On Thursday night in East Lansing, on the campus of Michigan State University, the Brother Rice Warriors (43-1) beat Grosse Pointe North 5-2 in the MHSAA Semifinals. The Warriors' Pitching staff of (Junior RHP) Blake Ilitich and (Senior RHP) Chase Vanameyde combined to allow just 1 hit and 0 Earned Runs on the evening. Meanwhile, (Senior C) Owen Turner launched his team-leading 11th Home Run of the season, a three-run shot in the bottom of the 1st inning to help propel Brother Rice to the MHSAA Finals on Saturday morning at 11:30 A.M.

The start of the game couldn't have been scripted much better for the Warriors. Blake Ilitch retired 3 out of the first 4 batters he faced in the top of the 1st inning to hold Grosse Pointe North scoreless. (Junior CF) Cash Vanameyde lined a leadoff single to RF to start the bottom of the 1st inning. (Senior 1B) Ryan Tyranski drew a 7-pitch walk to put a pair of runners on for Owen Turner. Turner proceeded to bomb the 1st pitch he saw over the fence in LF to give Rice an early 3-0 lead.

Blake Ilitch tossed 2 perfect innings from there, however Rice was unable to score. In the top of the 4th inning Grosse Pointe North was able to load the bases on a hit by pitch, a single, and a walk. With 2 outs and the bases loaded the Warriors committed their only error of the game, which led to a pair of runs. Rice's lead was cut to 3-2. The Warriors answered back immediately though in the bottom half of the 4th. (Freshman DH) Broder Katke led off with a walk. Three batters later (Junior LF) Cole Vanameyde continued his clutch hitting and blasted an RBI double to CF to make it a 4-2 game. 

In the 5th inning Chase Vanameyde entered the game in relief of Blake Ilitch with 1 out and runners at 1st and 2nd. He proceeded to strikeout the next 2 batters he faced to close out the inning and keep the score 4-2. Brother Rice added an insurance run in the 6th as Broder Katke drew a 9-pitch walk to lead off the inning, and then Cole Vanameyde drilled a 2-out RBI-single to LF, which scored  Katke and made it a 5-2 game. Chase Vanameyde closed out the game by enducing 3 consecutive grounders, and Rice was able to advance to the State Finals where they'll be lined up to play Northville for the 2024 Division-1 State Championship. The game will be played at 11:30 A.M. at Michigan State University.

B. Ilitch: 4.1 IP, 0 ER, 1 H, 4 K's.

Chase Vanameyde: 2.2 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 BB, 3 K's.

Owen Turner: 1-for-3, Home Run (11th of the season), 3 RBI.

Cole Vanameyde: 2-for-3, 2B, 2 RBI.

B. Katke: 1-for-1, 2 BB, Run.

(Senior RHP) Chase Vanameyde tossed 2.2 Innings of scoreless relief during Brother Rice's 5-2 win over Grosse Pointe North. He allowed 0 Runs, 0 Hits, and 0 walks while striking out 3 batters.

On Saturday afternoon at Wayne State University in downtown, Detroit, the Brother Rice Warriors (42-1) won 4-2 over Seaholm in the Regional Final, and then beat Allen Park 5-2 in the State Quarterfinal. The Warriors used their stellar Pitching staff to keep themselves in the game, while their offense used timely hitting to ultimately earn the victories. (Junior LHP) Cole Duhaime threw 6+ innings in the first game to earn the victory. He allowed 2 Runs on 4 hits while striking out 7 batters. (Senior RF) Ty Fox had the biggest hit of the game against Seaholm. With the score tied at 2-2 in the bottom of the 6th Fox blasted an RBI double to give Rice the lead. The Warriors added one more in the 6th and then held on for a 4-2 win.

C. Duhaime: 6.1 IP, 2 R, 4 H, 1 BB, 7 K's.

T. Fox: 1-for-2, 2B, BB, Game-winning RBI.

T. Crane: 1-for-2, BB, 2 Runs.

Chase Vanameyde: 0.2 IP, 1 K, Save.

Brother Rice: 6 Stolen Bases.

In Game #2 against Allen Park, the Warriors jumped out to an early lead. With the score 0-0 in the 2nd, (Senior 3B) Chase Vanameyde led off the inning with a triple to CF. (Freshman C) Broder Katke followed that up with a single to LF to make it 1-0. Katke singled again in the 3rd inning with the bases loaded to make the score 2-1. Two batters later Ty Fox came up and roped a single to CF to  make the score 4-1. Allen Park added a run in the 4th, but Rice answered back with an RBI single by (Junior CF) Cash Vanameyde to make the score 5-2. Chase Vanameyde came in to close out the game for the 2nd time on the day. He tossed 2.1 Innings and didn't allow a walk or hit. He struckout 3 to preserve the victory and punch the Warriors' ticket to the Final 4 in East Lansing.

With the win, Rice is scheduled to play Grosse Pointe North in the State Semifinals at 5:00 PM in East Lansing on the campus of Michigan State University. 

A. Pack: 3 IP, 0 ER.

Chase Vanameyde: 2.1 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 BB, 3 K's, Save.

T. Fox: 2-for-3, 1 R, 2 RBI.

B. Katke: 2-for-4, 2 RBI.

C. Vanameyde: 2-for-4, R, RBI.

(Senior RF) Ty Fox went 3-for-5 with a double, and 3 RBI on Saturday. He drove home the game-winning RBI in Brother Rice's 4-2 win over Seaholm. He followed that up with a 2-for-3, 2 RBI game against Allen Park.