 1 ranked Go-Hawks (35-2) defeated No. 4 West Delaware in a Class 3A substate final last night, 2-0, sending the Go-Hawks to their fourth state tournament.

'It was a little nerve-racking but also an honor to have all the coaches having the support in me to finish the game,” said ace Sean Westendorf, who allowed three hits, walked four and struck out seven in seven innings. 'I did just that, and it's a great feeling.”

Westendorf's final line was impressive. He allowed three hits, walked four and struck out seven.

Waverly-Shell Rock didn't get on board until the bottom of the fifth inning when sophomore Dalton Graven, in as a courtesy runner for Jentry Miller, stole second and scored on a throwing error after attempting to steal third.

'I was thinking, if he (throws it by me) again, I'll get to third, but that time I got to skip third,” Graven said. 'Coach told me the third baseman was coming up to field a bunt and I thought I could do it again.

'I went to steal third and the catcher threw it by me and I went home.”

In one of the most heated pitching duels of the season, Westendorf got the best of the West Delaware ace Jake Voss (31-7). Both pitchers took no-hitters into the third inning before giving up a hit.

Graven praised Westendorf and his team's lockdown defense and credited it for Waverly-Shell Rock's postseason run.

'We knew this was going to be a tough game for us considering Jake Voss comes out,” he said. 'It was important for us to hit well against him like we did.”

Graven said there was one dream-come-reality he now can check off his list.

'It has been insane,” Graven said of the two-loss season. 'It's something I've always dreamed of.”

l Comments: stephen. koenigsfeld@thegazettecompany.com