By Staff
After a slow start to the Cal Ripken Jr. 12-year-old Michigan State Tournament Friday night, the Brandywine A All-Stars rattled off three straight wins to earn a spot in tonight's championship game at Firemen's Youth Park.
The Brandywine All-Stars dropped a 3-2 decision to Lansing Portland in seven innings Friday night to start the tournament, but got rolling with a 12-6 win over Benton Harbor later the same night in pool play.
On Sunday, the Brandywine A All-Stars beat the Brandywine B All-Stars 12-2 in pool crossover play and then avenged the loss to Portland with a 6-2 win Sunday night to earn a championship bid against Lanse Cruse North.
The Brandywine B All-Stars lost 14-3 to Clinton Valley in the first game of pool play.
Brandywine B then suffered an 11-1 loss to Lanse Cruse North before the loss to Brandywine A.
The championship game is set for 6 p.m. tonight.
Should Brandywine A beat Lanse Cruse North, a second title game will be held following the first game.
Brandywine A….12
Benton Harbor….6
Mikel Lindzy helped the home team to a four-run first inning with a leadoff home run. He added a pair of singles later in the game as well.
Dustin Bell and Zach Edquist each hit two singles while Derek Nichols, Aaron Saltsman, Cameron Smallmon and Dan Pancoast each hit one single.
Tom Flynn earned the pitching victory with relief help from Nichols and Smallmon.
Clinton Valley….14
Brandywine B……3
Clinton Valley scored eight runs in the top of the first inning and put the game away with a five-run effort in the top of the fifth.
Zach Gerber took the loss for Brandywine with relief help from Ralph Sater and Tyler Parish.
Sater paced the team at the plate with a double and a single. Joe Godfrey added two singles while Gerber, Greg Rhodes and Wyatt Taylor each singled once.
Lanse Cruse North….11
Brandywine B….1
Greg Rhodes took the loss for Brandywine.
Brendon Nichols and Tyler Fletcher each spent time on the mound as well.
Lase Cruse North scored seven runs in the bottom of the first and the game lasted just four innings.
Ralph Sater led the team on offense with a double and Fletcher added a single.
Brandywine A….12
Brandywine B……2
The A team got off to a good start with four runs in the first inning and added seven more in the third. The game lasted four innings.
Aaron Saltsman earned the pitching victory and was relieved by Tom Flynn and Cameron Smallmon.
Ralph Sater took the loss for Brandywine B with relief help from Tyler Fletcher.
Zach Edquist paced the A team with two doubles. Mikel Lindzy, Derek Nichols, Saltsman and Smallmon each hit two singles while Dustin Bell helped out with a double.
Sater, Zach Gerber and Greg Rhodes each hit a single for Brandywine B.
Brandywine A………6
Lansing Portland….2
Aaron Saltsman earned the pitching victory for Brandywine A, vaulting his team into the title game.