By Alex Hoover
Regional Corespondent

Scoring was at a premium in this game as Sparta outlasted Watervliet 4-3 at beautiful Fifth Third Ball Park in Grand Rapids, MI.  

Watervliet opened the game by scoring in the first but was held scoreless until the sixth inning as a result of the performance turned in by Sparta's Ben Scheckler.  Sheckler is a 6-foot-7 lefty, who is committed to Cornerstone University,  had 13 strikeouts in seven innings of work and four walks while allowing three runs.  Scheckler was at 84-85 with his fastball, while topping out at 88.  His slider was his go to pitch to get hitter out and get ahead with as well, clocked at 78-79.

After issuing three walks to open the 7th, Scheckler gave up a base hit by Watervliet SS Bovin that ended up giving Watervliet the lead.

After Sparta tied it up in the bottoms of the seventh on a fielding error, Sparta junior Ryan Rogers came in to pitch.  Rogers promptly struck out the side and struck out the sid Rogers sat between 82-84 consistently and popped an 86 mph fastball during his inning of work. 

In the bottom of the 8th, Rogers came up with a man on first and third with one out an issued the game winning hot to RF, ending his day at 1 for 3 with 2 RBI.