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Kingsford Senior Boys Split At State Tournament
 PETOSKEY---The Kingsford Senior Boys (age 15-16) split their first two games at the rain-soaked Senior Baseball State Tournament in Petoskey. The boys played Parchment out of the Kalamazoo area on Wednesday, but only made it into the third inning when the rains came. Kingsford had the lead at the time, 5-3, and it rained so hard that the fields were unplayable and the games were all postponed. Kingsford finished that game Thursday morning, and posted a 13-5 victory. Kingsford decided to try to keep all of its pitchers below the pitch count limit so that they can keep throwing throughout the tournament. Mike McCole started against Parchment but left after 30 pitches. Dalton Allen threw next, going 45 pitches. Dan Harrington pitched into the seventh inning, so he's used up for the tournament. Nick Baldwin led the offense with a home run and a double. Allen also slugged a double off of the fence. After a break, the Kingsford boys battled Taylor South in a back-and-forth game under much better weather conditions. The game was tied, 8-8, in the seventh inning, but the suburban Detroit team pulled out a 9-8 win with a run in that final inning. "We played a great game," Kingsford Manager Mark Allen said. "Taylor has a nice time. They won the state championship last year with pretty much the same kids, and finished second at the regionals. We were right there with them." McCole pitched 30 pitches again, then Baldwin threw 30. Trent Heath threw into the seventh inning before Cole Micheau wrapped things up in the seventh. So, Kingsford must beat the host Petoskey team to advance to the state semifinals. That game will be played at 8:00 a.m. CT on Friday in Petoskey. "We have the pitching," Mark Allen said. "If our defense holds up, there's no reason why we can't win this thing." Kingsford had advanced to this eight-team tournament by beating Norway twice in the districts. The first win was 10-0 as Mike McCole pitched a no-hitter. Then the boys had to rally for two runs in the bottom of the seventh inning to win the second game. There was no sectional for Kingsford because the District Eleven team from the Marquette/Houghton areas was not eligible. The state tournament schedule and results is posted below. Pictured: The Kingsford Senior All-Stars. Back row: Coach Mark Allen, David McCole, Westley Paupore, Ethan Metras, Michael McCole, Coach Keith Baldwin, Coach Scott Metras Front row: Brien Johnson, Trent Heath, Dalton Allen, Jaxson Ferree, Cole Michaud, Gabe Swanson Lying in front: Nick Baldwin and Conor Berndt. Not pictured: Daniel Harrington Pool A (Top 2 advance) D9 Western Grand Rapids D7 Emmett-Greenwood D16 Ash-Carleton D14 North Saginaw Township Pool B (Top 2 advance) D10 Kingsford D2 Parchment D13 Petoskey D5 Taylor South Thursday, July 26, 2012 D10 Kingsford 13, D2 Parchment 5 D5 Taylor South 9, D10 Kingsford 8 D9 Western Grand Rapids vs D7 Emmett Greenwood D13 Petoskey vs D5 Taylor South D16 Ash Carleton vs D14 N. Saginaw Twp. D9 Western Grand Rapids vs D16 Ash Carleton D2 Parchment vs D13 Petoskey D7 Emmett Greenwood vs D14 N. Saginaw Twp. Friday, July 27, 2012 D10 Kingsford vs D13 Petoskey, 9 a.m. (8 CT) D14 N. Saginaw Twp. vs D9 Western Grand Rapids D2 Parchment vs D5 Taylor South D7 Emmett Greenwood vs D16 Ash Carleton Friday, July 27, 2012 Semifinal #1, TBA Semifinal #2, TBA Championship Game TBA |
