- All
Grosse Pointe South scores four runs in the first, goes on to defeat rival North 6-3 in a Division 1 quarterfinal
Detroit – This year veteran coach Dan Griesbaum just might have the horses to win it all.
Andrew Fabry was fabulous as the senior right-hander allowed six hits and went the distance on just two days rest as South defeated rival Grosse Pointe North (30-13) 6-3 in a Division 1 quarterfinal on Tuesday at Harwell Field on the campus of Wayne State University.
South (32-11) will play Portage Northern in a semifinal on Thursday at Michigan State University at 11:30 a.m.
South scored four runs, three unearned to take a 4-0 lead after a half inning. This set the tone for the rest of the game and gave Fabry a shot of confidence.
Last season Fabry pitched sparingly as South made its second state final appearance losing to Bay City Western, 6-2.
South won the title in 2001.
“Ever since we lost,” Griesbaum said. “It wouldn’t be one or two days where I didn’t think about getting back (to the semifinals). I did think (Fabry) could go seven. It’s not like we overworked him during the season. To get a second shot at the title is a great feat for these kids.”
The first three batters reached base safely, including base hits by William Poplawski and Ryan Liagre, and all three scored. South had four hits in the inning and was aided by two North errors.
“They had the momentum early,” North coach Fran Sumbera said. If we could catch a fly ball we’d still be playing. That’s a tough way to go. You have to look at (4-0 deficit) that we hadn’t batted yet. If we could have come back to score when we had the bases loaded it might have been different.”
Singles by Alex Huguenin, Tommy Burke and Sam Cross loaded the bases with one out in the bottom of the second. Fabry then got Malik Bruton to hit into a double play to end the inning.
“My fastball was working,” Fabry said. “I could locate it anywhere. I had to keep my head up (with the bases loaded). I threw a slider low to get the ground ball.
“Those four runs were very nice. That’s what I needed.”
Febry (10-1) went the distance last Saturday and beat Allen Park 5-0 on four hits. He didn’t walk a batter and Griesbaum said he didn’t throw many pitches.
Fabry had never pitched on two days rest before in high school but was certain he could do the job on this day.
“I definitely feel like I could go seven,” he said. “We lost to them in football this was great.”
South won five of the seven meetings against North this season and this was the first time the only two public schools in Grosse Pointe met this late in the tournament.
“Grosse Pointe is a great baseball community,” Sumbera said. “It’s a credit to all the kids who play here.”
One of those is Daniel Robinson, North’s fine centerfielder. Robinson’s 2-run triple in the sixth cut the deficit to 6-2. Robinson pulled a shot to right and Cameron Mogk went back to the fence, had the ball momentarily before it dislodged as he hit the wall. Huguenin’s double brought home Robinson but Farby retired the last two batters in the inning on infield grounders.
“He pitched a great game,” Sumbera said. “He kept it down and that was the difference. You’ve got to give him credit.”
