Hartland Baseball Wins Regional Title

OXFORD — Things rolled along like they have been all season for the baseball team Saturday.

The Eagles mowed down Romeo, 5-2, in a regional semifinal game and then held off Clarkston, 3-1, to win the title.

“We wanted to get back in this regional game,” Hartland coach Brian Morrison said. “If you get here, you know you have a shot. You have just got to play good on this day. I thought we played great defense and pitched well again. What’s happened pretty much all year we were able to do today. We got a couple timely hits and we pitched very well.

“I'm happy we were able to get this for the seniors and the team because of all the hard work they’ve put in to it.”

The Eagles will face Sterling Heights Stevenson in the quarterfinals at Madison Heights Bishop Foley on Tuesday at 4 p.m. Stevenson beat Warren DeLaSalle 15-10 in a regional final in Grosse Pointe South.

In 2009, the last time the Eagles won a regional title, they lost to Warren DeLaSalle, 2-1, in the quarterfinals. DeLaSalle went on to win a state title.

Junior Jake Jessen got the win on the mound in the first game. He was helped by some solid defensive plays in the sixth inning when Romeo was threatening. 

Senior left fielder Kyle Garner threw home on a double and was able to stop the second run from scoring. Then, with two outs, and the bases loaded, he made a diving catch to end the inning.

Garner also had three singles and a run in the victory.

“I’ve been in a little slump,” Garner said. “I did everything I could today. Everybody on the team did. We showed up to play and that’s why we have this (regional) trophy.”

Senior captain Shane Felix had two hits and two RBIs in the opening game and Dan Richmond had two singles and an RBI.

“This is another step past districts,” Felix said. “We pick each other up, that’s how we play and that’s what propels us to victory.”

Jake Lowery earned the win over Clarkston. He had a rough start, walking two and hitting two in the first inning. The Eagles got out of the inning unscathed, though.

“Lowery, after the first inning, he really settled down,” Morrison said. 

Clarkston scored its only run in the second inning and Lowery allowed just three hits the rest of the game and sent the Wolves down in order in the fourth, sixth and seventh innings. Senior Al Wachsmuth made a diving catch in right field to end the game.

Hartland scored all three runs in the third inning on four singles and a sacrifice bunt.

“This means a lot,” Lowery said. “We haven’t won a regional in two years. We have so many seniors who’ll be leaving, this is great for them."