WAYLAND, MI (WTVB) – While the Bronson Lady Vikings prepare to play in the High School Softball State tournament semi-finals this afternoon at Michigan State, another softball team from Southwest Michigan that made it to the finals is dealing with a tragic bittersweet experience of being on the cusp of the state title. Wayland Union yesterday afternoon won its Division 2 semifinal game against St. Clair and then learned when the contest was over that on Thursday morning, the father of Wayland’s first base coach and the brother in-law of the head coach was killed in a traffic accident in Allegan County. 55-year old Bill Merchant, Jr. died when his car crossed the centerline on 134th street in Hopkins Township and collided head on with a semi-truck.
Merchant was pronounced dead at Spectrum Hospital. He also was Wayland High School’s junior varsity Boys basketball coach. M-Live says Merchant’s four daughters are all softball coaches including two at the University of Minnesota and one at Northwestern.
