DC Wraps Up #1 Seed in Region XII Tournament

Livonia, MI – The Delta College baseball team wrapped up the number one seed in the upcoming Region XII tournament with a sweep of Schoolcraft Community College on Tuesday, beating the Ocelots 4-1 in game one before winning game two, 7-5 in eleven innings.  The sweep brings Delta's Region XII record to 7-1 while they are now 23-17 overall. 

"Being the #1 seed in the regional was one of our biggest goals on the season," said sixth year head coach Danny Smith.  "The fact that we are hosting the regional coupled with the fact that we have the short path to win it is exciting."

The Pioneers put a four-spot on the board in the top of the first inning after Zack Booth led the game off with a single and went to third on a Hunter David single to right.  Z Westley then doubled to left field to score booth before Dean Marias hit a deep double to score two more and make it 3-0 before Schoolcraft had recorded an out.  A Tyler Snover groundout and a sacrifice fly by Zach Schirmer scored Marais and made it 4-0 heading in to the bottom of the first.

DC starting pitcher Jake Gross, meanwhile, was dominant on the mound as he didn't give a hit until the sixth inning and surrendered just one unearned run in the game.  The sophomore from Chesaning struck out nine and walked just one in the complete game performance to even his record to 2-2 on the season.

"Jake Gross has that type of performance in him every time out," said Smith.  "He's been a tough luck loser and was the victim of some poor defense behind him this season that has forced him out of games where he could've battled and picked up the win.

"Today's performance is the norm for him, though."

The nightcap was an eleven inning affair that saw Schoolcraft take a 2-0 lead after two and a 3-1 lead heading in to the top of the sixth.  That's when Ty Jones, who had started the game as the third baseman but was now pitching, led the inning off with a double to right-center.  After a bunt to move him to third, Ty Robbins would score the run with a triple.  Robbins would then tie the game at 3-3 when pinch hitter Tyler Snover dropped a bunt on a suicide squeeze and was safe at first on the play.  An error would move Snover to second before Zach Booth singled to center to score Snover and give Delta a 4-3 lead.

Schoolcraft scored two runs in the sixth on three hits to retake the lead, 5-4 and bring Delta to it's final at-bat in the top of the seventh.  That's where Hunter David led the inning off with a double and Z Westley followed suit with a single to left.  When the cutoff throw got away from the Schoolcraft third baseman, Westly moved up to second to put runners on second and third with no outs. 

Dean Marais would tie the game with a deep sacrifice fly to centerfield to put the go-ahead run at third base with one out.  A strikeout and a ground out would end the scoring though and Delta went in to the bottom of the seventh tied at five apiece.

"It's easy to be disappointed in the fact that we didn't' score that run at third with one out in a tie game," said Smith.  "But's easy to forget what even put us in that position to begin with."

Ty Robbins relieved Jones on the mound and threw a perfect seventh to force extra innings.  Delta didn't score in the eighth and Robbins once again shut down Schoolcraft in the eighth and ninth to keep it 5-5 heading in to the tenth inning.  Dean Marais had a one-out double for Delta but once again the Pioneers couldn't' get the big hit they needed to take the lead. 

Guy Henika made his team leading 11^th appearance for Delta in the bottom of the tenth and worked out of a two-out bases loaded jam to preserve the game and keep DC's hopes alive.  After multiple substitutions by both teams and many missed opportunities, the game went in to the top of the 11^th inning still tied at 5-5.

Hunter David was plunked in the back with one out and went to second on a Z Westley single to start the 11^th inning.  Peyton Jurek – whom had replaced Marias as a pinch runner in the ninth – then hit a soft bouncer to third base where it was misplayed in to a two base error and gave Delta the 6-5 lead.  With first base open and one out, Schoolcraft opted to walk Jones to load the bases knowing Delta had to use pitcher Guy Henika to hit in the sixth spot.

"I called time and brought him to third base to talk," said coach Smith.  "I told him he was bunting, no matter what, for the next three pitches or as long as it took."

"Fortunately, I think we guessed right in that they didn't think we would have him squeeze."

Henika placed a perfect bunt on the first pitch to score pinch-runner Brady Leppek and give Delta a 7-5 advantage.  From there, Henika went on to get the Ocelots easily in the bottom half of the inning and secure his second win against no defeats on the year.

Westley once again lead the Delta offense picking up three hits while Hunter David added a single and a double.

"We are in finals week at Delta so we don't always have out top guys," said Smith.  "Education will always trump athletics so it was nice to see guys step up that we don't usually call on because their teammates aren't here.

"Both games were a grind and when we see Schoolcraft in the regional in a couple weeks I expect that game to be very much like today's games."

The sweep now moves the Pioneers into sole possession of the MCCAA Eastern Conference standings. Jackson (16-4) and Lansing (15-5) are in front of Delta who now sits at 11-7 in conference play.  They  will play Henry Ford on Thursday at Wickes Park in the back end of their four game series with the Hawks.  Game time is scheduled for 2pm.