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By Dave Sontag
PBR Michigan Scout

We look to bring the state of Michigan top-notch high school coverage throughout the entire state.

We will have the 2016 Scout Blog, Spotlight Games, Inside the Recruitment Articles, Unsigned Senior Spotlights, The Recruiting Trail, All-State Selections, Full Coverage of the MHSAA State Tournament as well as numerous other articles throughout the spring.

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+ Division 1
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+ Division 1
+ Division 2
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To view the full list of 2016 Team Previews that we have already completed, please click here.

For insider information and scouting notes from the PBR staff during the 2016 spring season visit the 2016 Michigan Scout Blog by clicking here.

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PBR Michigan Spotlight Game: #2 (D-1) Saline vs Ann Arbor Skyline

Saline continued to ride the hot hand on the mound Wednesday as senior Josh Nelson dominated Skyline in a 3-2 victory.

The Wayne State University commit limited Skyline to three hits while striking out eight.

It took a heads-up observation by Saline coach Scott Theisen that ended up making the difference in the one-run victory.

After Skyline third baseman Darryn Davis led off the 4th inning with a double to left-centerfield, it looked like Skyline would score its first run of the game.

With two outs and Davis still on second, Eamon Horwedel lashed a hard shot to leftfield, which looked like a run-scoring double. Davis scored on the play to pull Skyline within a run.

However, Coach Theisen recognized that Horwedel missed first base on the apparent double. Saline appealed the play and Horwedel was called out. Thus, the run was removed from the board as the third out was essentially made at first base.

Saline’s junior Zach Schwartzenberger continued his mastery in the lead-off spot, singling once, stealing a base and scoring two runs.

With Saline leading 2-0 in the top of the 5th, Schwartzenberger led off with a two-strike single to centerfield. He moved to second on a walk to senior Zach Owings (Eastern Michigan commit) and scooted to third on a wild pitch. Sophomore Cole Daniels then drove Schwartzenberger in with a sacrifice fly to leftfield.

Junior Jake Finkbeiner continued his torrid pace for Saline. The hustling third baseman collected three more hits, including two doubles. Finkbeiner finished with seven hits in the three-game series against Skyline.

As Skyline did Monday, it battled late in the game to make the game interesting.

In the bottom of the 6th inning with one out, Skyline’s Jack Lehker was hit by a pitch. Davis followed with a walk. After a groundout, catcher Jacob Push grounded harmlessly to first baseman Daniels. The flip to Nelson was dropped, and two runs scored on the play.

Nelson then retired Skyline in order in the 7th inning to complete the win. It was Nelson’s first complete game of the year. Saline moves to 14-1 (6-0 SEC).

Skyline’s pitcher Dawson Horning used a tantalizing curve ball and a sneaky fastball to hold Saline’s potent line-up down.

After collecting 22 hits in the Monday twin-bill sweep, the Hornets were held to just seven hits by Horning.

Top Performances on the day

+ Darryn Davis (AA): Double, run.

+ Dawson Horning (AA): 6 IP, three hits, three runs

+ Zach Schwartzenberger (S): Single, 2 runs, SB

+ Jake Finkbeiner (S): Two doubles, single, RBI run.

+ Josh Nelson (S):  7 IP, three hits, 0 ER, 8 strikeouts

Boxscore

Saline                        100 110 0 - 3
Ann Arbor Skyline    000 002 0 - 2