Ferndale Varsity Baseball Advances to Regionals

Ferndale varsity baseball won its district in the Division 2 playoffs on Saturday for the first time since 2009.

The Eagles beat Warren Lincoln 11-1 in the semifinals and then closed out the district with a 14-6 win over Warren Fitzgerald.

Just as it has been all year, strong starting pitching was the key in both wins.

Ryan Humphreys pitched all six innings in the first game. Lincoln's lone run wasn't earned. He only allowed three hits and struck out six.

"That moved him to 6-1 on the year," assistant coach Mike Hand said. "He's just been fantastic."

Ferndale opened the game with three runs in the first and then Humphreys struck out the side in the second inning.

"To come back and strike out the side, 1-2-3 like that and shut them down so quickly, that really set the tone," Hand said.

In the finals Noah Reiter had a couple hiccups early, but settled down to pitch a complete game and earn the win. He allowed six runs (four earned) and struck out nine.

Reiter allowed three runs in the first and three more in the second.

"Other than those two innings he was lights out," Hand said.

Ferndale came back and tied the game 6-6 in the fourth. The Eagles scored three in the sixth to take a 9-6 lead and Justin Hammerle broke the game open in the sixth. The freshman catcher hit a double with the bases loaded that scored three runs.

"He was kind of in a slump, getting beat up the last five games," Hand said. "But man he came up big in the championship game."

Hammerle ended the game 4-for-5 with six RBIs.

Once the final out was recorded the Eagles rushed the field.

"They were ecstatic," Hand said. "They all rushed the field. Fitzgerald was up all game and we scored a run in every single inning, then eight in the last two. It was just good day for us."

The Eagles will play Saturday at Madonna at 12:30 p.m. in the opening round of regionals. Ferndale was still waiting for results from Dearborn's district to see who it's opponent will be.