By Dylan Hefflinger
Managing Editor/NW Scout

EAST LANSING, MI – The Mount Pleasant Oilers captured their third state title in school history after defeating Richmond 7-2.

The Oilers unsigned senior Aaron Leasher was dominant on Saturday. The lefty sat low-to-mid 80s would going the distance allowing just two runs (0 ER, both runs came in 7th) on four hits and three walks while striking out seven.

The two runs allowed in the seventh didn't mean anything as Mount Pleasant was already on top 7-0 at that point.

The Oilers got things started early with one in the first inning.

Leadoff hitter Robert Backus roped a double down the left field line and moved to third on a beautiful bunt that stayed on the chalk by Leasher. 

With runners on the corner, three-hole hitter Zach Heeke hit a sacrifice fly to score Backus.

Mount Pleasant broke the game open in the third with three runs.

With one out, Heeke laced a single to left and Dean Marais followed with a single to right to put runners on the corners.

A balk allowed Heeke to score and Marais advance to second. Max Trucks walked to put two on.

Semifinal winner on the mound Hunter Buczkowski came to the plate and singled to scored Marais and once again put runners on the corners.

Dan Keller hit a sacrifice fly to make the score 4-0.

Mount Pleasant added one in the fifth and two in the sixth to expand the lead to 7-0.

In the fifth, Marais doubled and after a wild pitch scored on a squeeze bung by Trucks.

In the sixth, Keller walks, Joe Genia was hit by a pitch and Obie Ricumstrict singled to load the bases.

Backus scored two with a two-run single by Backus off the third baseman's glove.

The Richmond Blue Devils got their two runs in the seventh.

Evan Kratt (Central Michigan commit) got on to start the inning via an error. Dillon McInerney blasted a double over Genia's head in center. Nick Ottenbacher hit a sacrifice fly to score Kratt. Jake Schmidt grounded out to score McInerney.

However that was it against Leasher who induced a fly out to end the game.

Top Performers:

• Aaron Leasher, the unsigned senior went the distance on the mound allowing two runs (0 ER) on four hits and three walks while striking out seven. Also had a bunt single at the plate.
• Dean Marais, had a single, double and two runs scored.
• Robert Backus, had a single, double, run scored and two RBIs.
• Obie Ricumstrict, went 2-for-3 with two singles.
• Dillon McInerney, did not have his best stuff on the mound as he fell to 12-1 on the season, but at the plate McInerney had a single, double, stolen base and run scored.
• Zach Leach, reached base all three times with two singles and a walk.

Linescore

Richmond            000  000  2  -  2  4  0

Mount Pleasant    103  012  x  -  7  10  2

Records: Mount Pleasant 32-8-1, Richmond 35-4.

Winning pitcher: Aaron Leasher (7 innings, 2 runs, 0 ER, 4 hits, 7 strikeouts, 3 walks).

Losing pitcher: Dillon McInerney (3 innings, 4 runs, 7 hits, 2 strikeouts, 1 walk, 1 HBP). Other: Jake Schmidt (3 innings, 3 runs, 3 hits, 3 strikeout, 1 walk, 1 HBP).

Leading hitters: (Richmond, 4 hits) – Zach Leach 2 singles; Dillon McInerney single, double. (Mount Pleasant, 10 hits) – Robert Backus single, double; Aaron Leasher single; Zach Heeke single; Dean Marais single, double; Hunter Buczkowski single; Joe Genia single; Obie Ricumstrict 2 singles.