COVER PHOTO: Carter Koopman came into the fifth inning to put out the fire and preserve the Wildcats’ victory.
The Wayland varsity baseball team withstood a late rally Tuesday by Plainwell to register a 10-9 triumph that enabled the local guys to advance to the district tournament semifinals Saturday morning on their home diamond.
The Wildcats jumped out to a 10-2 lead in the fifth, but in the bottom half of the inning the Trojans erased their eight-run deficit down to just one. Plainwell collected nine of its 14 total hits during the seven-run rally.
But the score remained the same for the final two innings.
Wayland scored a run in the top of the first, three runs in the top of the second, added run in the fourth and came up with runs in the top of the fifth inning.
The ‘Cats hat 10 hits for the game, Brady Cassini, Reagan Mutschler and Dustin Loomans had multiple hits. Bryce Calkins, Cameron Carnevale, Brayden Byrne and Cameron Bogard each contributed one.
Calkins was on the mound, cruising along until the fifth frame. His stats indicated he went 4 2/3 innings, allowing 8 runs on 12 hits, striking out 8 and walking zero, and he was awarded the win. Carter Koopman entered in relief, working 2 1/3 innings, surrendering zero runs on two hits, striking out one and walking none to get the crucial save.
The Wildcats improved their overall record to 19-11 for the season.
Wayland will face Richland Gull Lake at 10 a.m. Saturday June 3 on Phil Regan Field. The winner will advance to district championship at 2 p.m. vs. the winner of the other semifinal at noon between Hopkins and Otsego.
Go Cat’s! I believe it’s been 9 years since winning a district title. That was against TK at their field in 2014.