06/03/2007

Baseball Districts

Benzie overpowers Grayling to win crown

FROM STAFF REPORTS

BENZONIA — As if hosting the Division 2 district baseball tournament wasn't enough, Benzie Central thought it would double its pleasure with a title.

The host Huskies banged out six doubles and beat Grayling 16-1 in four innings to take the championship. Benzie (26-10) advances to the Gaylord regional.

Logan Schendel had three of the doubles in the finale and drove in five runs. Dale Pringle (three hits, RBI), Ben Nugent (two hits, two RBIs) and Nick Cooper (two hits, four RBIs) added doubles.

Jacob Moilanen had two hits and two RBIs to back winning pitcher Josh Thaxton. Derek Etzler's home run accounted for Grayling's lone score.

Benzie advanced with a 5-2 victory over Gaylord behind the pitching of Cory Baklarz. Pringle (RBI double) and Richard Wells had two hits, Schendel two RBIs and Thaxton and Cooper doubles.

Grayling (12-18) reached the final with a 10-1 triumph over Cadillac. Richie Schreiber scattered two hits and struck out nine.

Jake Aubrey (two RBIs), Schreider (RBI) and Rocky McNamara (RBI) had two hits while Ethan Neuberger and Brian Mastej had two-run singles for Grayling.

The Huskies will play Pinconning in its regional opener.

DIVISION 3

Elks beat Blazers to win district

After a stirring comeback in the opener, the Elk Rapids Elks were able to breathe a little easier in winning the Division 3 district at Kingsley with an 11-2 win over Kalkaska.

The Elks (24-4) scored five runs in the top of the seventh to edge the host Stags 8-6 in the opener.

Garrett Gribi earned the win in both games. He pitched the last three innings in the win over Kingsley. Peter Shugart, Charlie Smith and Zach Dreffs led the attack with two hits apiece. Brandon Isenhart had a two-run double to spark the five-run uprising in the seventh. Smith also doubled in a run.

Gribi hurled the first five innings in the title game, allowing two runs on six hits.

Shugart enjoyed another big game at the plate, pounding out three hits, including a solo home run. He also scored three runs. Nick Rausch also had three hits. Smith, Isenhart and Mike Greiner chipped in two hits. Greiner and Isenhart drove in two.

Kalkaska reached the title game with a 3-2 win over Suttons Bay on Dan Tinkle's bases-loaded sacrifice fly in the eighth. Tinkle drove in two of Kalkaska's runs. Dan Holmes and Anthony Stewart had two hits apiece for Suttons Bay (11-18).

East Jordan advances with 15-0 victory

East Jordan whipped Boyne City 15-0 to win the Division 3 district at Mancelona.

No further details were available.

Boyne City reached the title game with a 5-4 win over Charlevoix. Robbie Jensen earned the win, pitching a seven-hitter. He struck out seven. He also had three hits and scored two runs.

Cliff Jones, JD Speigl and Ty Telgenhof led the Rayders with two hits. Telgenhof drove in two.

DIVISION 4

Lake Leelanau St. Mary's claims the crown

Lake Leelanau St. Mary's topped Glen Lake 10-7 to win the Division 4 district the Eagles hosted.

Ray Platts earned the win, allowing six hits and striking out five. Mike Kalchik, Joe Rexroat, Jason Peplinski, Matt Pasch and Colin Korson all had two hits for the Eagles (26-6), who advance to the St. Francis regional.

Weston Buchan had three hits while Josh Jacklin and Josh Scarbrough had two hits for Glen Lake. Kyle Klumpp had a two-run homer and Joey Galla two RBIs for Glen Lake (13-23-1).

St. Mary ousted Leland 12-2 in its opener as Pasch tossed a two-hitter in five innings of work. Peplinski belted two home runs and drove in four. Kienan Sutton contributed two hits.

The Lakers reached the final with a 12-5 victory over TC Christian. Galla scattered six hits and struck out seven.

Klumpp had four hits and three RBIs to lead the way. Devin Weber added three hits, Jacklin two doubles and two RBIs and Scarbrough two hits. Buchan added a solo home run while K.C. Novak and Gary Brown had two RBIs.

Lakers claim first district in 22 years

Bear Lake won its first district baseball title in 22 years with a 9-5 win over Onekama in the final.

JJ Randall earned the win in relief for the Lakers (8-12). Randall and Zach Teachout led the Lakers with three hits apiece. Teachout drove in four.

Cam Smith pitched a three-hitter as Bear Lake blanked Brethren 6-0 in the opener. Smith struck out 13. Smith and Randall pounded out two hits while Teachout drove in two.

Onekama advanced with an 8-2 win over Manistee Catholic.

Bear Lake will play Mesick in the first round of the regional at St. Francis next Saturday.

Mesick rallies to edge Frankfort in final, 5-3

Down 3-2 with two outs and no one on in the top of the seventh, Mesick rallied to upend Frankfort 5-3 in the Division 4 district championship game at Mesick.

Seniors Tommy Nakhovahn, Dan Casselman and Derek Kearns drove in runs to spearhead the comeback. Nakhovahn finished with four hits.

Mesick (30-3) advanced with a 13-1 win over Buckley. Nick Pechota picked up the win, striking out eight in five innings. Casselman had three hits and two RBIs, Mark Fortelka two hits and four RBIs and Nakhovahn two hits and two RBIs for the Bulldogs, who will play Bear Lake in the St. Francis regional.