By By SCOTT NOVAK / Dowagiac Daily News
Grand Rapids Southern rallied from a 2-0 deficit to score five runs over two innings to defeat Dowagiac in the final game of the opening day of the Michigan Senior Baseball State Tournament held at Russom Fields.
Dowagiac grabbed a 2-0 lead with single runs in the second and fourth innings.
Grand Rapids used a couple of Dowagiac miscues and some timely hitting to take a 3-2 lead in the bottom of the fifth.
Southern added a pair of insurance runs in the bottom of the sixth to complete the scoring.
Grand Rapids now advances to the championship quarterfinals Saturday night against West Branch, a 4-1 winner over Gladstone in the mid-afternoon contest.
Matt Malewitz settled down after a shakey start, which included a bases loaded walk in the second inning, to pick up the victory for Grand Rapids.
Chris Brower came off the bench to stroke a run-scoring double for the game's only extra base hit.
Luke Glendening, Pat Schuiteman and Eric DeBoer added singles.
Jake Cox took the loss for Dowagiac. Matt Dodson came on in the sixth and finished for Dowagiac, which will take on Gladstone on Saturday at noon.
Dowagiac managed just three hits, all singles. Dodson, Cox and Nick File all reached base.
Game 4
Dowagiac 010 100 0 - 2 3 5
Southern 000 032 x - 5 5 1
Matt Malewitz (W), Jake Cox (L)
2B: Chris Brower (GR)
West Branch…4
Gladstone…1
A two-run home run in the bottom half of the second inning by Ricky Dodridge propelled West Branch to the 4-1 victory over Gladstone and a spot in Saturday's championship quarterfinal.
Both teams tallied runs in the first inning, however, Dodridge's home run in the second inning gave West Branch the lead for good.
Leading 3-1 heading into the bottom of the sixth, winning pitcher Troy Lambert homered to complete the scoring.
West Branch finished with five hits, including singles from Kyle Wanger, Aaron Kihn and Robbie Goulette.
Kevin Thompson suffered the loss for Gladstone.
Lambert tossed a one-hitter at Gladstone, which had won a pair of extra innings games to advance to the state championship.
Jorden Gobert had the lone hit for Gladstone, which will face Dowagiac at noon on Saturday.
Game 3
Gladstone 100 000 0 - 1 1 4
West Branch 120 001 x - 4 5 2
Troy Lambert (W), Kevin Thompson (L)
HR: Lambert (WB), Dodgridge (WB)
Eastwood…3
Midland…2
A suicide squeeze bunt in the top of the seventh lifted Eastwood to a 3-2 victory over Midland in the opening round of the Michigan Senior Baseball State Tournament at Russom Fields in Dowagiac on Friday afternoon.
Eastwood advances to Saturday's second round match up against Harper Woods, a 6-5 winner over previously undefeated Melvindale in the opening game of the tournament Friday morning.
Midland grabbed a 1-0 lead after Eastwood had runners at second and third with one out in the top half of the first inning.
Eastwood scored a pair of runs in the top of the third inning, including a home run by Ryan Mayne.
Midland rallied to tie the score at 2-2 with a run in the bottom half of the third inning.
The game remained tied until the top of the seventh when Eastwood scored to advance.
Jeremy Followell picked up the victory for Eastwood as he scattered nine hits.
Brian Kaufman took the loss for Midland as he allowed seven hits.
Mayne had a single to go along with his home run, while Andrew Taylor finished with two hits.
Casey Corbet and Kaufman both had a double to lead Midland, while Danny Wright had a pair of singles.
Midland will now play against Melvindale on Saturday morning in the first game of the day at 9.
The second consolation final will be held at noon with the championship quarterfinals scheduled to begin at 3 p.m. and 6 p.m.
Gladstone and West Branch were next up at 3 p.m. today with host Dowagiac taking on Grand Rapids Southern at 6 p.m.
Game 2
Eastwood 002 000 1 - 3 7 1
Midland 101 000 0 - 1 9 2
Jeremy Followell (W), Brian Kaufman (L)
2B: Casey Corbet (M), Kaufman (M)
HR: Ryan Mayne (E)
Melvindale…5
Harper Woods…6
The Michigan Senior Baseball State Tournament started with a bang, literally, as Nick Cullen hit a home run in the bottom of the sixth to propel Harper Woods to the 6-5 victory.
Cullen, who had two home runs in the game, gave Harper Creek, which is undefeated, a win in the opening game of the tournament over the previously undefeated Melvindale.
Both teams scored three runs in the first inning, however, Harper Woods grabbed a 5-4 lead after two innings of play with a pair of runs in the bottom half of the inning.
Both teams settled down and the score remained 5-4 until the sixth inning.
Tyler Santure homered in the top of the sixth to tie the score at 5-5.
Cullen then hit the game-winning home run in the bottom of the sixth to send Harper Woods into the second round on Saturday.
Blake Smith did not allow a run after the second inning and picked up the mound victory.
Smith allowed five runs on seven hits. Harper Woods committed three errors behind him, all in the early innings of the contest.
Besides Cullen's two home runs, Harper Woods also got a triple from Tony Fazi and singes from Chris McCarthy, Anthony Bevere and Jason Mallouf.
Joe Vance suffered the loss for Melvindale, which entered the tournament with a 28-0 record.
Melvindale finished with five runs on seven hits. The squad committed four errors.
Zack Fowler had a triple for Melvindale. Thomas Roberts had a pair of singles.
Also collecting hits were Vance, Danny Aperson and Mike Nasceif.
Harper Woods now plays Saturday afternoon at 3 p.m. against the winner of the Midland/Eastwood game.
Game 1
Melvindale 310 001 0 - 5 7 4
Harper Woods 320 001 x - 6 6 3
Blake Smith (W), Joe Vance (L)
3B: Fowler (M), Fazi (HW)
HR: Santure (M), Cullen (HW) 2