- Michigan
Baseball Semifinal Picks: Three familiar faces are in Division 1; Woodhaven, which won a district for the first time, is the fourth
Brownstown – We’ve reached the semifinal round in baseball and softball and let’s have a look at the four teams in Division 1 for baseball first and compare historical notes.
We have three-time champion Birmingham Brother Rice. Check. We have three-time champion Midland. Check. We have Grosse Pointe South, one of the state’s top programs in the last 20 years or so, which has won one title and, most recently, lost in the final in 2014. Check.
And the fourth member, let’s see, who do we have? Woodhaven? Wasn’t this school known as Flat Rock Woodhaven? Now it’s Brownstown Woodhaven. Call an apple an orange and it’s still an apple.
Really, Woodhaven? The program hadn’t won a district until this season so what is this team doing in East Lansing? There must be a mistake. Let’s check the scoreboard. Oh, my! Look what we have here. Woodhaven defeated Grand Ledge (another one of those teams that have won a state championship), 1-0, at Chelsea in a quarterfinal on Tuesday. It’s on the Michigan High School Athletic Association website so it must be true.
Someone should tell Woodhaven coach Corey Farner to google mapquest so his team doesn’t get lost while driving to McLane Stadium. After all, they don’t want to be late for Thursday’s 5 p.m. against Brother Rice. Of course, we know which team is going to win, right? I mean, Woodhaven? In a state final? It can’t be true. Pick: Woodhaven.
All games will be played at McLane Stadium on Michigan State’s campus and here are the rest of our fearless picks.
Thursday
Division 1
Grosse Pointe South vs. Midland, 2:30: Midland
Division 2
Orchard Lake St. Mary’s vs. Stevensville Lakeshore, 9 a.m.: St. Mary’s
Saginaw Swan Valley vs. DeWitt, 11:30: DeWitt
Friday’s games
Division 4
Beal City vs. Gaylord St. Mary, 9 a.m.: Beal City
St. Joseph Lake Michigan Catholic vs. Unionville-Sebewaing Area, 11:30: USA
Division 3
Gladstone vs. Madison Heights Bishop Foley, 2: Bishop Foley
Riverview Gabriel Richard vs. Schoolcraft, 5: Schoolcraft
