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2023 MHSAA Tournament: Division 3 State Semifinal - Algonac vs Lansing Catholic

EAST LANSING - Josh Kasner hit and pitched Algonac past Lansing Catholic 4-1 in the Division III state semifinals on Thursday, propelling the Muskrats to the Division III state championship game for the first time in school history.

The Michigan commit not only threw a five-hitter, but the junior also hit a three-run home run with two outs in the bottom of the third to erase a 1-0 deficit and put the second-rated team in the state in D-III in front for good.

Kasner gave up three hits the rest of the way and his teammates added to the lead with a run in the fifth. Matthew Rix hit a bunt single, stole second, moved up on an Evan Saddler sacrifice bunt and scored on a passed ball.

But it was the third inning that was the difference for the Muskrats. With one away, Rix reached on a HBP and stole second base before Saddler advanced the junior third baseman to third on a single. After a strikeout, Kasner made it 3-1 with the homer run to left.

Lansing plated its lone run in the third when Daniel Shipman was hit by a pitch, swiped second and went to third on a ground out. Following a walk to Ty Trahey, Drew Burlingame produced a run-scoring single to right.

The Cougars loaded the bases after going in front 1-0 when Padraic Cotter reached on a walk, but Kasner got out of the jam with a strikeout, one of seven by the 6-0 175-pounder.

The third-ranked 2024 right-handed pitcher in Michigan gave up three walks in his complete game performance that improved Algonac to 37-3 on the year.

Drew Tolfre allowed just four hits and did not walk a batter in the hard-luck defeat, fanning five for Lansing Catholic, the sixth-ranked team in Michigan in Division III which closed out the season at 23-6.

LINESCORE

Lansing Catholic 001  000  0  -  1  5  1
Algonac                 003  010  x  -  4  4  0         

Records: Algonac 37-3, Lansing Catholic 23-6.

Winning pitcher: Josh Kasner (7 innings, 1 run, 5 hits, 7 strikeouts, 3 walks, 2 HBP).

Losing pitcher: Drew Tolfre (6 innings, 4 runs, 4 hits, 5 strikeouts, 0 walks, 1 HBP).

Leading hitters: (Lansing Catholic) - Daniel Shipman single, run; Austin Gates single; Ty Trahey double; Drew Burlingame single, RBI; Alex Fernandez double. (Algonac) - Evan Saddler single, run; Josh Kasner home run, run, 3 RBIs; Brandon Williams single; Matthew Rix single, 2 runs.