A non-league doubleheader took over May 27 for the Wayne Pony youth baseball team.
From the Summer Sports Complex, Wayne 14u welcomed Ponca.
The Wayne Ponies played to a 9-9 tie in game one followed by a 9-5 win to improve to 4-0-1 overall.
In the opening game, Ponca took a 3-1 lead during the first inning and scored one run in the top of the third. Ponca outscored Wayne, 3-1 in the fourth followed by Wayne answering with four runs in the home half of the fifth. Wayne used a 3-2 advantage in the sixth to force a 9-9 tie. Wayne outhit Ponca, 11-6 and committed two errors compared to three by their opponent.
Isaiah Zarate singled, doubled and drove in three runs; Mason Wendte doubled, drove in three runs and scored twice as Remyngton Rager doubled. Blake Heithold also singled twice and scored twice.
Grant Reeg singled, drove in a run and scored twice; Kash Haase singled and scored; Easton Gamble and Evan Greve both singled; Brayden Stegemann accounted for a RBI and run scored as Angel Vargas scored.
Heithold (44 pitches) started the opening two innings allowing three earned runs off three hits while striking out one batter and walking two. Haase (51) worked two innings allowing four earned runs off three hits while striking out four batters, walking four and hitting one. Stegemann (40) closed out the final two innings allowing two earned runs while striking out two batters and walking three.
During the second outing, Wayne produced four runs to open the game in the bottom of the first. Both teams scored a run in the second followed by Ponca using four runs in the top of the third. Wayne answered back with three runs in the fourth and plated once more run in the fifth. Final favored the Wayne Ponies winning 9-5 despite being outhit, 5-2. Ponca committed one error compared to two by Wayne.
Zarate singled twice and scored twice for the Wayne Ponies.
Stegemann and Liam Rockhill both accounted for a RBI and run scored; Kian Pick scored twice while single runs came from Noah Magnuson, Colston Starzl and Clayton Koenig.
Zarate (24) started the opening inning and two-thirds allowing an earned run off two hits while striking out three batters and walking one. Merrick Miller (34) worked an inning and a third allowing four runs (two earned) off three hits while striking out three batters and walking one. Rockhill (34) closed out the final two innings striking out six batters and walking one.
