Wayland swept Hopkins 8-4 and 16-1 Frid
ay in a doubleheader to even its overall season record to 16-16.
The Wildcats have fashioned a 13-5 record in their last 18 games under first-year head coach Trenton Wilcox.
Wayland got past the Vikings in a special contest that featured leukemia patient Dawson Babiak as bat boy. The lad, who just turned 6 years old, is the son of Wayland Middle School math teacher Alison Babiak and Hopkins Middle School teacher Jason Babiak.
Carter Morse started on the mound for the Wildcats and picked up the win, throwing 4 2/3 innings, allowing 4 runs, 1 earned, on 6 hits while striking out 3. He was relieved by Keaton McNees,who threw 2 1/3 scoreless innings, surrendering no hits and striking out 4.
Leading the offensive attack were Morse, Sean Maddux, Matt Schaendorf, and Travis Cutler. Morse was 2-for-2 with an RBI. Maddux was 2-for-3 with a run scored. Schaendorf went 2-for-4 with 2 RBIs and a run. Cutler was 2-for-3 with 2 RBIs and a run scored.
Wayland defeated Hopkins 16-1 via a 3-inning mercy rule win to sweep the double-header. Jeff Betz picked up the win on the mound, pitching all 3 innings, allowing 1 earned run on 2 hits while striking out 4.
Leading the offensive attack for the Wildcats were Matt Schaendorf, Jeff Betz, Logan Sevigny, and Austin Johnson. Schaendorf was 4-for-4 with a double, 4 RBIs and 3 runs scored. Betz was 3-for-3 with 3 RBIs and 2 runs scored. Sevigny went 2-for-3 with 3 RBIs. Johnson was 1-for-1 with 2 RBIs and 2 runs scored.
Wayland Thursday capped off a three-game sweep of Ottawa Hills with an 18-2, 3-inning mercy rule victory. Getting the win on the mound for the Wildcats was Keaton McNees, who went 2 innings, allowing no runs on no hits and striking out 3.
Leading the offensive attack for the Wildcats were Morse, Austin Johnson and Davis Riemersma. Morse was 3-for-3, Johnson was 2-for-2 with a double, and Riemersma went 1-for-2 with 2 RB’s.
The Wildcats finished the OK-Gold Conference season at 9-6, two games behind conference champion Catholic Central, which finished 11-4.
The Wildcats are back in action at 4:15 p.m. Monday, May 23, when they travel to Lamar Park to take on the Wolves of Wyoming High School.
PHOTO:Dawson Babiak was the special bat boy for the neighborhood baseball game Friday between Hopkins and Wayland. (Photo courtesy of Terry Ellis)