PACELLI SCORES 10 IN FIRST THREE INNINGS, DOWN WILD ROSE IN FIVE 13-2
By Mike Wendlandt
Zaleski Sports
WILD ROSE - Kaydin Mayek threw a complete game and drove in four runs to lead the Pacelli Cardinals baseball team to an opening day victory over Wild Rose 13-2 in five innings on the road Tuesday afternoon. The senior, playing in his first game as a Cardinal since 2019, struck out 12 while only allowing two hits to start the season 1-0.
For Coach Wayne Sankey, being able to take the field again wearing the Cardinal red and white wasn’t a moment lost on the team.
“It’s nice to finally get out there with these kids. They’ve been working hard for the past couple weeks and it was great to get this opportunity again,” Sankey said.
The Cardinals showed plenty of patience in the game, drawing eight walks and forcing Wild Rose to use four different pitchers throughout the five innings. It all started in the second as the Cardinals manufactured the first run of the season with two walks, a double steal and a sacrifice fly by junior Brycen Cashin. After a pitching change and two more walks, Mayek helped his own cause with a bases-clearing double to give the Cardinals a lead they would not relinquish.
“What it really was is that the bottom of our order was able to get on base, setting up the top of the lineup. When you get guys on base, it puts the pressure on them and that’s what we were able to do today,” Sankey said.
After a passed ball and an infield single scored a couple of runs for the Wildcats in the bottom of the second, Mayek settled down and was able to finish the game, only allowing one hit over the final three innings.
Seven different Cardinals scored a run in the game and they stole nine total bases to keep the defense for Wild Rose on its toes.
Pacelli plays four more games yet this week, hosting Port Edwards Thursday, traveling to Marshfield to take on Columbus Catholic Friday (watch live at zaleskisports.com), and going to Green Bay for a doubleheader against Notre Dame on Saturday.