ALBION -- The Wayne High softball team dropped an 11-6 decision to Guardian Angels Central Catholic in the championship game of the Mid State Conference tournament on Saturday.
Wayne got out to a 4-0 lead in the first inning, thanks to a Taytem Ellis RBI single, an RBI double by Delaney Kruse and a two-run error that scored Ellis and Kruse.
GACC came back with two in the second and took the lead with five in the fourth inning.
Wayne scored single runs in the fourth and fifth to get within 8-6, but GACC put it out of reach with three in the seventh to claim the conference crown.
Kruse had two hits, both of them doubles, and two RBI's to lead Wayne's six-hit effort. Nyla Bolles, Liberty Titiml, Ellis and Reagan McGuire also had hits, with Bolles and Ellis driving in runs.
Mackenzie Nissen pitched 3 2/3 innings and took the loss, with Sami Gubbels coming on in relief.
Wayne opened the tournament with a 15-0 whitewashing of Pierce. Wayne scored 11 runs in the first inning and limited Pierce to a single hit to move on to the finals.
Kruse hit a three-run homer and McGuire and Ellis added doubles to highlight Wayne's eight hit attack. Ellis had two hits and three RBI's while scoring three runs. Bolles, Kruse, McGuire, Jersi Jensen, and Rylin Hall each scored two runs. Nissen pitched two innings and allowed one hit before Gubbels pitched a spotless third inning.
Wayne hosts C-5 subdistrict play on Monday at the Summer Sports Complex. They face Wilber-Clatonia in a 12 p.m. matchup, with the winner advance to a 4 p.m. final against either Aquinas or Milford.
