The Dexter Leader
A Heritage Newspaper
Weekly Publication
Dexter wins district
PUBLISHED: July 17, 2008
For the first time in its six-year existence, Dexter Little League is sending a team to the Michigan State Major Baseball All-Star Tournament.
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Eleven local players are in Bay City today preparing for the annual event, which begins Friday afternoon and includes champions from each of the state's 16 Little League districts. Dexter earned a berth by defeating Ypsilanti National, 12-0, last Sunday in the District 3 championship game in Jackson.
"It's a very exciting time for the kids and their families," Dexter manager Matt Seidl said. "This is a special team that is recognized as one of the best in the state, but getting to the state tournament, especially in the Major division, is very difficult. We were fortunate enough to play well at the right time."
There was little doubt which squad deserved to emerge from the 11-team District tourney as Dexter outscored four opponents, 45-8, over a seven-day period. The locals crushed Milan, 16-0, on July 6; clipped host Jackson Southwest, 4-3, on July 9; and defeated Ypsilanti National, 13-5, last Friday. National earned another shot at Dexter by narrowly defeating Southwest a day later.
"We've had quite a rivalry with National over the last three seasons," Seidl commented. "They beat us in the 'if necessary' game when the boys were 10, but we've handled them the past two seasons. This year was the big one, though."
In Sunday's clincher, Dexter jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the first inning and never looked back. Pitcher MacKay Little turned in a dominant performance, allowing just two hits and one walk in the five-inning contest. He faced only 16 batters as his teammates turned two double plays behind him.
Offensively, Dexter methodically built a 6-0 lead before blowing the game open in the top of the fifth. Gregory Goffee's triple accounted for two runs, Patrick Gronvall's third hit of the game brought home Goffee, and Derek Seidl added an exclamation point with a three-run homer to left.
"We're tough to beat when we play like that," said Matt Seidl, referring to Sunday's effort. "MacKay was on, and we were making plays behind him. When Brett (Garwood) made that diving play at third base in the first inning, I had a feeling it was going to be a good day. And let's not forget Nate (Mellifont) turning two double plays at second."
Friday's game against National was not as smooth for the locals, who found themselves in a 5-4 hole after three innings. Even after Tyler King stroked an RBI single and pinch-runner Tristin Rojeck came home on a throwing error, there was an uneasy feeling in Dexter's dugout. That all changed, however, when Little blasted a grand slam homer in the fifth to make it 11-5.
Little and Derek Seidl both went 4-for-5 to lead the locals, while Goffee and Colin Hanss contributed two hits apiece. Gronvall added a solo homer to lead off the sixth.
Defensively, Dexter received strong relief pitching from both Derek Seidl and King. Seidl worked two scoreless innings, allowing one hit and striking out four, while King pitched a scoreless sixth. Also contributing were Brennan Maisch, who made a spectacular diving catch in right field, and Little, whose snag at third base ended the third inning and saved at least two runs.
"Mac's play at third was huge," Matt Seidl said. "If that goes to the corner, we're down at least 7-4 and who knows where it goes from there. That play allowed us to regroup and get Derek properly warmed up before sending him out to the mound."
Dexter's biggest scare came in the second round against Jackson Southwest. The locals left 12 runners on base and were frustrated throughout the night by an inefficient offense. Even their decisive two-run rally in the fifth inning "wasn't a thing of beauty," Seidl said.
Derek Seidl led off the fifth with a double and moved to third when King reached base on an error. Then, with one out, Cameron Winston was hit by a pitch to load the bases. After a force out at home plate, pinch-runner Rojeck scored on a wild pitch to tie the score and another error allowed Winston to plate the go-ahead run.
"There's no question we were ripe for an upset that night," Matt Seidl said. "Everything kept going against us. The boys are beyond their years when it comes to handling pressure, though. Time and time again this year, they've found a way to pull out tough victories."
The triumph over Milan lasted only four innings. Goffee led off the game with a home run and Little smacked a three-run shot in the second. From that point on, there was little doubt about the outcome. Garwood and Hanss added two hits each for the winners.
Dexter is scheduled to play Midland Northeast at 1 p.m. Friday in Bay City. The locals' pool also includes Birmingham and Schoolcraft. Pool play runs through Sunday, with the top two teams from each of the four pools advancing. The quarterfinals, semifinals and finals are slated for July 21-23.
The winner of the Michigan State Major Baseball All-Star Tournament earns a berth in the Great Lakes Regional Tournament in Indianapolis, Ind. July 30 through Aug. 9.
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