The Wayland varsity softball team appears to have righted its customarily dominating ship after a rough 1-3 start to the season.

The Lady Wildcats pounded out a 12-1 five-inning victory over St. Joseph Saturday to claim the championship in the Wayland Invitational.

Wayland, now 9-4 on the season overall, won a 3-2 nine-inning nail-biter in the semifinals over Schoolcraft.

Senior southpaw pitcher Abby Merice got the job done in style over the last 14 innings.  She tossed a one-hitter at St. Joe and struck out 11 batters over five innings on the mound.

Lauren McCulligh went 3-4 with a double and four RBIs; Merice, 2-4 with a double and two RBIs; Chloe Coughlin, 1-2, and Lauren Chiaramonte, 1-2 with two RBIs.

In the semifinals, Merice came up with a walk-off single in the bottom of the ninth to provide the winning margin. She also pitched a complete game allowing seven hits and striking out 10 batters.

Abby Merice went 4-4 with a double and RBI; Kayla Reed was 2-4 with a double and Lauren Chiaramonte 1-3 with a double.

(Photo courtesy of Terry Ellis)