The Wayland varsity softball team is about to enter the home stretch of its comeback season with an overall record of 27-3.
The Lady Wildcats Wednesday took both ends of a doubleheader against O-K Green Conference champion Zeeland West 4-1 and 14-0 and they have only a doubleheader versus Muskegon Oakridge Thursday, June 3, before they play showdown softball in the Division 2 district tournament on the home field, where if you lose, you go home.
Hopkins, which has a 15-10 overall record, will take on Wolverine Conference champion Otsego at 10 a.m. June 5, The Lady Vikings will have their work cut out for them, facing a team that is 28-3 and features Kendra VanderLugt, who’s chasing the state home run record.
Wayland will take on Plainwell at noon that day. If Cheri Ritz’ ‘Cats can get past the Trojans, they may meet the Bulldogs in the district finals, which would be a sort of early battle of the Titans.
Wayland knows how it feels to be taken out by sluggers, as its only loss in the last 25 games was engineered by slugger Kali Heivilin,of Three Rivers, who blasted her 21st and 22nd home runs in the Wayland Quad
But on Wednesday, the Lady Wildcats asserted pitching prowess, as junior Emma Ludema fired a four-hitter at the Dux, striking out eight batters. Leading the offensive attack was Kami Morse, belting a home run with two RBIs. Kayla Reed added a double, Emma Tornes, Kennedy Cole and Kaelyn Sikkema, each had one hit.
Kayla Reed took the shutout victory on the mound in the nightcap, increasing her record to 11-0. She allowed only three hits.
Leading the Wildcat offense were Emma Tornes, (2-for-2), with a double, Kami Morse and Kaelyn Sikkema were both 2-for-3, with a double, Grace Kincaid was 2-for-3, both singles. Kennedy Cole, Emma Ludema, Kylie Mutschler, Oakleigh Hulst and Rya VanderKooi each had one hit. Emma Ludema hit a double.