Gratiot County Baseball League

CONGRATULATIONS ST LOUIS SPIRITS - 2010 GCBL CHAMPIONS! 

The Gratiot County Baseball League wrapped up it's 2010 season over the weekend with the conclusion of the playoffs.  St. Louis, entering as the third-seeded team, walked away with the title after defeating Fulton 5-1 in the semi-finals and Coleman, 6-2 in the championship.  The Phillies had earlier defeated Manistee in the other semi-final to advance.  It's the sixth title for St. Louis, third most ever by any team in the 64-year old league bested only by Ionia (9) and Ashley (19).

In the first semi-final game on Saturday, the Manistee Saints took on the number one-seeded Coleman squad in a pure pitching battle.  Saint's starter Lee Rodney and Phillies starter Jon Herendeen were untouchable the entire game striking out a combined 19 hitters while allowing just eight hits between them.  Back-to-back errors in the fourth inning would get runners aboard for Manistee and a Scott Witkop single would plate a run.  Herendeen pitched out of it though, and the score remained 1-0 heading into the bottom of the sixth.  With two outs and a runner at third, Herendeen hit what appeared to be a ground out to end the inning but the ball eluded the glove of the Saints third sacker and the game was tied.  Lance Wilson then laced a double to the right center gap scoring Herendeen from first and giving Coleman the 2-1 lead.  The Saints went down in order in the seventh and Coleman advanced to it's first-ever championship game.

The second semi-final pitted the second-seeded Fulton Sultans against St. Louis.  The Spirits would greet Fulton starter John McLeod with three hits in the top of the first taking a quick 2-0 lead.  Fulton would eventually battle back off of St. Louis starting pitcher Justin Young, scraping out a run on a walk and back to back errors to cut the lead in half.  St. Louis would put up three runs in the top of the seventh, courtesy of a two RBI double by Paul Wilson followed by an RBI single off the bat of Kevin Schwedler. Young remained dominant for the Spirits, allowing his first and only hit of the game in the bottom of the seventh when McLeod looped a single to left.

The championship game began much like both semi-finals with Josh Russell of Coleman and Colton Slank of St. Louis throwing shutout after shutout innings.  St. Louis slipped on the board first when in the third inning, Jake Bullard reached on a two-out fielders choice.  After stealing second, Bullard would try stealing third as well and when the throw got away from the third baseman, Bullard would scramble home to break the ice. With the score 1-0 in the bottom of the sixth, a dropped bunt attempt allowed Coleman's Mike Baker to reach first base.  A walk and a fielders choice would put runners at second and third with only one out.  Baker would then score on a wild pitch and the second run would score when Ryan Pickens grounded out to second with the infield back.

It looked as if the final would remain 2-1 as the top of the eighth inning drew to a close.  But St. Louis shortstop Mark Hammond hit a single to center and first baseman Paul Wilson roped a single to left putting runners at the corners with two down.  Kevin Schwedler then torched a ball into the right-center gap that barely eluded diving Philles centerfielder Jordan Morrison.  Wilson would come all the way around to score the go-ahead run while Schwedler hugged second base. Adam Tom then hit a 1-2 pitch back through the box scoring Schwedler and ending the day for Russell on the mound.  Jon Herendeen relieved for Coleman and got the Spirits third sacker Jake Hunt down in the count 0-2 before Hunt would lift a high fly ball over the leftfield fence, ending the scoring, and putting a nail in the Phillie's coffin.  Slank would strike out four of the final seven batters he faced, allowing only a walk to Phillie's catcher Mike Baker in securing the win, complete game, and championship.

Championship Game

                                R             H             E

St. Louis               6              10           2

Coleman              2              4              3             

WP - Colton Slank (CG, 9 K, 2BB)

LP - Josh Russell (7 2/3, 5 K, 0 BB)

St. Louis:

Jake Bullard - single, 3 SB, run

Paul Wilson - two singles

Kevin Schwedler - single, double, 2 RBI, run

Jake Hunt - 2 run Homerun

Coleman:

Ryan Pickens - single, RBI

Mike Baker - 2 BB, run