07/16/2026
Historic Wahawk Run Ends One Win Short of State, But Legacy Is Reborn
One run.
One hit.
That’s all that separated the Waterloo West Wahawks from extending one of the most remarkable baseball seasons in nearly two decades.
The Wahawks’ unforgettable postseason run came to an emotional end Wednesday night with a 2-1 loss to Waukee in the Class 4A Substate Final. But the final score hardly reflected the fight Waterloo West displayed.
West actually out-hit Waukee 4-1, holding one of the state’s top programs hitless until the bottom of the fifth inning. The Warriors’ lone hit—a game-tying double—proved to be their only knock of the night.
Waterloo West struck first in the second inning when Brett McGovern delivered an RBI double, giving the Wahawks an early 1-0 lead. From there, the pitching and defense took center stage.
Eli Johnson was brilliant in his start, throwing 3⅓ no-hit innings while allowing no runs. Jack Van Erem came on in relief and battled through the final innings, as the Wahawks combined to limit Waukee to just one hit in seven innings.
Defensively, West continued the brand of baseball that carried it through an improbable playoff run. The Wahawks turned a double play, made routine and difficult plays alike, and forced Waukee to earn every opportunity.
Despite collecting four hits to Waukee’s one and receiving another outstanding pitching performance, the Wahawks found themselves on the wrong side of a 2-1 final. Waukee’s pitchers struck out 14, and the Warriors capitalized on walks and timely ex*****on to scratch across the winning run.
For Waterloo West, however, this game will not define the season.
Picked by few to make a deep postseason run, the Wahawks instead authored one of the greatest turnaround stories in recent program history. Under first-year head coach Mitch Fordyce, Waterloo West advanced farther than any Wahawk baseball team since 2007, knocked off higher-seeded opponents, reignited community pride, and brought packed crowds and renewed excitement back to Wahawk baseball.
This team reminded everyone what Waterloo West baseball can be.
The seniors leave behind a legacy of belief. The underclassmen inherit a standard that has been reset. And a community that had waited nearly two decades to celebrate meaningful July baseball now has every reason to believe the future is bright.
