It was a peculiar and interesting Holland Invitational softball tournament Saturday when Wayland won twice and lost once to finish the day with an 11-3 overall record for the season.
The Lady Wildcats lost 4-1 to Hudsonville Unity Christian, beat Livonia Stevenson 15-4 and got the best of Grand Haven 11-5. Hudsonville Unity later in the day lost to Grand Haven, leaving the three top tourney teams each with 2-1 records for the day.
Hudsonville Unity’s win came on the strength of an ability to hold the Wildcats’ customarily heavy hitting outfit to just one run and four hits. Senior Harmony Laker had two of them and losing pitcher Madi Ludema scored the only run.
Wayland batters struck out nine times.
Ludema suffered the hard-luck loss on the mound, yielding five hits and two runs in two consecutive innings, the fourth and the fifth.
The ‘Cats’ bats came alive again in the second game of the day, against Livonia Stevenson. Ludema unloaded a couple of home ransom Rae Stallard had a couple and the team came up with 10 hits total.
Laker was the winning pitcher, giving up only three hits and one walk, striking out four.
Ludema hurled five innings to pick up the win against Grand Haven. She was supported in relief by Laker, who held the Bucs scoreless over two innings.
Kaylee Lown delivered a home run, Stallard drilled a couple of doubles and Ludema, Laker and Clara Dutkiewicz each had one two-bagger.
So Wayland now owns an 11-3 overall record and is atop the O-K Gold Conference with a 2-0 mark after sweeping South Christian.
