 |
On Monday afternoon at Seaholm High School, the Brother Rice Warriors (32-9) came from behind in the last 2 innings to steal a District Championship from the Bloomfield Hills Blackhawks by the score of 3-2. The Warriors took a 1-0 lead in the 3rd inning, but then fell behind 2-1 in the 4th. Rice struggled to get any kind of offense going for the majority of the game. It wasn't until the 6th inning that Rice was able to tie the game at 2-2, and then eventually manufacture a run in the 7th to close out the win.
Brother Rice sent (Junior RHP) Karl Kauffmann out to the mound, and the hard-throwing righty responded with 7 strong innings of work. He struckout 6, allowed just 4 hits, and didn't allow an earned run. Despite Kauffmann's outstanding performance on the mound, Brother Rice still found themselves down by the score of 2-1 heading into the 6th inning.
The Warriors had 2 outs in the bottom of the 6th with (Senior RF) Johnny Garry at the plate. Garry fouled off 4 pitches in the at bat and worked the Pitcher into a full count. On the 9th Pitch of the plate appearance Johnny lined a single up the middle to reach base. He stole 2nd on the 3rd pitch of the following at bat to put himself in scoring position. (Sophomore 1B) Alex Kuster had already driven home Rice's 1st run of the game in the 3rd inning. Sure enough he came through for the team again by smoking a ball into the Right-Center Field gap for a double. His extra-base hit scored Garry easily to make it a 2-2 game.
Kauffmann retired the side in the top of the 7th, which allowed the Warriors to build on their momentum from the previous inning. (Senior SS) Davis Feldman led off the inning with a sharp single up the middle. He stole 2nd base immediately. The throw from the Catcher got past 2nd base and Feldman advanced to 3rd on the error. Instead of walking (Senior CF) Nick Plummer with nobody out and the winning run on third base, Bloomfield Hills elected to pitch to Brother Rice's All-State Center Fielder. Plummer came through in the clutch as he drove a deep line drive to Left Field. Feldman tagged and scored easily with the Game-winning run to send the Warriors home with a District Championship, and a 3-2 win over the Blackhawks.
Brother Rice is set to play Utica Eisenhower (17-15) in the Regional Semi-Final at Rochester High School on Saturday June 6th at 1:00 P.M. If Rice wins, they'd play the winner of Rochester Adams vs. Troy Athens at 3:30 P.M.
Oakland Press Article:
