The Wayne Juniors split a pair of five-inning games with Pender in their final tune-up before this weekend’s Class B, Area 5 tournament at Hank Overin Field, but welcomed back Payten Gamble to the lineup for the first time this season.
Gamble broke an ankle during a pick-up basketball game last spring and had not played all summer, but saw two innings of relief pitching in the opener of Tuesday’s doubleheader. Pender took the first game 6-3 before Wayne won the nightcap 4-0.
Pender scored three in the first and never trailed in the first game of the evening. Gamble relieved starter Zane Jackson for two innings, allowing a run while striking out two.
Coach Jeff Zeiss told The Wayne Herald that he wanted to get Gamble on the mound to pitch a little before the area tournament, and hopes to use him in relief during the area tournament.
Jackson had a double to highlight a six-hit attack, while Justin Dean singled, doubled and scored a run. Adam Bentjen also doubled and scored and Kaleb Anderosn added a single.
In the nightcap, Wayne got two runs in the second and third innings and rode the two-hit pitching of Tyler Lutt, who struck out five and walked two in the win.
Lutt helped his cause with three hits and scored a run. Jackson tripled and scored, Beau Bowers doubled and scored, Tyler Gilliland singled and scored and Brennan O’Reilly drove in two runs.
Wayne takes a 26-3 record into the area tournament. They have a first-round bye and will face either Pierce or Ponca on Saturday at 6:30 p.m. at Hank Overin Field.
