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Sports

Roosevelt Baseball Crushes Dearborn Heights Annapolis to Start Promising Season

An 11-3 victory by the Roosevelt Bears against the Annapolis Cougars on Wednesday begins what could be another championship run for Wyandotte.

Expectations are high as the baseball team heads into the 2011 season.

Things looked to be right on track Wednesday as the Bears defeated Dearborn Heights Annapolis 11-3 at home in the season opener. A doubleheader was scheduled, but a second game was not played because of the cold weather.

Starting pitcher and staff ace Gerald Mayhew went four innings and held the Cougars scoreless.

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Offensively, Wyandotte put three early runs on the board in the first inning. The first two were the result of a double by  junior outfielder Hunter Matt. In the second, a bases-loaded walk to senior shortstop Chase Schmittou made it 4-0.

In the fourth, heads up base running and poor Annapolis fielding let Wyandotte tack on four runs and make it 8-0.

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With the game in command, coach Brian Cotner brought in senior Joe Green to pitch two innings. Senior closer Travis Rodery pitched the seventh, despite not being in a save situation.

High hopes for 2011 are based on the fact that key players like Mayhew, Rodery and Schmittou have returned.

In 2010 The Bears captured the Downriver League title and finished with an overall record of 22-9, going 11-1 in league action. Despite this, they were defeated early in district tournament play by Southgate Anderson. 

“I think we can go even further this year than we did last year,” Schmittou said. 

Aside from playing shortstop, Schmittou will also pitch in 2011. He said that an adjustment to his delivery produced positive results in preseason workouts.

“It’s been pretty good,” Schmittou said. “I’ve been a lot more accurate.”

Senior Steve Caldwell and junior Devon Jones are also pitching options for Wyandotte. Cotner said sophomore Devan Stewart, who played right field Wednesday, could see time on the hill as well.

Cotner is entering his 10th year as Wyandotte’s head coach. He said even more effort is needed from his team this year, as opposed to last season, to be successful.

“I think we need to work harder than we did last year,” Cotner said. “It’s a traditionally tough league, there are a lot of good coaches in here.”

Rodery’s closing ability is one big advantage for Wyandotte, since many high school teams do not have such a luxury. 

“He carried us through a lot,” Cotner said of Rodery’s 2010 closing performances. “It was a great situation.”

Rodery, who played center field and hit leadoff Wednesday, is also one of the team’s best hitters. He hit .425 in 2010 and he will be playing at Wayne State University next year.

Junior Joe Zulewski caught Wednesday and is expected to be behind the plate on a regular basis.

“Right now he’s receiving the ball well,” Cotner said. “We need a person that’s going to receive the ball well (and) help us out on the base paths when we’re trying to throw people out.” 

Tyler Groat, a junior, played third base against the Cougars and was the preseason favorite for the hot corner. On days Schmittou pitches, Mayhew will join him on the left side of the infield and play shortstop. 

Mayhew is also expected to share time with senior Ben Mekolon at second base. 

Another factor for Wyandotte baseball this year is the school’s recent . Several players from that team are now playing baseball. 

Cotner said each of them was immediately ready to work hard upon starting baseball practice.

“The hockey players haven’t skipped a beat,” Cotner said. “I was a little concerned about a natural complacency that could occur after achieving so much, but it has been the complete opposite. … I have been very impressed with their work ethic.”

The hockey team’s state title can also be used to help teach players about winning, Cotner said.

“We always try to build off the success of other sports,” Cotner said. “It gives us an example to point to when trying to illustrate the right way of doing things.”  

Wyandotte has a 4 p.m. game Thursday at home against Grosse Ile. Friday the team travels to New Boston Huron, also for a 4 p.m. start. Downriver League action starts Monday at 4 p.m. with a game at Taylor Truman.

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