Mark Wilder (class of 1975) and Dennis Wellman (class of 2002) were inducted into the Baldwinsville Baseball Hall of Fame on Saturday, May 15, before the Bees' varsity game against Whitesboro.

Wilder and Wellman were actually part of the 2020 class, the celebration of which was delayed by COVID. Tom Lilienthal (class of 2001) was the third member of that induction class; his ceremony was held on May 1.

Wilder ('75) played shortstop and second base during his three years on varsity and was part of a dynamic duo turning double plays in his time with the Bees.  During his senior season, he helped lead the Bees to an 18-6 record and their first OHSL league championship in over 10 years. 

Wilder moved back to Baldwinsville in 1992.  He coached Little League from 1992 to 1996 and also served on the Baldwinsville Little League Board of Directors.  He joined the Baldwinsville Board of Trustees in 2008 and presently serves as a liaison between Baldwinsville Little League and the Village of Baldwinsville.

Wellman ('02), a third baseman for the Bees, was called up to the varsity during his freshman year and helped lead the red and white to records of 14-5 in 2000 and 17-5 in 2001.  The Bees went on to an 18-2 record in Wellman's senior season. 

After graduation in 2002, Wellman played both football and baseball at Canisius College. 

Wellman is the junior varsity baseball coach at Baldwinsville; he also coaches football.

Wellman and Lilienthal ('01) will be forever linked by what happened on May 7, 2001.  Senior Tom Lilienthal and Junior Dennis Wellman hit back to back home runs TWICE in the third inning in a 17-6 win over Corcoran!  Yes, each hit two home runs in the same inning!  That feat put them in the National High School Sports Record Book, published by the National Federation of State High School Associations.

Wilder and Wellman both received their plaques before the Whitesboro game, which the Bees won, 2-1, in a ceremony, surrounded by family, friends, and current and past Baldwinsville players.

We salute our 2020 Baldwinsville Baseball Hall of Fame Induction Class: Mark Wilder, Tom Lilienthal, and Dennnis Wellman.

Photos courtesy of Lena Penafeather.