“Mama said there’ll be days like this, There’ll be days like this, mama said.” — The Shirelles, 1961
It really was a bad day at Bailey Park in Battle Creek for the Wayland softball team, which lost three times uncharacteristically in a tournament, hosted by Gull Lake.
The Lady Wildcats fell 7-5 to Battle Creek Lakeview in its opener Saturday morning, then lost to Gull Lake by the same score in game two. The wheels came off in the third and final contest in a 15-3 defeat at the hands of Vicksburg.
The losses dropped Wayland’s overall record to 4-4, though it still is regarded as the team to beat in the O-K Gold Conference. The next contest will be Tuesday at home against league opponent Middleville Thornapple Kellogg.
The loss in the opener overshadowed an amazing offensive performance by sophomore Madi Ludema, who drilled three hits and homered twice. Kaylee Lown also came up with a two-run single. However, Lakeview had pounced on a 6-0 advantage in the first three innings and caught the ‘Cats playing catchup.
Ludema suffered the loss on the mound, giving up 10 hits, walking two and striking out four.
Gull Lake scored seven runs in the first two innings of the second game. Kaylee Lown led the Wildcats’ offensive attack with two hits in two at-bats and Lauren Wright drove in a couple of runs.
Pitcher Carli Miklusicak yielded the seven-run burst in the first two frames and settled down the rest of the way.
Ludema belted a two-run homer in the first inning of game three, but Vicksburg countered with a six-run outburst in the bottom half. The Bulldogs had a couple of home runs in the contest.
Ludema was the victim of the offensive assault, yielding 11 hits and 12 runs before giving way to Miklusicak on the mound.
Miklusicak had two hits in as many at-bats.