By Dan Truttschel~Sports Correspondent
If the Wilmot baseball team suffered any lingering effects from a loss to rival Westosha Central last week, it certainly wasn’t obvious.
Wilmot bounced back in fine fashion with a pair of Southern Lakes Conference victories over Waterford.
The Panthers defeated the Wolverines 7-1 May 6, followed by a 6-1 road win May 8. The two-game sweep improved Wilmot to 4-6 overall and 4-4 in the SLC heading into action this week.
Wilmot jumped on the Wolverines with five runs in the top of the first inning to take control May 8.
Evan Ketterhagen’s single drove in Cam Loveless, who had tripled, with the Panthers’ first run. An RBI double by Garrett Bogucki accounted for the second run, followed by a bases-clearing triple by Marcus Page.
That proved to be more than enough offense for Wilmot, which added its sixth run in the seventh inning.
Bogucki led the offense with three hits, including the double, and an RBI. Page had two hits and three RBI, while Chaz Schmidt had two hits.
Schmidt earned the win, as eh worked six innings, and allowed one run, six walks and struck out eight. Erik Nevoso struck out all three batters he faced in one inning on the mound.
Wilmot scored in four straight innings to take control of the opener. The Panthers jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the bottom of the third inning, then added one run in the fourth, two in the fifth and one in the sixth.
Corey Crowder provided the big hit in the third inning with a three-run double.
Scott Litwin and Schmidt each had two hits for the Panthers, while Alex Haluzak drove in two. Schmidt also had an RBI.
Nick Heniff was the story in the opener, as he worked all seven innings to pick up the complete-game win. He allowed just three hits and struck out one.
Waterford’s only run was unearned.
Wilmot began a hectic week Monday afternoon with a road game at Westosha Central, followed by a doubleheader at Elkhorn Tuesday.
The Panthers continued play Thursday at Badger. Wilmot hosts Racine Park Friday afternoon, followed by a road game Saturday at Kenosha Bradford.