The Manchester Enterprise
A Heritage Newspaper
Weekly Publication
Three-run seventh sends Dutchmen to district final
Sweet's double drains Whitmore Lake, rain postpones finals
By Ed Patino, Staff Writer
PUBLISHED: June 7, 2007
The name of the game in the playoffs is survival, and the Manchester varsity baseball team found a way.
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After a comfortable lead slipped away, the Flying Dutchmen made a seventh inning rally for a 9-8 victory over the Whitmore Lake Trojans in the Division 3 district semifinals Saturday at Clinton High School.
Manchester (11-14) advanced to the district finals against Grass Lake, which defeated host Clinton 7-1 in the other semifinal game. The Dutchmen held a 2-0 lead after the first inning against Grass Lake when the game was called due to thunderstorms in the area. The game was made up Tuesday after the newspaper's deadline.
Whitmore Lake scored seven runs over the middle three innings to grab an 8-6 lead. With its season hanging in the balance, Manchester fought back in the top of the seventh inning.
Steven Mulcare pulled the Dutchmen to within one when he scored on a Whitmore Lake throwing error. Later in the frame, Lucas Sweet delivered a two-RBI double that scored Kevin Fielder and Jared Huber, giving the Dutchmen a 9-8 lead. Closing pitcher Ryan Galaska kept it that way in the bottom of the seventh, recording consecutive strikeouts to end the game.
Manchester coach Corey Fether was not surprised to see Sweet, the No. 9 batter in the order, come up with the clutch hit.
"We have a lot of confidence in our lineup all the way through," Fether said. "There are no holes in our lineup. If you flip the order upside-down you wouldn't know the difference."
The teams exchanged runs in the third inning before Manchester took control with a five-run fourth.
Fielder and Grant Jobkar scored on a throwing error and passed ball, then consecutive RBI doubles by Galaska and Will Rickert gave the Dutchmen a 5-1 lead. Later in the frame, Rickert scored on a botched pick off attempt at third base.
"We finally had a game where we capitalized on the other team's mistakes," Fether said. "We hadn't been doing that toward the end of the regular season."
The Trojans began their rally in the bottom of the fourth. Thomas Petoskey's RBI single scored Justin Ketzner, then Josh Moll scored on a throwing error. Moments later, Dean Hamlin ripped a two-RBI double that scored Petoskey and Josh Wilson, making it 6-5.
Whitmore Lake grabbed the lead in the fifth inning. Kyle Spilak scored from third after Manchester botched a throw during a rundown, then Petoskey scored Ketzner with an RBI single for a 7-6 lead.
Josh Zagor gave the Trojans some breathing room in the sixth when he scored on Spencer Munz's sacrifice bunt. But after recording the first out in the top of the seventh, Whitmore Lake was unable to hold off the Dutchmen.
"The kids got up and supported each other in the seventh," Fether said. "Our seniors were not ready for their season to be over."
Alex Kastanis had three hits and two runs scored to lead Manchester, while Rickert and Sweet each added two hits and two RBIs. Galaska had two hits, an RBI and a run scored, and Fielder finished with a hit and two runs for the Dutchmen.
Galaska earned the pitching win in relief. Rickert started the game, allowing seven hits, striking out four and walking three in five innings.
Petoskey had three hits, two RBIs and two runs scored to lead the Trojans. Moll added two hits and a run, while Josh Wilson had an RBI triple and run scored for Whitmore Lake. Munz was charged with the pitching loss, allowing three runs on four hits while striking out two in three innings of relief. Moll threw the first four innings, allowing six runs on eight hits.
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