You could accuse Wayland varsity softball coach Cheri Ritz of being a lot the the Energizer Bunny — She just keeps on going and going…
Ritz Tuesday evening celebrated her 1,000th high school softball coaching victory after her charges defeated Grand Rapids Catholic Central 14-4 and added another to the milestone with a 16-5 verdict in the nightcap of a doubleheader.
That’s 1,000 wins in 37 years coaching softball in Wayland and at Middleville Thornapple Kellogg. And that goes nicely with her induction three years ago into the Michigan High School Softball Coaches Hall of Fame (photo at left).
Ritz is only the 10th coach in Michigan sports history to guide a high school team to 1,000 victories.
The sweep also lifted the Wildcats’ record in the O-K Gold Conference to 10-0 and they are 22-8 overall.
The twin bill was pretty much like all of the Wildcats’ performances.
The first game was shortened to five innings when the ‘Cats came up with four runs in the bottom of the fifth to forge a 10-run lead.
Winning pitcher Harmony Laker and sister Liberty Laker both had three hits and Lauren Wright, Madi Ludema and Kami Morse added two apiece. Morse and Harmony both cracked a triple Harmony, Liberty, Wright and Ludema each had a double
Harmony tossed five innings, walking two and striking out five.
Wayland scored in all of the six innings in the nightcap, starting with four in the first.
Ludema, the winning pitcher, went 4-for-4 and Morse, Harmony and Reese Veltman each had two hits. Ludema hurled all six innings, walking four and striking out five.
Ludema and Liberty Laker both clouted a double and Harmony added yet another triple to the 13-hit attack.
