PREP BASEBALL: Hartland shuts off Lake Orion to claim regional title

Rochester Adams, Rochester Stoney Creek also ousted

BY DAN STICKRADT

SENIOR EDITOR

dan.stickradt@northoaklandsports.com

Twitter: @LocalSportsFans

HARTLAND — And then there was silence.

Lake Orion, champions of the OAA Red Division with the second highest win total (30) in school history, were blanked for only the second time all season Saturday — at the worst time.

Hartland proved to be the Dragons’ equal, halting Lake Orion’s fine season with a 6-0 shutout in a Division 1 baseball regional final at Hartland High School. Lake Orion had won 18 straight games heading into the regional finals.

Hartland rode the arms of Jake Lowery, Jacob Jessen and Corey Lewandowski to eliminate two OAA-Red teams. Lowery pitched a two-hitter against Adams, then Jessen and Lewandowski combined for a two-hitter in the finals for the Eagles, who also won regional crowns in 2009 and 2011 and lost in the regional finals in 2008 to Troy.

The Eagles (25-10) will face Warren De La Salle in the state quarterfinals at 4 p.m. Tuesday at Madison Heights Bishop Foley.

“When it came down to it, our pitching really pulled through,” offered Hartland coach Brian Morrison said. “We were able to get a lot of big outs and strikeouts in big situations.

“We were able to shut down two good teams,” added Morrison. “This was out day.”

Jessen struck out six, including the side in the bottom half of the fourth, and gave up one hit over five innings of work. Lewandowski surrendered one harmless hit in the seventh for Hartland, which allowed Lake Orion only seven base runners in the regional final.

Leading 2-0 through four frames, Hartland erupted for four runs in the fifth to give the Eagles plenty of breathing room.

Jordan Kesson had an RBI single, Travis Johnson delivered a big blow with a two-run double and Marcus Ziebold laced an RBI single to cap the four-run fifth.

Hartland’s other runs came in the opening frame, when Anthony Villar ripped an RBI double and Tony Annese added an RBI single.

Lake Orion’s Brad Schaenzer pitched 4 2/3 innings. He struck out seven and gave up eight hits and four walks.

For Morrison and his staff, they have been involved in four regional finals games in five seasons and several of the players were on last year’s regional championship team.

“I think experience was a huge factor,” noted Morrison. “Both teams played hard and played great. Sometimes when you’ve been there and done that, there’s something to be said for that. It helped us today.”

Lake Orion had not won a district title and made an appearance in the regional since 2007, the year the Dragons won the D-1 state title. The experience factor may have played a part in the Dragons’ exit, but Lake Orion coach Andy Schramek feels his two- senior team will benefit in the long run.

“It’s been so long since we’ve been able to win postseason games and I think they brought a lot of pride back, not that we weren’t a proud program in the past,” Lake Orion head coach Andy Schramek said, whose team has won at least 20 games in 12 of his 14 seasons at the helm. “Sometimes you’re judged by how many games you win in the postseason. It was great. Our senior leadership from Jake Gardner and Dalton Ovesen was excellent and we had contributions from our roster all season long.

“We gained a lot of experience this season. We’ll miss the seniors, but we have a lot of talent coming back,” added Schramek, who is 4-3 in regional finals games as a head coach.

HARTLAND 4, ROCHESTER ADAMS 2: Hartland opened up regional play with this pitcher’s duel, scoring two in the first and single runs in the sixth and seventh innings to oust the Highlanders.

“We couldn’t put too many balls in play and we struck out too many times, but to be honest it was our defense that hurt us more than anything,” said Adams coach Jeff Hall. “We got our two runs and knew we only could give up one or two. Sean (Byer) did that by giving up just one earned run. They were able to get a few more timely hits then we were.”

Lowery kept Adams’ batters in check most of the afternoon, allowing only the two hits and four baserunners.

Kesson had an RBI fielder’s choice and Tony Annese — a transfer from Adams who began his high school career at Hartland for two years and then spent three semesters at Adams — added an RBI single, both coming in the first frame.

Adams scored a run in the first, when Alex Taylor belted a sacrifice fly. Corey Clemons added another sac fly in the fifth to tie the game.

Adams starter Sean Beyer suffered the loss despite allowing just three hits and one earned run.

Hartland’s Spencer Wright delivered a sac fly to score Ziebold and Lowery tripled and later crossed the plate on a botched ball in the infield.

LAKE ORION 4, ROCHESTER STONEY CREEK 1: Behind the arm of Nick Deeg and seven total hits from the Dragons’ offense, Lake Orion ousted Stoney Creek in the first semifinal Saturday.

Deeg fired a complete-game three-hitter and struck out 11 and Lake Orion scored two in the first, one in the third and one more in the seventh to prevail and back his fine performance on the mound.

Dalton Oveson drove in two runs with a two-out double in the first. Nolan Page plated a run in the third on an RBI fielder’s choice and Oveson added an RBI single in the seventh for the Dragons.

Stoney Creek, which won its first-ever district title in the school’s 10-year history, finished 22-14, one win shy of tying the school record.

“I told the boys that whether you win or lose, it was something to win a district and don’t be too disappointed,” said Stoney Creek coach Clint Rodger. “We still had a good season. We just lost to a very good team. We hope to build on this next season and try to get back.”

Lake Orion defeated Stoney Creek all four times this season.

Stoney Creek plated its sole run in the fourth when Justin Allor drove in a run off a single.

Zak Northrup took the loss from the bump, scattering seven hits with seven strikeouts, five walks and three earned runs.
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