Michigan high school baseball state tournament: Novi's late rally downs Mattawan in D1 semifinal
Michigan high school softball state tournament: results from the quarterfinals
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The Novi Wildcats defeated the Mattawan 4-1 in the MHSAA Baseball Division 1 semifinals at McLane Stadium.
Novi needed one run in the top of the seventh inning to keep its season alive. Andrew Kummer drew a walk, and he advanced to second one batter later. Jaden Vondrasek pinch ran for Kummer, which paid off when Alex Czapski singled to center field, and Vondrasek rounded third base and scored to tie the game.
Mattawan earned its run in the bottom of the first inning. Brendan Garza drove in Connor Cole with a single up the middle. Mattawan left Garza on base, and the Wildcats continued to leave runners on base all game.
They left five runners on base through five innings, and the missed opportunities allowed Novi to tie the game with only one run.
Mattawan had another opportunity squandered. In the ninth inning, Cole Garza doubled to right field. Colin O'Reilly executed a sacrifice bunt to advance Garza to third base, but the next two batters got out, and Cole Garza was stranded in a scoring position.
Novi capitalized on its baserunners in the 10th inning. Brett Reed singled to left field, and Jonathan Aurilia drew a walk with no outs.
Caleb Walker singled, and Reed scored on a throwing error by Brenden Garza. After two outs Kummer hit an RBI double to give Novi the 4-1 lead.
Mattawan could not muster any baserunners in the bottom of the tenth inning, and Novi advanced to the finals.
Novi will play Brownstown Woodhaven at 9 a.m. on Saturday at McLane Field.
Novi's Uli Fernsler threw three innings, allowing one hit while striking out two. Andrew Abler pitched seven innings, allowing five hits, one run, two walks and six strikeouts.
Kummer led Novi with two RBIs.
Mattawan's Brenden Garza pitched eight innings, allowing two hits, one run while striking out six and walking three.
