The County Press

Lightning split with Cardinals



Lapeer’s Grant Masterson lays down a bunt against Davison on Thursday. Photo by Joe Oster

Lapeer’s Grant Masterson lays down a bunt against Davison on Thursday. Photo by Joe Oster

DAVISON — The Lapeer baseball team split with Davison on Thursday night, losing 8-6 before winning 3-2.

In the opener, the Lightning held a 3-2 lead entering the fourth inning, but Davison answered with two runs in the fourth and three more in the fifth. The scores in the fourth were the result of a two-run homer by Max Slezak. Lapeer fought back with three runs in the sixth, while also surrendering another run to the Cardinals. Both teams went scoreless in the seventh, giving the game its 8-6 final score.

Luke Forti provided the Lightning with offensive firepower in the opener, recording four RBI on three hits. He hit a triple in the second inning and a double in the sixth. Zack Lemke also recorded an RBI in the sixth.

Zemke earned the loss on the mound for Lapeer, allowing six runs on nine hits with one strikeout and one walk over 4-2/3 innings. Jacob Whitney started on the hill but lasted only 1-1/3 innings. He allowed two runs on three hits while recording one strikeout.

North Branch’s Hunter Robinson looks to make a play at first during a game against Goodrich on April 2. Photo by Kylee Richardson

North Branch’s Hunter Robinson looks to make a play at first during a game against Goodrich on April 2. Photo by Kylee Richardson

In the nightcap, the game was tied at 1-1 after the first inning. Jimmy Bukowski provided Lapeer with an RBI groundout in the top of the inning, while Max Slezak did the same for the Cardinals in the bottom half. The Lightning took the lead for good in the third inning when Brayden McKenna singled on a 1-0 count, scoring a run. Lapeer scored its only other run of the game in the fourth inning when Grant Masterson stole home. Davison added a run in the fifth but was never able to overcome the hump.

Bukowski was the winning pitcher for the Lightning, allowing one run on four hits with two strikeouts over four innings. Drew Johnston had one inning of bullpen work, securing the game’s final three outs and recording the save for Lapeer.

Hunter Best was the only Lightning player to manage multiple hits, going 2-for-3 at the plate. Lapeer had six stolen bases as a team and did not commit a single error in the field.

The Lightning, 5-7, host Bay City Central tomorrow at 4 p.m. — J.O.

CAPAC

The Chiefs were swept by Memphis on Wednesday, losing 10-3 and 4-3. Capac is at Brown City for a doubleheader tomorrow at 4 p.m. — J.O.

DRYDEN

The Cardinals were slated to host Deckerville on Thursday, but the game was canceled due to weather.

Dryden visits Carsonville- Port Sanilac tomorrow at 4 p.m. — A.V.

IMLAY CITY

The Spartans were swept by Croswell-Lexington on Tuesday. Imlay City lost the first game 8-5 and the late game 11-0.

Dom Kirby led the offense in the first game with two hits, including a double. Ross Edson had a hit, a walk and a run. Ricky Guerrero and Zack Dingwell had a hit and a run each and Adam Van Buren added a hit.

In the night cap, Dylan Belan had a double. Zachary Blount, Dakota Sandzik and Brent Williams had a hit each.

Imlay City was at the Caro Invitational on Saturday following press deadlines and will be at Richmond on Tuesday. — K.R.

MAYVILLE

The Wildcats lost a pair of games, 11-1 and 9-8, to Kingston on the road Tuesday.

Logan LaBean recorded the team’s lone RBI for the first game and Carter Harmon reached base twice to help the Mayville offense.

In the second game, Mayville fell just short after failing to score with the bases loaded in the bottom of the seventh inning. LaBean led the team at the plate, finishing 2-for-4 with four RBI. Harmon and Hunter Brown both reached base twice and Lucas Bruman reached base three times with one RBI.

“The Wildcats showed a ton of fight Tuesday night against a very tough Kingston team,” said Mayville coach Travis Harbin following the game.

Mayville visits Owendale- Gagetown tomorrow at 4 p.m. — A.V.

NORTH BRANCH

The Broncos split the twin bill with Yale on Thursday. North Branch edged out the Bulldogs 2-1 in the early game but dropped the late game 5-3.

North Branch took a 1-0 lead in the third inning in the early game. Yale then evened the score 1-1 in the fourth. The Broncos then added a second run in the fifth. Ryan Ruhlman earned the win on the mound, striking out six while allowing three hits, a run and a walk over seven innings.

Nate Farnsworth had a hit and two runs. Ruhlman added a hit and an RBI and Eli Robinette added a hit.

In the late game, Yale scored two runs in the second for a 2-0 lead. Yale then added one in the fifth and two in the sixth. North Branch’s three runs came in the fifth. Dominic Schierlinger toed the rubber for four innings, striking out two and allowing three runs, a hit and five walks. Antonio Soto struck out one in one inning and Farnsworth gave up two hits and two runs over one inning.

Ruhlman had a hit and drove in two runs and Reilly Roach had a hit and an RBI. Farnsworth, Colton Maher and Robinette added a hit each.

On Tuesday, North Branch split with Algonac. The Broncos dropped the first game 5-0 but bounced back to win the night cap 2-1.

Algonac scored three in the third, one in the sixth and one in the seventh to take the first win. Maher took the mound for all seven innings, striking out four and allowing 10 hits and five runs. Ruhlman, Max Millerschin and Chris James all had a hit each.

Algonac held a 1-0 lead in the third inning in the late game, but North Branch tied the game in the fifth. The Broncos then won the game with a run in an extra inning. Millerschin went the distance on the mound, striking out nine and giving up four hits, a run and two walks.

Maher had two hits at the plate and Roach had a hit and a run. Ruhlman and Hunter Schank added a hit each.

North Branch, 6-10, hosts Almont on Wednesday. — K.R.