By Dylan Hefflinger
Managing Editor/NW Scout 

EAST LANSING, MI – The Decatur Raiders are looking to capture its fifth state championship (last in 2012) as they advanced to the title game after defeating Gladstone 2-1 in a thrilling eight inning contest.

We had a pitchers duel going through the first four innings of play as Cody Huston and Sam Pouliot matched each other pitch-for-pitch.

But in the fifth innings Decatur got on the scoreboard.

Carter Smith reached first on a fielder's choice and scored on a two-out RBI double by Joby Kawaski to put the Raiders on top 1-0.

It looked as though that would be the final as Huston continued to mow down the Braves.

However in the seventh Gladstone scored a run to keep them alive.

Christian Groleau drew a one out walk, stole second and advanced to third on an overthrow on the steal.

Pouliot scored Groleau on a ground ball to off of Huston's glove to second base while the infield was back.

With the score locked at 1-1 and now in the eighth inning, the Raiders leadoff hitter Smith reached on a bloop single.

Smith was sacrificed over to second on a sac bunt by Kawaski. After a groundout and intentional walk, Huston came to the plate with a chance to be a hero.

Huston did not have a problem being that hero as he roped an RBI single to score Smith and move the Raiders onto the Division 3 state title game.

Top Performers:

• Cody Huston, went the distance on the mound giving up just one run (0 ER) on one hit, two walks and two HBP while striking out five. At the plate Huston had the walk-off single.
• Carter Smith, had two singles and two runs scored.
• Joby Kawaski, had a single, double, RBI and sacrifice bunt.
• Cody Pouliot, was the tough luck loser who went the distance allowing just two runs (1 ER) on eight hits and two walks while striking out nine.

Linescore

Gladstone   000  000  10  -  1   1  1

Decatur       000  010  01  -  2  8  3

Records: Decatur 24-6, Gladstone 29-5.

Winning pitcher: Cody Huston (8 innings, 1 run, 0 ER, 1 hit, 5 strikeouts, 2 walks, 2 HBP).

Losing pitcher: Sam Pouliot (7.2 innings, 2 runs, 1 ER, 8 hits, 9 strikeouts, 2 walks).

Leading hitters: (Gladstone, 1 hit) – Justin Jurek single. (Decatur, 8 hits) – Carter Smith 2 singles; Joby Kawaski single, double; Matthew Botti single; Cody Huston single; Johnathan Grosvenor double; Connor Olkowski single.