Niles headed to semifinals
Published 3:14 pm Thursday, July 12, 2007
By By SCOTT NOVAK / Niles Daily Star
NILES – The Niles All-Stars advanced to the semifinals of the Michigan District 15 Junior Baseball Tournament being held at Thomas Stadium.
Niles defeated Three Rivers in a quarterfinal game, 13-2. The All-Stars will take on Mendon on Saturday afternoon at 1 p.m.
The winner adances to the championship game tentatively scheduled for July 18 at 6 p.m.
Niles left no doubt who was going to advance by scoring six times in the first inning and never looking back.
The All-Stars also scored three runs in the third and four runs in the fourth as the game ended after five innings due to the mercy rule.
Three Rivers cut the lead to 6-2 in the top half of the third inning, however, Niles came back with a three spot in the bottom half of the frame to end any comeback effort.
Dustan Craig tossed a three-hitter for Niles, which included a strikeout.
Offensively, Niles had just five hits, but took advantage of five Three Rivers errors and nine walks.
Three Rivers pitchers also hit two batters.
David Sokolowski led Niles offensively with a single and a double. The All-Stars also got a double from John Carey and singles from Rashad Harris and Kelvin Tweedy.
Three Rivers was led by Joel Menz's double. Tanner Wilson and Jackson Draime had the other two hits.
Mendon…16
Decatur…4
Mendon advance to the semifinals with a 16-4 victory over Decatur in the other game Wednesday night.
Glen Batten and Gary Hiatt both doubled, while Cody Bingaman and Gabe Tompkins both singled twice.
Batten had three RBIs, while Josiah Mullings singled and drove in two runs.
Tonight, Three Rivers will take on Lawton-Marcellus-Paw Paw at 6 p.m. In the second game, set for 8:30 p.m., Vicksburg will take on Decatur.