Zeeland West Wins 9th Annual Wooden Bat Tournament

The Zeeland West Varsity baseball team might want to consider using wooden bats for the rest of the seasons as they outscored opponents 28-3 as they won the 9^th Annual Wooden Bat Tournament presented by Family Fare, Gentex, Mike Schaap Builders, and Benchmark Wood Studios.

In game one, Zeeland West faced off against the Allegan Tigers. Junior, Troy Coatney got the start on the mound for Dux and pitched a 5-inning complete game shutout. “Coatney was sharp today,” noted head coach Adam Locker after the game, “he was efficient and kept battling even as the lead grew.” Coatney would get the win on the mound as he spread out four hits and three walks as he struck out four and didn’t give up any runs in five innings of work.

Shane DeJonge and Evan MacDonald led the hitting attack for the Dux as each player recorded three hits. MacDonald went 3 for 3 with a double, a walk, a RBI, and four runs scored. DeJonge went 3 for 4 with three doubles, and three runs scored. Nine other Zeeland West players got into the hitting attack with one hit each. Blake Haveman, Luke Petro, Tyler Vredeveld, Cooper Kilinski, Nic Keyzer, Jared Wolters, Logan VanTil, Mason Kuipers, and Troy Coatney each contributed with a hit. Vredeveld’s and Coatney’s hit was for extra bases as each had a double. The 15 hit attack produced 17 runs as Zeeland West beat Allegan 17-0 in game one.

After Allendale beat Coopersville on the other end of the bracket, the championship game put together two teams who were snowed out earlier in the season. Now in the afternoon sun on a day that saw temperatures in the upper 70’s, both teams were eager to win the championship.

Nic Keyzer took the mound in the championship for Zeeland West and settled in after giving up three runs on two hits in the bottom of the first inning. Keyzer would be dominant for the rest of the game as he only gave up one more hit while walking four and not allowing another run. “Nic showed a ton of composure after giving up three big runs in the first,” said Coach Locker, “he kept trusting his stuff and the teammates behind him and was rewarded with another win on the mound.” Logan VanTil came in in the seventh inning and struck out the side to tie the Zeeland West single season strikeout record.

The win was spurred on by another strong offensive approach by the Dux. Looking at a 3-0 deficit going into the top of the third, Cooper Kilinski and Nic Keyzer came through with back-to-back RBI singles. After the third inning the Dux were tied 3-3 with Allendale. Zeeland West would take the lead in the fifth when Blake Havemen scored following a leadoff double. The Dux would then break open the game in the top of the sixth as they scored seven runs en route to the 11-3 championship game victory. Blake Havemen led the Dux at the plate as he went 3 for 5 with three doubles, three runs, and three RBI. Luke Petro and Cooper Kilinski also had a multi-hit game for the Dux as Petro went 2 for 5 with two runs scored and Kilinski went 2 for 4 with a double and an RBI. Nic Keyzer has a hit, a run scored, and an RBI. Logan VanTil had a double and an RBI. Shane DeJonge and Mason Kuipers both recorded one hit and one run scored.

The win brings Zeeland West’s record to 10-7 on the season. They prepare now for their season series with Byron Center next week with the first pitch set for 4 PM at Byron Center on May 5. Zeeland West would also like to thank again all of the sponsors for the Wooden Bat Tournament: Family Fare, Gentex, Mike Schaap Builders, and Benchmark Wood Studios. Thanks to our sponsors, we are able to provide great experiences for our student athletes.