Racers Fall in WHAC Pool Play

LIVONIA, MI - UNOH saw their season come to an end on the first day of pool play in the Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference (WHAC) Tournament. The Racers battled with Aquinas for the fifth straight game, extending back into the final weekend of the regular season, before falling 9-5. The second game of the day saw Madonna avenge their regular season sweep against UNOH with an 11-0 win.

Game 1: Aquinas 9 UNOH 5

 UNOH used a solo shot from Darius Freeman to get on the board first in the second. A two-out double added another in the frame to put the Racers up 2-0 after two. That lead held through four before the Saints exploded for seven runs in the fifth. Josue Ortiz got one back with his own solo homer in the seventh but Aquinas put up two more in the top of the eighth. UNOH went yard once more in the the bottom of the inning, this time a two run home run from Seth Freeman, but couldn't produce an offense in the ninth to take the first loss of the day.

 Seth Freeman was the only Racer with multiple hits going 2-3 at the dish. Nolan Hull, Erick Castro and Justice Panton each recorded an RBI in the game.

Walter Long (2-1) got the start and the loss after going four and a third innings giving up five runs off six hits with four strikeouts and two walks. Jack Olberding was the first relief pitcher to take the bump but couldn't record an out with two runs off two hits with two walks. AJ Buchman tossed two and two-thirds with three strikeouts and a walk. Wyatt Johnson came on in the seventh but also couldn't record an out with two runs off no hits thanks to three walked batters. Tony Manzano pitched one inning with no hits and one walk and Jeremy Yurcak threw the final frame giving up one hit but no runs and no walks.

Game 2: Madonna 11 UNOH 0

 UNOH was completely shut down in the second game of the day recording just one hit in the game. Madonna put up two in the first, one in the fifth, two in the sixth and sixth in the eighth to eliminate the Racers from the tournament.

Tyler Grigalis registered the only hit of the game going 1-3.

Rolando Heredia-Bustos (5-2) started and put in five and two-thirds innings of work. Heredia-Bustos gave up five runs, three earned, off seven hits with six strikeouts and four walks. Michael Joyce worked an inning and a third in relief giving up three hits with two strikeouts. Elliot Traver, Nick Soller and Nick Johnson combined for the final three outs of the game giving up six runs off four hits with two walks and a strikeout between them.

The WHAC announced the season's WHAC honors during the first day of the tournament. Rolando Heredia-Bustos, Eliott Traver, and Erick Castro were each named to the First Team All-WHAC. Ben Jackson and Tyler Grigalis earned Gold Gloves for their defensive work at center field and first base, respectively. Alex Velasco was selected the team's representative on the Champions of Character team.

Nine Racers were named to the All-Academic Team: AJ Buchman, Alex Velasco, Brandon Kyle, Grant Reeve, Jacob Landers, Jeremy Suarez, Josue Ortiz, Payton Wooten, and Rolando Heredia-Bustos.