by Brian Turrel
The Wyandotte Bulldogs and Washington Wildcats met to play baseball at Legends Field on a warm, gusty Tuesday afternoon.
The wind whipped out toward left field up to 40 miles per hour, and more than once a runaway cap had to be retrieved.
The Bulldogs got the best of the big-stage game, racking up a 16-1 advantage that ended the contest after four innings.
The Wildcats got on the board in the top of the first inning, scoring on Austin Lasley’s double that drove in leadoff hitter Hunter Bidding. Wyandotte pitcher Manny Villalpanda closed down the offense after that, limiting Washington to just three hits overall in the game.
The Bulldogs answered back with three runs in the bottom of the inning, and then six more in the second to put the game out of reach.
Ryan Hooks ripped a triple in the top of the third, but the Wildcats couldn’t bring him home. Wyandotte’s seven-run fourth inning ended the game on the 15-run mercy rule.
Emilio Martinez Reyes led the Bulldogs on offense, going 2-for-2 at the plate, with a triple and a walk. Jose Rodriguez Munoz went 2-for-4 with a double and two RBIs. Villalpanda notched six strikeouts and gave up just two walks.
Washington used four pitchers from its very young staff to complete the game. Lasley was the most effective, coming on in relief in the second inning and getting the Wildcats through the scoreless third inning. He gave up four runs, three earned, in his one and two-thirds innings.
Wyandotte is now 5-2 overall this season, 3-2 in the Kansas City-Atchison League. The Bulldogs will play a double-header at home against the Topeka Trojans on Monday.
Washington is still winless at 0-5, 0-1 in conference play. The Wildcats will play a home game Thursday against Schlagle at Eisenhower baseball park.
On April 28, Legends Field will play host to a double-header of USD 500 action. Sumner Academy will play Pembroke Hill at 4 p.m., followed at 7 p.m. by a game between Schlagle and Harmon.
