If any team was a big threat to Wayland’s undefeated O-K Gold Conference record and league championship this spring, it was Cedar Springs, which was 10-2 in league action.
But the Wildcats managed to prevail 7-4 in 11 innings, thank to a bases loaded walkoff double by senior outfielder Liberty Laker in the first game of a doubleheader Monday. The Wildcats came back in the nightcap to win 10-0 in five innings to clinch the league title they’ve owned every year except 2019 over the last couple of decades.
The Red Hawks, who entered the contest with 20 victories overall and a 10-2 mark in league play, gave Wayland all it wanted in an 11-inning nail biter. The two squads battled to a 3-3 deadlock over nine innings, remained tied at 4-4 after 10 innings and finally Laker delivered a bases loaded clutch hit to decide things.
Harmony Laker pitched 11 grueling innings, yielding 10 hits, three earned runs, walking three and striking out six.
Liberty drove in four runs for Wayland with her two hits and Madi Ludema added a couple of doubles. Harmony also cracked a double.
Game two was a lot less exciting, except that the result was that the Wildcats now have won yet another league championship under coach Cheri Ritz’s tutelage.
Ludema hurled a masterful shutout in the nightcap, scattering four hits, walking one and striking out two. She helped her own cause with a double on the offensive side and Morse added a double and a triple.
Morse finished with three hits, as did Carli Miklusicak and Rae Stallard had a pair of singles.
Wayland scored five times in the opening inning, once in the third and four more times in the fourth in the contest that was shortened to five innings because of the 10-run mercy rule.
The Wildcats now are 27-8 overall and 12-0 in the O-K Gold Conference standings.
