Ryan Welch is normally a relief pitcher in Wayzata's deep bullpen and prior to his team's matchup with Anoka, had thrown just 4 1/3 innings this season.

Trojans' starting catcher Jake Marsh thought it might be time for some more innings for Welch and egged coach Bobby DeWitt to give the senior a start, since Marsh had spent countless hours in the bullpen with Welch during the offseason.

“(Welch) has been the guy that’s been in the dome for us all winter,” Marsh said. “He’s put in great effort and great work all season long and has been doing it without anyone noticing.”

Welch got the start Wednesday night and capitalized on the opportunity, allowing just two hits in pitching the first complete game of this varsity career to lead Wayzata over Anoka 6-0.

“It made me want to prove myself, to show that I can pitch and be a part of the pitching staff,” Welch said.

Ranked No. 2 in Class 4A by Let’s Play Baseball, Wayzata (16-2) capped a successful regular season that included clinching a Lake Conference title for the first time since 2009.

But all the recent ups haven't come without their share of downs.

In September 2014, DeWitt’s 2-year-old son William developed a brain tumor. So he stepped down as head coach for the 2015 season to spend every weekend for four months in the hospital while his son received chemotherapy treatments.

“It helped knowing (the team) was in good hands,” DeWitt said. “I showed up to a few games here and there, but I tried to stay out of the way.”

DeWitt returned to the Trojans before the start of this season, and said his coaching philosophy hasn't changed despite the recent success. 

It's simply polishing up small details and keeping the team focused, he said.

“We rely on our younger levels to build up players, and if everything’s going well, we just have to fine tune, and this group is proof of that,” he said.

The shutout performance did take DeWitt by surprise, but it’s nothing too unexpected with an athletic and veteran defense that’s proved its worth.

Welch was also caught off guard when asked if he’d like ice for his arm after the game, as he often hasn’t thrown a full workload.

With DeWitt back at the helm and Wayzata sporting a league title, the Trojans look to add to their trophy collection (they won the American Legion and Babe Ruth league championships in 2015) with a Class 4A, Section 5 title and a berth to the state tournament.

“As a man and a coach, it's changed (DeWitt) 100 percent for the better,” Marsh said. “He sets an excellent example of what he expects of us, and we do our best to give it our all because we know what he's been through and we want to give him everything we can.”

Ryan Welch pitched a two-hit shutout in Wayzata's 6-0 victory over Anoka Wednesday night at Castle Field in Anoka.

Ranked second in Class 4A by Let’s Play Baseball, the Trojans (16-2) broke open the game in the third inning after the No. 15-4A Tornadoes committed three errors, leading to a two-run single by Cameron Keenan.

In the fifth, Parker Hlavacek drove in Keenan with a single and Griffin Schneider blasted a two-run homer to cap the inning.

Welch threw five 1-2-3 innings in front of the Wayzata defense and struck out three batters in a complete game.

Trent Palmer threw five innings for Anoka (12-8), striking out four batters and allowing four earned runs.

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