By Mike Penn
Michigan Director of Scouting

Coming into last night’s Tom Cole Tournament championship game, the Linden Eagles had been struggling.  It was important for them to get back on the winning track heading into the start of the state tournament this week.  Win they did with an 8-3 final over Davison HS.

The Eagles came out swinging in the first inning.  Sophomore Austin Buerkel led off the game with a double down the left field and then promptly stole third base.  But Adrian commit, Trevor Stevens, slipped out of the early threat stranding Buerkel. 

From there the Eagles controlled the pace of the game and at times pushed it. They constantly put pressure on the young Davison team.  Davison came into the 2013 season with a senior laden team but last night they missed having the leadership of 10 seniors, who were suspended due to off the field issues.

On the night Linden used their team speed to steal nine total bases.   Senior Mitch Juhl swiped three bags while three others had two a piece.

In the fifth Linden opened up the game scoring four runs.  Sophomore third baseman Brady Sarkon rifled an RBI single up the middle scoring Juhl to make the game 4-1.  After a brief mound visit, the Eagles executed a perfect squeeze play pushing the across another run. From there the Eagles never looked back.

Senior Mitchell Ryan was effective on the mound throwing a complete game.  He struck out five and didn’t issue a walk on the night.

The Eagles look to ride this momentum heading in to Districts this Saturday.