With two wins in three games, the Wayne baseball team is looking to build momentum as the Bulldogs prepare for districts and a best-of-three match up against Clayton on Wednesday.

Back-to-back routs of Wewoka to end a three-game losing streak was followed by a lopsided 11-1 loss to Wynnewood on April 14.

“We didn’t look too much into the Wynnewood game, like we didn’t get our hopes down or anything,” coach Shane Collins told The Register.

“We just needed to see a couple of guys throw strikes and have good approaches at the plate. We hit the ball; it was just right at them!”

The Bulldogs (8-13) got some good news is the Wynnewood game. Pitcher Layne Canfield threw for the first time since suffering a shoulder injury.

“Layne threw strikes and did what we wanted him to do,” Collins said. “Wynnewood is very good at hitting the ball and they are coached very well.

Langstyn McClendon, who drove in Wayne’s only run, continues to hit well and is the team’s second leading hitter with a .503 average. Brody Kemp leads the Bulldogs with a gaudy .568 average.

The top of the lineup continues to produce for Collins, who said Ben Fisher, Sloan Jackson, McClendon and Kemp “are putting the ball in play.”

“Sloan and Ben do a good job on the base paths when they get on and can usually get home on stolen bases with their speed,” he said.

Collins said he’s used the practice time leading up to districts to “reset, slow things down and focus on fundamentals and knowledge of the game in both the field and at bat.”

“We still have high hopes for districts against Clayton and looking forward to the challenge and the opportunity,” Collins said. “The biggest thing we will have to do is throw strikes and make easy, routine plays when they present themselves.”