The Wayland High School baseball team came up with two more victories too cap off a successful week on the diamond, winning the Holland Invitational.
The Wildcats defeated Hastings 15-5 and then downed host Holland 7-5.
They wasted no time in getting things going in the opener against Hastings, scoring four runs in the first inning. Tommy Corneille got things going when he drew a walk scoring one run. Brady Cassini scored on a passed ball. Brett Dutcher drew a walk scoring one run. And a Cameron Bogard RBI single polished off the rally.
Wayland had 14 hits on the day. Bryce Calkins, Dustin Loomans, Corneille and Bogard all had multiple hits. Loomans had an RBI triple and Dutcher had an RBI double. Cassini, Reagan Mutschler, Zander Davenport, Eugene Wierkz and Jackson Chesley all had singles. Cassini, Corneille, Dutcher and Bogard each had two runs batted in for the game and Loomans, Calkins and Chesley had one RBI apiece.
Craig Steensma was on the mound and surrendered 2 runs on 10 hits over 4 innings, striking out 3 and walking 1. Zander Davenport earned the win, going 1 2/3 innings in relief, giving up 3 runs, 1 hit, striking out 2 and walking 7. Dutcher got the last 4 outs in relief, earning the save, striking out 2 and walking one.
The Cats got out to a seven-run lead in the fifth inning vs. Holland and was able to to hang on for the 7-5 win. The Dutch scored 3 runs in the bottom of 5 and 2 runs in the bottom half of 6 to make it a game.
The Cats scored 2 runs in the 3rd thanks to a leadoff single from Peyton Moore, followed by a bunt single from Cameron Bogard. Trent Sikkema had an RBI sacrifice groundout and Brady Cassini had an RBI double to make it 2-0.
In the 5th, Wayland scored 5 runs. Sikkema led off and reached base via a team leading 9th hit by pitch. Dustin Loomans and a Bryce Calkins singled to load the bases. Reagan Mutschler drew a walk scoring one run, Carter Koopman drove in 2 runs with a double. A Tommy Corneille sacrifice groundout scored another and an RBI single from Moore made it 7-0 ‘Cats.
Loomans and Moore had multiple hits, Corneille and Mutschler added singles of their own.
Moore earned the win, going 5 2/3 innings, allowing 7 hits, and 5 runs, only 3 earned, 3 Ks and walking 4. Koopman got the last 4 outs for the save, surrendering 1 hit, 2 walks and 1 strikeout.
The results improved Wayland’s overall season record to to 16-10. The Wildcats will return to O-K Gold Conference action hosting Cedar Springs Monday for a doubleheader before wrapping up the regular season at Cedar on Wednesday.
