Wyandotte Loses Early Season Battle with Trenton

baseball opened Downriver League action on Monday with a 2-0 loss to at home.

The Bears (1-1, 0-1) and Trojans (3-0, 1-0) both had their best starting pitchers on the mound Monday, with senior Devon Jones going for Roosevelt and senior Blake Wojtala on the hill for Trenton.

Both hurlers were sharp, with each of them tossing a complete game. The Trojans, however, were able to manufacture two runs against Jones in the seventh to break a scoreless tie and hang on for the victory.

To start the seventh inning, Trojans senior Derek Berger walked. A Roosevelt throwing error on a bunt by the next hitter, senior Guy Ellis, and an intentional walk to senior Chad Hamilton left the bases loaded for Trenton with no outs.

Trojans senior Eric Trombley then stepped to the plate and flied out to right field, which gave Berger, who was on third base, a chance to tag up and try to score.

As Berger headed toward home, the Bears quickly relayed the ball to senior catcher Adam Peterson. In a close play at the plate, Berger was ruled safe by the umpire, putting his team up 1-0.

The Bears didn’t agree with the umpire’s call at the plate, but Peterson said the more important factor was that his team had squandered chances to build a lead earlier in the game.

“You can’t ever blame a game on an ump,” Peterson said. “I felt that we just didn’t capitalize. We capitalize, we’re not even in that situation in the seventh inning where we have to worry about that call.”

Later in the seventh inning, a base-running miscue by Ellis actually helped him score the team’s second run.

Ellis, who was on third, strayed too far from the base. The Bears, however, mismanaged the rundown attempt to get him out and Ellis was able to safely cross the plate.

In the bottom of the seventh, Roosevelt threatened to score after Jones reached base with a walk, but Wojtala was able to strike out junior Justin Green to end the game. 

Wyandotte had seven total hits and at least one base runner in every inning. Its most serious threat came with two outs in the third inning after junior Joey Loselle singled and senior Hunter Matt was intentionally walked. 

Senior Tyler Groat then singled, but as Loselle tried to score, he was thrown out at the plate to end the inning. 

Not taking advantage of such scoring opportunities really hurt the Bears' chances of winning Monday’s game, Wyandotte head coach Brian Cotner said.

“It just comes down to executing,” Cotner said. “We’ve just got to capitalize.”  

Game Leaders

Jones pitched seven innings, giving up one earned run, along with three hits and four walks. Loselle was 2-for-3 at the plate and junior Vinnie Jelsomeno was 2-for-4.

A Look Back and a Look Ahead

Roosevelt opened the season Thursday with a 3-1 win at New Boston Huron. The Bears are home again Wednesday for a Downriver League battle against Taylor Kennedy.