No. 1-ranked Northville breaks open tight game, wins in mercy
Northville’s Luke Dieringer rips a single during the third inning of Monday’s game against Howell.
Monday afternoon’s Howell-at-Northville baseball game was tight for three-and-a-half innings.
And then it wasn’t.
Trailing the No. 1-ranked Mustangs (according to the April 17 Michigan High School Baseball Coaches Association poll) 2-1 in the top of the fourth, Howell was in business after putting runners on second and third with one out.
However, Northville senior starting pitcher Caden Besco locked in and induced an infield pop-out before stirking out the next batter to extinguish the threat.
Northville put some air between itself and the Highlanders with a four-run fourth, before sealing the 11-1 mercy rule-shortened contest with a pair of runs in each of the fifth and sixth frames.
To check out video highlights from Monday’s game, click here.
Closing in on Wildcats
The Mustangs improved to 5-1 in the KLAA West Division — one-half game behind 6-1 Novi. Howell dropped to 3-3 in the West.
Besco was fabulous for the winners, tossing a six-inning complete game. He struck out eight while yielding just four hits and one walk.
Northville junior right-fielder Nolan Coppens carved out one of the most unusual line scores you’ll ever see — 0-2-0-1 — after reaching base on all four of his plate appearances via three walks and a hit-by-pitch.
He scored twice and picked up an RBI with a bases-loaded walk in the sixth.
Mustang seniors Dante’ Nori and Evan Deak powered the winners’ nine-hit attack from the No. 1 and 3 spots in the order, respectively. Nori (2-for-3, two runs scored and a walk) launched at two-out, two-run double in the bottom of the fifth that hit the base of the fence in left-center field.
First-inning fireworks
Deak plated Nori and Carter Jurcisin with a two-run double to deep right-center field in the bottom of the first.
Connor Vissotski and Carson Eaton contributed two hits a piece. Eaton’s second hit was a swinging infield single that scored Luke Dieringer with the game-ending run.
Northville did not commit an error while the Highlanders piled up four fielding miscues — all coming in the final three innings.
Ed Wright can be reached at 734-664-4657 or edwright@socialhousenews.com.
