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RIDING THE WAVE: Menominee Outlasts Gaylord
 GLADWIN, Mich.---The Menominee Red Wave American Legion Baseball team overcame a shaky start Friday night and beat the Gaylord Strikers, 8-6, to advance to the Class A State Championship Game in downstate Gladwin. Menominee committed three errors in the first inning to help Gaylord take a 2-0 lead, but the Red Wave battled back to take the lead in a game that went back and forth.  In the top of the sixth inning, Gaylord St Mary High School graduate Josh Nowicki punched one through the left side of the infield for a base hit. Two runs scored and the Strikers took 6-5 lead.
Stephenson's Alex Hanson hit a sacrifice fly to tie things up in the bottom of the sixth for the Red Wave, and then fellow Eagle Jesus Becerra came through, ropeing one to right field.
Two runs scored for Menominee, even though Becerra was out at second base. In the top of the seventh, Gaylord loaded the bases with two out against Menominee relief pitcher Jason Janquart, who came on in the sixth inning when Nathan Nowack ran out of pitches on his pitch count. Gaylord's Adam Nowicki hit one to the left side of the infield. Stephenson High School graduate Bryce Tharp got the ball and dove onto third base. He got the force out and that ended the game, even though the Strikers argued the play at third base. With the 8-6 win, Menominee will play for a state championship for a second straight year Saturday afternoon at 2:00 ET. Menominee lost to Hudson in the final last year, but this year, it will be either Gaylord or Gladstone. Those two teams will play at 11:00 ET. Click the thumbnails in the ARTICLE HIGHLIGHTS box above to see photos, videos taken during Friday night's game.  |
