By David Paulsen
SPORTS CORRESPONDENT
It was a great way to kick off the spring baseball season for Waterford High School.
The Wolverine boys hosted Zion-Benton Saturday in non-conference action and won both games in dramatic fashion.
In game one, Waterford rallied from a 4-2 deficit to claim a 6-5 win, and then in game two, the Wolverines offense smothered Zion-Benton in a 15-3 victory.
In the opening game, Waterford scored twice in the second inning to take a 2-0 lead, but Zion-Benton rallied for four runs in the fourth to take a 4-2 lead.
It stayed that way until the bottom of the sixth when Waterford put up a four-spot to grab a 6-4 lead. Zion-Benton got one run back in the top of the seventh, but the Wolverines held them off for the win.
The big hit in the sixth for Waterford was a double by Tom Dugandzic.
Dylan Malecki pitched the first three innings, and did not give up a run on three hits and three walks. He struck out four.
Jesse Bouffiou got the win and pitched the fourth and fifth innings, giving up four runs on three hits and two walks. None of the four runs were earned, as Waterford committed its only error in the four-run fourth.
Alex Hallberg took over the mound duties for the sixth and seventh innings, giving up one run on two hits and three walks.
Offensively, Zach Keller and Josh Kurth each had two hits, with Kurth getting two RBIs.
Zion-Benton outhit Waterford 8-7, but also had five errors, to the Wolverines one.
Both teams walked eight batters.
In game two, Waterford scored seven times in the first inning and twice more in the second to take a 9-0 lead. Zion-Benton scored its only three runs in the top of the third, but the Wolverine boys added four more runs in the bottom of third and two more in the fourth of the five-inning game.
Waterford banged out nine hits in this game, including a homer and three doubles.
Dugandzic drove in five runs with three doubles. He was 3-for-3 in the game, and 4-for-5 in the doubleheader, with two walks.
Bouffiou also had two hits in this second game.
Zion-Benton once again committed five errors in this game, with Waterford booting just one ball.
Waterford hosted Westosha Central in Southern Lakes Conference action on Tuesday.
On Wednesday, the Wolverine boys traveled to Kenosha Bradford for a non-conference matchup. On Thursday, they were at Westosha Central.
Next week, Waterford will host Elkhorn in an SLC game on Tuesday, April 16, and Indian Trail in a non-conference tilt on Wednesday, April 17. Both are 4:30 p.m. games.
On Thursday, April 18, the boys will travel to Elkhorn.
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