Today:

TOP JOBS MEDICAL ASST. Full time for busy pediatric office in Brownstown. Fax resume: 734-671-7690 Occupational MEDICINE MEDICAL ASSISTANT Expanding Occupational Medicine clinic has immedia...  [ View All Top Jobs ] TOP AUTOS TAURUS SE 1998 80K, V6, clean, must see, newer tires/brakes, $2400. 734-282-9594 DAMON DAYBREAK 31 ft. 2001, sleeps 5, drivers side door, only 2,400 miles, $33,500. Monroe...  [ View All Top Autos ] TOP HOMES WYANDOTTE 3 unit apartment building. 3 years old. $70,000 down with land contract. % 7.25.... WESTLAND MEADOWS 14'x80' Redman 3 bedroom 2 Bathroom Central Air New Furnace All Major App...  [View All Top Homes ] TOP RENTALS LINCOLN PARK 3 bedroom, 1 bath, Exc. condition! $900/mo. For more info: 313-948-3876 TAYLOR WOODS APARTMENTS 10750 Mt. Vernon. 1 bdrm., central air & pool. $200 move-in specia...  [ View All Top Rentals ] TOP MERCHANDISE iSOLD It Ann Arbor eBay Consignment Sales Colonnade Center - Eisenhower Parkway Mon-Sat. 1... FOR SALE Thomasville colonial style hutch, 42 in. square antique oak table w/ leaf, 4 colo...  [ View All Top MDSE ]   View Classifieds   Submit a TopAd        or call 1-877-888-3202

	The Manchester Enterprise A Heritage Newspaper Weekly Publication

League champion Cardinals double up Flying Dutchmen

Galaska's 10 strikeouts not enough in loss to Michigan Center

By Ed Patino, taff Writer

PUBLISHED: May 24, 2007

A game between last yearís co-champions featured teams heading in opposite directions.

Advertisement

Behind Chase Tumeyís pitching and Rich Vandenburghís bat, the Michigan Center Cardinals held on for a 6-3 victory over the Manchester Flying Dutchmen in the varsity baseball game May 17.

Vandenburgh keyed a third inning surge that gave Michigan Center (15-8, 11-3 Cascades) control of the game, while Tumey scattered four hits in the game. One day after clinching this seasonís Cascades Conference title outright, the Cardinals sent Manchester (7-12, 6-8 Cascades) to its sixth loss in seven games.

ìWeíre not playing well and itís starting to wear on us and get in our heads,î Manchester coach Corey Fether said. ìWeíve been in games and still had chances to win. Itís shocking.î

Michigan Center overcame a strong effort from Manchesterís starting pitcher Ryan Galaska. The senior had six strikeouts after three innings, but the Dutchmen had just two hits while the Cardinals built a 5-0 lead.

Vandenburgh opened the scoring in the first when he scored on a passed ball. He kicked off the third inning with a two-RBI double, scoring Matt Walker and Heath Beasley, then came home on a Manchester throwing error, making it 4-0.

ìThe pressure was off us today, but we came out with the same rotation,î Michigan Center coach Bryan Spink said. ìWeíre starting to gel at the right time.î

Tom Cubic finished the third inning with an RBI single that scored Tyler Inman. The Cardinals added another run in the top of the fourth when Walker scored on a wild pitch, making it 6-0.

Michigan Center couldíve put more on the board in the fourth after loading the bases, but Galaskaís third strikeout of the frame ended the threat.

ìRyan pitched better than the result, but he has to throw five outs an inning because we canít make plays,î Fether said.

The Dutchmen finally overcame Tumey in the bottom of the fourth inning when Justin Weltonís RBI single scored Alex Kastanis. An inning later, Steve Mulcare drove in Randy Casey with an RBI double, then scored himself on Will Rickertís fielderís choice, pulling the Dutchmen to within 6-3.

ìManchester is one of the more talented teams, and our conference is very deep this year,î Spink said. ìThey definitely can make a deep run in the post-season.î

Tumey and the Cardinals tightened their defense after that. Michigan Center sat the Dutchmen down in order in the sixth inning, and then Tumey recorded a strikeout for the gameís final out in the seventh.

Manchester had four hits in the game. Mulcare led the way with his RBI double and run scored, while Welton added a RBI single. Galaska and Brandon Hone each collected a hit for the Dutchmen.

Galaska allowed six runs (four earned) on five hits while striking out 10 in five innings. Welton pitched the final two innings, allowing one hit.

Tumey went the distance on the hill for Michigan Center, allowing three runs on four hits and striking out three.

The Cardinals had six hits in the game. Vandenburgh led the way with two hits, two RBIs and two runs scored. Cubic added two hits and an RBI, while Walker had a hit and two runs scored for Michigan Center.

ìItís been the story of the year that we struggle with our hitting but make clutch plays,î Spink said. ìWeíre not taking the week off, and hitting is going to be the big focus as we head into districts.î

Mondayís regular season finale against Lenawee Christian took place after the newspaperís deadline. The Dutchmen will open district play June 2 at Clinton. Joining the Dutchmen will be Cascades Conference foe Grass Lake along with Ann Arbor Gabriel Richard, Whitmore Lake and the host Redskins.

ìSometimes we try to do too much, and we have to remember that we canít do it all with one play,î Fether said.

The Cardinals will compete in the Division 3 district tournament at Napoleon. They are joined by Cascades rivals Napoleon, Vandercook Lake and East Jackson along with Brooklyn Columbia Central.

Staff Writer Ed Patino can be reached at 428-8173 or epatino@heritage.com.