Le Mars Community senior pitcher Ayden Hoag has been a vital part of the Bulldog pitching staff for the last four years. That was proven on Wednesday night with Hoag breaking the program’s thirty-year old career strikeout record previously held by Chad Wiltgen.
The Bulldogs did lose both games of the doubleheader which dampened their spirits post-game, but the message still came through from Ayden Hoag. He says he was just simply trying to do his job when he was out on the mound.
Hoag has made plenty of progress in his time on the mound as a Bulldog. When he first joined the program, he says he was just out to throw the ball around, but he kept working on his craft to improve.
The Bulldog athletic department has enjoyed Hoag’s services in both football and wrestling as well, but baseball has always stuck out. That is why Hoag will be continuing to play baseball next season in Council Bluffs at Iowa Western Community College. Hoag says baseball never felt like work, but it was always a fun time.
Le Mars starts their tournament trail next week, and they will need Hoag and everyone to be playing their best. Hoag says the guys have to keep tuning and tweaking some things to be at their best in the postseason.
Le Mars hosts Boyden-Hull/Rock Valley and Lewis Central next week before welcoming Sioux Center on Friday to open postseason play. Hoag’s career strikeout total now sits at 280.
