The Saline Reporter
A Heritage Newspaper
Weekly Publication
2 steps away!
Saline blows away opposition on way to Battle Creek
By Jerry Hinnen, Staff Writer
PUBLISHED: June 12, 2008
A year ago, the Saline baseball team came within a run of advancing to the state semifinals.
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This year, the Hornets got that run. And a whole lot more besides.
Saline drubbed Detroit Southeastern 15-0 in a three-inning game in Tuesday's state quarterfinals in Carleton, giving the Hornets their first Final Four berth since back-to-back appearances in 1998-1999.
"These kids came so close last year," said Hornet head coach Scott Theisen, who added that seeing them get over that hump this year felt "fantastic."
"They really committed themselves, got in shape, and did some things that have helped them get to this point," he said. "They haven't been laid-back. They've come out ready to play."
Saline (now 31-9 on the year) will face Troy (27-11) at noon Friday on the Morrison Field at Battle Creek's Bailey Park.
The Hornets will arrive in Battle Creek having crushed every team in their path since a 4-2 win over Bedford in their postseason opener. Saline has since won five games by a combined score of 79-6, including a 9-1 win over Taylor-Kennedy and a 11-1 win over Livonia Franklin at home Saturday to claim the program's second straight regional title.
That earned the Hornets their trip to Carleton, where they had little problem with the surprise quarterfinalists from Southeastern. The Jungaleers were able to put runners on first and second with one out in the top of the first, but starter Greg Spiess forced a 6-4-3 double play to get out of the inning.
Saline put four runs across in the bottom of the inning and never looked back.
"I think you could see that we were a little tight early on, with the way we were playing defense, but Greg kept the ball low in the strike zone and got the double play ball," Theisen said. "We fed off that going into the bottom of the first."
Brad Guenther singled in Kory Gainey for the game's opening run and two batters later Al Zeiher blasted a three-run shot to center for the quick 4-0 lead.
Saline would score seven more in the bottom of the second as the first eight Hornet hitters reached. Tim Finkbeiner, Gainey, Adam Clements, Eric Braham (running for Guenther) and Beil all scored before Gainey's two-run single to score Mark Weist and Josh Burd stretched the lead to 11-0.
After Spiess worked his way out of a two-on, none-out jam in the top of the third, Saline scored the four runs needed to activate the 15-run mercy rule. Burd drew a bases-loaded walk to score Braham, Jon Endicott singled home Beil, and Vinnie Haynes doubled to deep left-center to drive home Weist and Burd with the game's final two runs.
"It felt all right," Haynes, a senior, said with a smile of seeing his hit send Saline on to Battle Creek. "Last year we came up just a little bit short, but this year we've been hitting the ball a little bit and we made it. I've been playing with these guys six years, so it's a great feeling. We're still hungry."
Theisen credited the Hornets' "discipline" at the plate for their postseason offensive explosion, a practice they will have to continue if they are to have success against Troy or other semifinalists Birmingham Brother Rice and Jenison in Battle Creek. While admitting that any of those teams would represent a big step up in competition from Kennedy, Franklin, and Southeastern, Theisen said the Hornets will be prepared.
"We played probably the toughest schedule since I've been here," he said. "We've been in games where we know we have to play well every single inning to get a win.
"It's going to be the same game, the same recipe for winning no matter where we're playing. We have to stay head in the count, make plays on defense, and have good at-bats."
While admitting that a state championship was something the team "has talked about" and "dreamed about," Theisen wasn't ready to say exactly how much that championship might mean to his program.
"Hopefully," he said, "I'll get a chance to tell you Saturday."
Gainey had a huge day for Saline as they romped to the Regional title, finishing the day 7-of-12 with six runs scored, three RBIs, and a home run. He opened the scoring against Kennedy, crossing the plate on a Beil groundout in the first.
Gainey's solo shot and RBI singles from Haynes and Burd in the third put Saline ahead 4-1 before Weist's three-run double in the fourth broke the game open. Clements pitched a complete game for the win, allowing three hits, striking out six, and retiring the final 14 batters after the Eagles' lone run in the third.
Burd threw all six innings for Saline in the 10-run-rule victory over Franklin to seal the regional championship. The junior allowed four hits, struck out three, did not issue a walk, and helped his own cause with a second-inning home run.
The Hornets led 4-1 entering the bottom of the fourth before adding three runs each in the fourth and fifth and their 11th in the bottom of the sixth. At the plate, Guenther went 2-for-3 with two doubles, Zeiher 3-for-4 with two RBIs, and Clements 2-for-3.
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