-Messenger photo by Britt Kudla Mason Bockoven of Fort Dodge hits a two run homer against East High on Monday at Dodgers Stadium

Blake Utley is trying not to be vocal about what is happening on the baseball field. With a hot streak like Mason Bockoven has going –even words wouldn’t do it justice.

The Dodger junior had another big night at the plate to help Fort Dodge (15-23 overall) sweep Des Moines East 6-3 and 9-5 on Monday Night at Ed McNeil Field.

Fort Dodge has won five straight games, coming off an 11-game losing skid and will end the regular season tonight against Carroll.

Junior varsity begins at 5 p.m. with varsity to follow at approximately 7 p.m.

“You can see the energy level has picked up,” said Fort Dodge head coach Blake Utley. “I just love these guys. Our goal is to peak at the right time and ride the wave through the tournament.

“It’s more about we than me.”

Bockoven was 4-for-6 in the twinbill with four RBI and is 18-for-21 in the Dodgers last seven contests. Bockoven had one hit in the opener while driving in two runs. In the nightcap he had three hits, including a double and two RBI.

“Coach (Nick) Vinson looked at me and said, “You know he’s like 18 for his last 21?” Utley said. “That’s something I don’t want to talk about too much about (in the dugout), when someone is hot like that, you just have to leave it alone.

“Mason was hitting when nobody else was. He has put a lot of work into his craft and he is the first one in here working on his swing. He has been working hard all season.”

With the postseason set to start on Friday at Ankeny, Utley was trying to rest some arms against the Scarlets (23-15).

In the opening contest it was Anthony Wagner who took the hill and after fighting through some injuries early on, the senior was ready to take the hill.

Coming into the contest, Wagner had thrown only 2• innings. Against East he had three solid innings of work, only allowing three hits and two earned runs to pick up the win.

Junior Nelson Cone relieved Wagner for 3• innings, striking out two. Senior Drake Miller closed the door to earn the save, striking out both batters he faced.

“Anthony has been bummed that he hasn’t been able to throw, but he came to me last week and said he was ready to give it a try,” Utley said. “I think he did a tremendous job and pitched well.

“I think all of our pitcher had good nights. We’re trying to give some arms some rest with the postseason around the corner, so to perform like that is big.”

Bockoven (3-5) took the mound in the second contest. The Dodgers gave Bockoven the luxury of working with a lead, putting up five runs in the bottom half of the first with no outs. He went 5ª innings, allowing six hits and three earned runs. He struck out three and walked only one.

The Dodgers pounded out 13 hits in the second contest. Senior Drake Miller was 3-for-4, while freshman Jace Ulrich had a single and a double and an RBI.

Along with Miller, Ulrich and Bockoven, juniors Shane Halligan and Brycen Bell had doubles. Eight of the nine Dodgers had hits on the night.

Sophomore Dylan Zimmermann had a two-run homer in the five-run first.

FORT DODGE 6, DES MOINES EAST 3

DM East 021 000 0 — 3 5 2

Fort Dodge 121 002 x — 6 7 1

L–James Jefferson (5IP, 4H, 2ER, 3BB, 3SO) W–Anthony Wagner (3IP, 3H, 2ER, 3BB, 1SO). S–Drake Miller (ª, 0H, 0ER, 0BB, 2SO) 2B–DME: Desean Giboo, Isaiah Dameron, Carter Kline. Multiple RBI: Mason Bockoven 2, Carson Peterson 2.

FORT DODGE 9, DES MOINES EAST 5

DM East 002 001 2 — 5 8 3

Fort Dodge 510 030 x — 9 13 0

L–Desean Giboo (4ªIP, 11H, 7ER, 0BB, 0SO); W–Mason Bockoven (5ªIP, 6H, 3ER, 1BB, 3SO); 2B–DME: Joe Ramsey; FD: Drake Miller, Mason Bockoven, Shane Halligan, Jace Ulrich, Brycen Bell. HR–DME: Bryce Crabb; FD: Dylan Zimmermann.