- Michigan
Woodhaven defeats Brother Rice in D1 semis; pitching carries Stevensville Lakeshore in D2 semis
East Lansing – Pitching dominated play in the Division 2 semifinals on Thursday at McLane Stadium on Michigan State’s campus.
Stevensville Lakeshore defeated 2015 champion Orchard Lake St. Mary’s, 3-0, in 10 innings and Saginaw Swan Valley held on to defeat DeWitt, 3-1, despite being limited to two hits.
Lakeshore (26-14), which won its third state title last season, will play Swan Valley (33-8-3) for the title on Saturday at 9 a.m.
Swan Valley won its only title in 2001.
Oli Carmody came in relief to get the win for Lakeshore and he had the game-winning hit, a single that scored pinch runner Ryan Soper. Lancers scored their second run on a wild pitch and the third scored on Joel Brawley’s bunt single.
St. Mary’s (28-13) stranded eight runners in the seventh, eighth and ninth innings. The Eaglets had the bases loaded with two outs in the eighth when Alex Mooney hit a line drive to right fielder Brawley’s cousin, Connor Brawley.
“I was a little nervous,” Carmody said. “When I saw I was missing high I made adjustments. Once I got that first strike over I got my confidence right there.”
Carmody came in with two runners on and one out. He went to a 3-0 count on the first batter he faced then got Carter Macias on a fly out. He retired the next batter on a fly out and his one-out single in the 10th was the game-winner.
Carmody walked one and did not allow a hit in the bottom half of the inning.
Swan Valley (33-8-3) scored its three runs in the first. Easton Goldensoph was hit by a pitch to force in the first run. Logan Pietz drove in the next run with a single and the third run scored on a wild pitch.
DeWitt (27-7) scored its run on the top of the sixth on a Jace Preston single.
Goldensoph’s brother, Avery, a freshman, went the distance for the victory. He allowed six hits, walked two and struck out five.
“These kids are young,” Swan Valley first-year coach Craig Leddy said. “They don’t know what pressure is. They drive me crazy, they’re so loose.”
Nolan Knauf went the distance and allowed two hits for DeWitt (27-7).
Division 1
Grosse Pointe South scored eight runs in the sixth inning and defeated Midland, 10-0, in the first semifinal.
South (32-12), making its third final appearance, will play Woodhaven (34-5) for the title on Saturday at 11:30 a.m.
Woodhaven defeated Birmingham Brother Rice, 7-3, to continue its dramatic season.
South took a 2-0 in the second and Nathan Budziak, making his third start in the tournament, was outstanding as he retired the first 10 batter and went all six innings allowing three hits, no walks and striking out seven.
The Blue Devils pounded out 14 hits led by Cameron Mallegg with three. Joseph Naporani, Jacob Hinkle, Anthony Dermanulian and Giovanny Lufty all had two hits. Naporani had three RBI and Lufty had two.
“I came out with the same mentality,” Budziak said. “I knew this would be my last season in high school. My fastball I was locating well. I threw my curveball some but I didn’t throw my change much.
“I knew we only needed a couple of runs. I knew I had my stuff when I was warming up.”
In his three tournament start Budziak has not allowed a run and has struck out 29.
“He’s been lights out,” South coach Dan Griesbaum said. “Winning 10-0 is unreal. Getting those eight runs, you know hitting is contagious.”
For Woodhaven, the dream season continues. The Warriors had never won a district until this season and they’re ready to shock the state on Saturday.
Drew Szczepaniak went 6 2/3 innings to get the victory and Colin Czajkowski had a two-run homer and went 3-4 with three RBI.
Woodhaven committed four errors, two led directly to Brother Rice’s second run, but Szczepaniak settled down and didn’t allow the miscues to disrupt his flow.
“In a game like this, you have to put that aside,” he said of the errors. “If you dwell on that, it won’t do you any good.”
Colin Czajkowski hit a two-run homer to break a 1-1 tie in the bottom of the third and Woodhaven got on a roll. The Warriors took a 7-2 lead after six innings and Szczepaniak and reliever Alonzo Chavez held off Brother Rice in the seventh.
Woodhaven could be without starting catcher Justin Charron. Charron suffered an ankle injury sliding into second base and his status for Saturday is uncertain.
Carson MacDonell replaced Charron and threw out a base runner attempting to steal and had an RBI single.
Like Farner said, it’s a different player comes through each game.
