Saturday, July 18th, 2026
Making strides
Celina grad Wendel learning from summer with Mariners
By Joe Schatz
File Photo/The Daily Standard
Grand Lake's Tanner Wendel is hoping the work he has done this summer after graduating from Celina High School will help when he starts college this fall at Wabash Valley College.
There are a lot of similarities for 2026 Celina graduate Tanner Wendel when he takes the mound at Montgomery Field.
It is the mound that saw Wendel compile a 3-3 record with 49 strikeouts in 40 innings for the Bulldogs over the spring, which earned the righty a spot on the Western Buckeye League's first team. Now as member of the Grand Lake Mariners, he climbs the same hill at a different level.
"It is a huge step up, and I really learned that when we played the Clippers in Muskegon (a June 12 appearance that saw Wendel surrender two earned runs in 1 1/3 innings), it's a big step up from high school," said Wendel. "I learned a lot this spring, and I try to take that into my time with the Mariners, but it's honestly been a huge adjustment, but I'm slowly figuring it out."
Wendel, who will attend Wabash Valley College in Mount Carmel, Illinois, has figured it out since that game in Muskegon, and has thrown just shy of 12 innings with five runs and 10 strikeouts over the following five appearances. In his last few appearances, Wendel has had the ball in multi-inning spots.
His Independence Day showing against the Clippers, a 12-4 Mariners win, is perhaps the highlight. Coming out of the bullpen, Wendel worked through three innings and scattered just two hits and one run, while striking out one. A big third inning rally from Grand Lake gave Wendel the win, his first on the season.
"The main thing has been to throw it in the zone," said Wendel of his adjustments. "I was kind of afraid of throwing it in the zone and getting lit up. But walking guys leads to runs that shouldn't happen and it forces more wild pitches. But my catchers have helped a lot with my confidence to throw any pitch in the zone and let my defense work for me."
The next time he toed the rubber was on July 8 against the Michigan Monarchs. Getting the nod to start from coach Mike Roberts, Wendel threw 2 2/3 innings and again gave up just one run off five hits. The righty picked up a strikeout in the game and had no walks as the Mariners powered past Michigan 9-2.
"It feels great, for my coach to have that confidence in me and for my teammates to have the confidence to send me out there, it's a great opportunity," said Wendel.
With the confidence growing on the mound, it helps to have a support system for pitching like the Mariners have. Grand Lake will send three pitchers to the Great Lakes Summer Collegiate League's All-Star game; Fort Recovery graduate Alex Dues, Taylor Seay and Bryce Eggleton will all represent the Mariners in the game on July 21, but they also provide the team with a great resource.
"I learn a lot from Taylor. He would sit in on my early bullpen sessions, and help me with my pitches. A lot of the pitchers on the team have helped me. They show me new things like different drills, and Taylor's a player-coach so he's willing to help all of us."
Wendel has made five appearances on the year with his earned-run-average at a 4.85. His 11 strikeouts are tied for 11th on the team, while his walks and hits per innings pitched (WHIP) is also 11th on the current roster at a mark of 1.77.
It is hard to be the highlight on a team that is cruising toward the postseason, but Wendel has given Grand Lake the production you need to win games, and the righty will look to continue that as the season comes down the home stretch.
