The Milan News-Leader
A Heritage Newspaper
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Milan pounds Devils, win streak now at nine
By Jerry Hinnen, Staff Writer
PUBLISHED: May 17, 2007
They had to survive yet another close call first. But the Milan baseball team was finally able to take a breath in its quest to stay ahead of the pack in the Huron League race with two comfortable wins against Grosse Ile.
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On the road against Flat Rock Friday, Milan played its fourth straight Huron League contest to be decided in either the seventh or extra innings, defeating the Rams 5-3 with two runs in the top of the ninth. But in Monday's double-header against the visiting Red Devils, the Big Reds swept to 17-0 and 9-3 victories to break the string of nailbiters.
The wins also moved Milan to 8-0 in Huron League play, 15-4 overall, and stretched the Big Reds' current winning streak to nine games.
"We've got a tough week ahead of us, but we're exactly where we want to be," said head coach Adam Gilles. "We're on top."
Part of Milan's rise to first in the Huron was an easy 14-2 win over Flat Rock April 23, but the Rams showed Friday's contest would be different in the bottom of the first inning, scoring three runs off of Milan starter Cameron Hynds for a 3-0 lead.
Hynds would help the Big Reds erase the lead, connecting for RBI singles in both the fourth and sixth innings. Along with Ryan Bordine's follow-up RBI single in Milan's two-run fourth and six innings of scoreless pitching (five from Hynds, one from reliever Jesse Karr), the Big Reds were able to send the game into extra innings.
After a scoreless eighth, Milan pushed two across in the top of the ninth. Mike Barnett led the inning off with a walk and scored after back-to-back errors from the Rams. With Karr on third, Zack McGovern (who had scored two runs himself) then executed a suicide squeeze play for the 5-3 lead.
Karr pitched a perfect bottom half of the inning for the win.
Gilles admitted afterward that his team had perhaps overlooked the Rams, but gave them credit as well for pulling out the victory regardless.
"Our guys are finding a way to win," he said, "and that's all that matters."
The Big Reds didn't have to look very hard for their Game 1 win against Grosse Ile, sending 12 batters to the plate and scoring nine runs in the bottom of the first. Hynds, Bordine, Denver Straub, Matt Craig, and Matt Suisse all collected RBIs in the inning.
With the Big Red lead stretched to 13-0 in the second, Hynds would add the biggest blow with a grand slam to left for the final 17-run margin.
The Devils took Milan into the fifth inning tied at three in Game 2 before the Big Reds exploded for six runs in the bottom half of the inning. Kyle Crump pitched three innings in relief of Straub and picked up the win. McGovern pitched the seventh and added a hit and four stolen bases on offense. Bordine had a triple and three RBI while Karr added three hits.
The Big Reds' streak will be tested this week as they were expected to face St. Mary Catholic Central Wednesday, and as they take on Riverview Thursday, Monroe-Jefferson Friday, and a critical double-header at challenger Airport Monday.
"If everybody does their job, we should be fine," Gilles said. "We haven't really hit the ball that well. We've been winning with pitching and defense. But we've done a good job of bunting and putting the ball in play and if we continue to do that, we'll be OK."
Staff Writer Jerry Hinnen can be reached at 429-7380.
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