Senior Boys eliminated after back-to-back losses

The last of the teams from the Rogers City Little League had its postseason run come to an end after playing in three games. The Senior Boy all-stars won their first game on opening day of the state tournament at Belleville, but dropped the next two and were eliminated from further action. Rogers City’s first game of the tournament was against Taylor South, a community less than a half hour from the tournament site.

It didn’t take Taylor long to get to the game or to score. In the bottom of the first inning, Taylor South scored three runs and held the lead until Rogers City came up in the top of the second. Cody Wenzel tied the game with one swing of the bat, clearing the bases with a triple.

WITH THE SCORE tied at three, Austin Fairbanks gave the Senior Boys the lead with a two-run single in the fourth inning. Rogers City added a run in the fifth on a RBI single from Wenzel, for a 6-3 lead. Fairbanks drove in the final two runs in the seventh with a single, giving Rogers City an 8-3 win. Wenzel went the distance, allowing five hits and striking out three. He ended his day at the plate with three hits. Jake Bellmore had two hits, including a double, while Fairbanks had four RBI.

The next game was Sunday against Grandville, a team that had one of the best players coach Wayne Karsten saw play against the Rogers City stars. The scrappy shortstop took away three or four hits with his outstanding play in the field. Grandville started the scoring with a run in the top of the first, but Rogers City countered in the bottom of the second with a run. Chris Santini ripped a double to knock in Bellmore to tie the game. Unfortunately, it would be the only run for the local squad.

Grandville added two in the fourth and one in the fifth and went on to advance in the tournament with the 4-

1 win over Rogers City. Fairbanks was tagged with the loss, although he struck out seven.

THE LOSS PUT the all-stars in the consolation bracket for another shot at the state title, but things fell apart in the final game when Rogers City uncharacteristically committed seven errors. Rogers City’s opponent was Harper Woods, which scored nine unearned runs enroute to the 9-2 win over Rogers City. The only runs of the game came from Wenzel, who unloaded for a two-run homer that cleared the left field fence and ended up in the woods. Santini pitched 4 2/3 innings, giving up six hits, while Bellmore relieved.

“It’s a great bunch of athletes,” said Karsten. “The next two or three years, they are going to have their share of success. You can expect to see them in Battle Creek.” Some were on this year’s Huron team that played in the Division IV state semifinals. In addition to Karsten, the all-stars were coached by Mark Grulke and Keith Peacock.

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