Sports
Wyandotte Baseball Loses to Trenton in Downriver League Battle
A questionable umpire call halted a final inning comeback attempt by the Bears on Monday and allowed the Trojans to hang on for a 7-5 victory.
lost at Monday 7-5 in a game ending on a controversial umpire decision.
Senior Steve Caldwell stepped to the plate with two outs in the seventh inning as the Bears (5-2, 1-1) were mounting a comeback. With three runs already in and two men on, he represented the potential go-ahead run.
Following a 3-2 pitch out of the strike zone, Caldwell trotted toward first base believing he checked his swing and earned a walk. Instead, the second base umpire made a delayed call, ruling Caldwell did indeed swing, therefore ending the game.
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Frustrated Bear coaches and players protested, but to no avail as the Trojans celebrated a Downriver league victory.
Caldwell said he believes the umpire’s decision was incorrect, but the Bears must now move on.
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“That’s baseball for you, nothing you can do about that,” Caldwell said.
Frustration with the umpires had actually mounted on both sides during the game. At one point, Trenton coach Todd Szalka spent several minutes arguing with the umpires after they overturned a base running call.
Wyandotte started Monday’s contest by taking an early 2-0 lead. A first-inning single by junior Hunter Matt drove in senior Travis Rodery and senior Ben Mekolon.
Rodery started on the mound Monday as well. In the second inning, with the bases loaded, he hit Trenton junior Guy Ellis, forcing in junior Aaron Florios.
Trenton junior Blake Wojtala, who was also the Trojan’s starting pitcher, tied the game with a double in the third.
Trenton opened up a three run lead in the fifth with hits from senior Pat Doncov and junior Eric Trombley.
A sixth-inning home run by Trenton sophomore Jordan Conti put the Trojans up 7-2.
In the top of the seventh, five Bears reached base and three scored. However, it was not enough and Wyandotte fell short.
Wyandotte coach Brian Cotner said a better performance throughout the game might have given the team a chance to win later.
“Final innings (comebacks) are fine,” Cotner said. “But if you’re not going to play the six innings prior to that point then sometimes it’s not enough.”
Game Leaders
Wyandotte: Matt was 2-4 with three RBI. Rodery went 2-3 and scored two runs.
Trenton: Trombley was 1-2 with two RBI. Conti went 1-3 with two RBI, his hit being a sixth-inning home run.
A Look Back and a Look Ahead
The Bears split a doubleheader Saturday at Ann Arbor Huron. They won the first game 3-1, but dropped the second 7-2.
Wyandotte plays at Gibraltar Carlson on Wednesday and at home Thursday against Southgate Anderson. Both games begin at 4 p.m.
