The streaking Wayland varsity baseball team captured the 2016 Wayland Union Invitational title with a 10-9 victory Saturday in the finals over Grand Rapids West Catholic.
The Wildcats, who defeated Hopkins 16-7 in the tourney opener earlier in the day, now have won six of their last seven contests and have improved their overall record to 8-12. It was the second straight weekend coach Travis Wilcox’s group has won a tournament.
Wayland jumped out to a 10-1 lead after two innings, but the stingy Falcons battled their way back, stranding the tying run on third base to end the game.
Picking up the win on the mound for the Wildcats was Keaton McNees, who went 5 innings, allowing 7 runs, all 7 were earned, on 7 hits, while striking out 5. Mitch Dykstra pitched the final two innings, picking up the save. Dykstra allowed 2 runs, 1 earned, on 4 hits.
Leading the Wildcat offense were Carter Morse, Parker Atwell and Sean Maddux. Morse went 1-for-4 with a double, 3 RBIs, and a run scored. Atwell was 1-for-2 with 2 runs scored and Maddux was 1-for-2 with an RBI and a run scored.
The Wildcats opened up the invitational against Hopkins by exploding for 16 runs on 17 hits, tops in both categories for the Wildcats this season. Getting the win on the mound for Wayland was Bradey Weston, who went 3 innings, allowing 5 runs, 4 earned, on 3 hits while striking out 3. Weston improves his overall record to 3-0 on the mound this season.
Leading the way offensively for the Wildcats were Matt Schaendorf, Kaleb Merren, Travis Cutler, Jack Marcinek, Mitchell Dykstra, and Sean Maddux.
Schaendorf was 3-for-5 with 2 runs scored, 1 RBI, and a stolen base. Merren was 3-for-4 with 2 RBIs. Cutler was 3-for-4 with a triple, 4 RBIs, a stolen base, and 2 runs scored. Marcinek was 2-for-4 with 2 RBIs. Dykstra was 2-for-3 with 3 runs scored and an RBI. Maddux went 1-for-2 with a sacrifice and 5 RBIs.
The Wildcats are back in action Tuesday, May 10, as they host the Sailors of South Christian in a OK-Gold conference doubleheader. First pitch is slated for 4:15 p.m.
PHOTO: Keaton McNees was the winning pitcher in the championship game.
