NFL, MLB, NHL, NBA, CFL stats



West Michigan Whitecaps

Bernard Breaks Single-Season Hits Record

August 24, 2014 - Midwest League (MWL1)
West Michigan Whitecaps News Release


SOUTH BEND, IN - Wynton Bernard broke the franchise record for hits in a single season on Sunday afternoon, but the West Michigan Whitecaps were unable to hold a ninth-inning lead and eventually lost to the South Bend Silver Hawks, 6-3, on a walk-off home run by Justin Williams in the bottom of the 11th inning at Four Winds Field.

West Michigan (39-23, 80-52) was trailing 2-1 in the top of the seventh when Bernard delivered his historic hit in a key spot. With two outs and Domingo Leyba at third, the league's leading hitter sent a hard-hit grounder through the middle to tie the score at 2-2.

It was the 159th hit of the season for Bernard, eclipsing the previous franchise record of 158 hits shared by Robert Fick (1997) and Nick Castellanos (2011). The speedy outfielder also has the inside track on becoming the first Whitecap to win a batting title since Fick in 1997 and is a candidate to become the first league MVP from West Michigan since Gorkys Hernandez in 2007.

The script was nearly completed in Hollywood fashion when Bernard added the go-ahead RBI in the top of the ninth, coaxing a two-out walk with the bases loaded to give the Whitecaps a 3-2 lead.

But South Bend (35-27, 75-56) had other plans.

Defensively, Williams helped minimize the damage in the top of the ninth by throwing out a runner at the plate from right field. Reliever Nick Sarianides also came up big, bouncing back from his costly walk to Bernard by stranding the bases loaded to keep his team in the game.

In the bottom of the ninth, Andrew Velazquez clubbed a leadoff double off the wall in right-center against Zac Reininger. He later scored on a sacrifice fly by Joe Munoz to tie the game at 3-3 and force extra innings.

Williams finished the job in the bottom of the 11th inning. With two on and two out, the 19-year-old slugger got a green light from manager Mark Haley and blasted a 3-0 fastball the other way for a walk-off three-run homer and a 6-3 final.

Sarianides (1-1) earned the win after finding himself on the hook for the loss in the bottom of the ninth. He went on to throw scoreless frames in the 10th and 11th, allowing one run on two hits in three innings.

Reininger (4-3) was charged with the blown save and the loss, giving up four runs on three hits in 2.2 innings of work.

Despite the loss, Leyba and Jeff Holm were each 2-for-5 and starting pitcher Jonathon Crawford allowed one hit over six strong innings without figuring into the decision.

The Whitecaps continue their final road trip of the regular season with a 7:05 p.m. game on Monday night against the South Bend Silver Hawks. RHP Matt Davenport (5-5, 2.88) is scheduled to pitch for West Michigan against RHP Blake Perry (7-6, 4.59) of South Bend. The next home game at Fifth Third Ballpark will feature post-game fireworks on Saturday, August 30, and the Whitecaps are guaranteed at least one home playoff game on Thursday, September 4. Group and individual tickets can be reserved by calling the Whitecaps' front office at 616-784-4131 or visiting www.whitecapsbaseball.com.

Check out the West Michigan Whitecaps Statistics

• Discuss this story on the Midwest League message board...

Midwest League Stories from August 24, 2014


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

Other Recent West Michigan Whitecaps Stories



Sports Statistics from the Stats Crew
OurSports Central