The Clarion-Goldfield-Dows baseball team tracked down its first double digit win season since 2013 (15-16) at 12-17 overall.
The Cowboys hit their best stride at the end of the year winning four of their final five games including a comeback playoff win over Eagle Grove.
Head Coach Ryan Nail says the Cowboys entered as an experienced group and built up momentum for the future through managing close games.
“We came into the year feeling like we were picking up from last year, which is always a good feeling, not having to relearn things and reteach things,” says Nail. “We put together a decent season. We had a good run at the end, three of our last four games, were all one run wins. To have some tight games and come out on top really says a lot for where we are as a program. A postseason win for the second year in a row, really put some good momentum into the upcoming years.”
A driving force in the Cowboys turnaround season was their eight seniors including Mason Allen, Wyatt DeCoster, Uli Frias, Carson Neshiem, Caden Hankins, Landen Kakacek, Nick Sisson and Calvin Schlutenhoeffer.
Nail says this was a memorable senior group that always stepped up and provided instrumental leadership.
“As far as success is concerned they set the groundwork for this program since my first year. They were a group of guys that were always there, willing to help with anything that you asked. They set the bar for the underclassmen, let them know how we do things and how we do things the right way. They were very instrumental in leading the team. At the end of the day, this will be probably one of my most memorable senior classes, I will ever coach.”
Nesheim, as the Cowboys ace on the hill, ranked second in Class 2A with 120 strikeouts and threw a perfect game with 16 strikeouts against Southeast Valley on June 6th.
Nail says the program is blessed to have resources to aid players in their development during the offseason.
“We have the resources here to give them the right training, with equipment and indoor batting cages in our new gym and things like that. It’s all about giving them options and whether or not they’re going to take advantage of those options is up to them. Most of them do and most of them reap the success from showing up.”
The Cowboys will be a younger team next season with only six upperclassmen projected to return.
