Stoney Creek drains Lake Orion in thriller
BY DAN STICKRADT
SENIOR EDITOR
dan.stickradt@northoaklandsports.com
LAKE ORION — In baseball, winning does not always need to be pretty. Rochester Stoney Creek proved that Monday evening.
In a week of showdowns where four teams — Stoney Creek, Lake Orion, Clarkston and Troy Athens — all eyeing at least a piece of the OAA Red Division baseball title, the visiting Cougars took a bite out of the Dragons Monday, posting a 6-5 win over Lake Orion in a game where the Cougars only posted four hits but still found a way to prevail.
“We’re finding ways to win ballgames, which is what you need to do in order to stay in the hunt,” said Stoney Creek coach Clint Rodger. “We seem to be doing the right things at the right time, do what we need to do, and we’re getting some solid pitching.”
Mike McKinley has proven to emerge as the team’s ace, as he scattered five runs and five hits to keep the Cougars in the game, while Zak Northrup pitched the seventh for the win.
Jake Miller, who finished 3-for-3, had the game-winning RBI single for Stoney Creek (18-7, 7-3).
Lake Orion (21-5, 8-3) had the bases loaded in the bottom of the seventh but could not push across the equalizer.
Zack Zott belted a two-run home run and Cole Schaenzer added an RBI single in the bottom of the fourth to help the Dragons take a 4-2 lead.
Niko Gonzales added an RBI double in the sixth, followed by McKinley’s suicide squeeze that brought home Gonzales, who finished with two hits and three RBI, and tied the score at 4-4. McKinley also had an RBI sac fly in the first and Dave Mulham added two hits for Stoney Creek.
Nick Deeg had an RBI single and scattered three hits in six frames of work but did not factor into a decision for Lake Orion.
“We put ourselves in position to win this game,” said Lake Orion coach Andy Schramek. “Nick Deeg pitched a great game. We only gave up four hits the whole day. Stoney Creek just came through with some clutch hits to win.
“We have several more league games this week, so we’ll just move on,” added Schramek. “We can’t dwell on the loss.”
Stoney Creek will play a double-header at Clarkston Tuesday, plus a game at Troy Athens Wednesday. Lake Orion faces Auburn hills Avondale Tuesday, Rochester Wednesday, Troy Athens on both Thursday and Friday and Clarkston on Saturday.
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Category: High School, High School (M-Z), Lake Orion, Prep Wraps, Rochester Stoney Creek
