By Bobby Walmsley

Lake Orion 4, Rochester Stoney Creek 1

The Lake Orion Dragons had their ace Nick Deeg on the mound in the first game of the day against Rochester Stoney Creek.  Deeg did not disappoint as he mowed down the Cougars hitters en route to a complete game 4-1 victory over Stoney Creek. 

The Dragons got on the board quickly with 2 runs on 3 hits in the top of the first inning, and added another run on Nolan Page’s RBI groundout in the 3rd, making the score 3-0 Lake Orion after three innings.  Justin Allor got Stoney Creek on the board in the bottom of the fourth with an RBI single that plated Kyle Schweiger, but that’s all the scoring the Cougars would get.  Lake Orion added an insurance run in the 7^th, and Deeg struck out the side in the bottom half of the inning to complete the gem. 

Notes…

• Junior Nick Deeg threw a complete game for the Dragons and was impressive in shutting down the Cougars offensse. The tall and lanky lefthander sported a mid-80s fastball and a plus breaking ball while he surrendered just three hits while striking out eleven and walking three.
• Senior Zak Northrup pitched well for Stoney Creek and did his best to give his team a chance to win (6 IP, 7 H, 4 R, 7K); he threw multiple pitches for strikes and competed well on the mound.
• Senior Niko Gonzalez solid behind the dish for Stoney Creek demonstrating explosiveness and lateral movement while blocking balls and flashed good footwork on throws to second.  He is a very strong kid and possesses plus batspeed.

 

Hartland 4, Rochester Adams 2

In the second game of the day, the host team Hartland took on Rochester Adams.  As in the first game, starting pitching dominated the game.  Junior Jake Lowery (MSU) took the mound for Hartland, while Adams threw out Sean Beyer. 

 

Hartland scored two runs in the top of the first with one of the runs coming from senior Tony Annese’s line drive single to right field.  Adams answered in the bottom half of the inning when senior Alex Borglin (CMU) reached base on a line drive single to right field and then later scored on Alex Taylor’s sacrifice fly to center field to make the score 2-1 after 1.

 

Adams tied it up at 2-2 in the bottom of the fifth, but Hartland answered with a run of their own in the Top of the sixth.  With a 3-2 score in the top of the seventh, Jake Lowery hit a one-out triple to deep right center, and Adams intentionally loaded the bases to play for the double play ball.  Junior Travis Johnson then hit a groundball that was misplayed by the third baseman, and Hartland led 4-2.

 

Lowery shut down Adams 1-2-3 in the bottom of the seventh and Hartland would move on to play Lake Orion in the Championship.

 

Notes…

 

• Lowery’s line:  CG, 2 H, 2 R, 0 ER, 9K…Lowery was impressive all day with his mid to upper 80s fastball and sharp breaking ball. He demonstrated clean mechanics and a long and loose arm action but has yet to reach his potential.
• Junior Jordan Kesson (Toledo) was an impressive athlete in right field for Hartland. Kesson possesses good size and demonstrated an above average arm for the outfield while at the plate he is very physical and raw, but he has plus bat speed.
• Junior Anthony Villar of Hartland flashed a plus arm from the shortstop position and played very solid defensively.
• Senior Alex Borglin (CMU) of Adams demonstrated a solid approach at the plate. He stayed on the ball well and flashed above average bat speed and a good bat path. 

 

Hartland 6, Lake Orion 0

Hartland senior Jacob Jessen’s allowed one hit in five innings and Senior Corey Lewandowski closed out the final two innings for the shutout victory. 

Hartland scored two runs in the first inning to take a 2-0 lead and then scored four more in the fifth inning en route to the 6-0 victory and Regional Championship.  .

 

Hartland advances to the state quarterfinals for the second straight season and will face De La Salle at 4 p.m. Tuesday at Madison Heights Bishop Foley.