The Wayland varsity softball team is still in the thick of the race to win yet another O-K Gold Conference championship.
The Lady Wildcats despite having only one senior on the roster, improved their league record to 9-1 with a pair of shutout victories in a doubleheader against Grand Rapids Christian, 13-0 and 20-0. Freshman pitchers Emma Ludema and Emily Bailey tossed blanks at the Eagles.
Leading the Wildcat offensive attack in the first game were Grace Kincaid (2-for-3) with a double, Ava Dutkiewicz with one hit in one official at-bat, and Rya VanderKooi, Emily Bailey, Lauren Chiaramonte and Haley Dobry all going 1-for-2.
Providing fireworks at the plate in the nightcap were Ava Dutkiewicz, 3-for-3 with three runs scored; Grace Kincaid, 1-for1 with a run scored; Emma Ludema, 2-3; Haley Dobry scored three runs; Emily Bailey, 2-for-3 with two runs scored, and Lauren Chiaramonte, 2-for-3 with two runs scored.
The Varsity Softball team defeated Sturgis 9-2, at the Centreville Tournament. Leading the Wildcats to Victory: Kayla Reed (3-4) with two doubles and Kennedy Cole with two hits.
The Wildcats Monday lost to state-ranked Jenison 13-4 and 13-0. Kennedy Cole went 3-for-3 with a double and Emma Ludema and Kayla Reed both had a hit.
Kennedy Cole, Rya VanderKooi and Ava Dutkiewicz each has a single in the nightcap.
The Lady Wildcats, now 6-12 on the season overall, will play at Middleville Thornapple Kellogg Monday in their last O-K Gold doubleheder this season. If they can sweep that twin bill, the worst they are likely to do is tie with South Christian for the league crown.
Wayland has won or shared the last 10 O-K championships in a row.
