Northville’s ‘Band of Brothers’ just one victory from state title
Northville baseball players walk off the McLane Baseball Stadium at Kobs Field turf after defeating Bay City Western, 9-2.
Teammates since they were in elementary school, there is a group of Northville High School baseball players who are going to compete in their final game ever together on the biggest stage in Michigan high school baseball.
Fueled by a five-run fourth inning — when all the runs scored with two outs — the Mustangs ran away from Bay City Western, 9-2, in Thursday’s first of two Division 1 semifinal games played on the campus of Michigan State University.
Northville will face Birmingham Brother Rice in Saturday’s 11:30 a.m. championship game at McLane Baseball Stadium at Kobs Field on the campus of Michigan State University. The Warriors defeated Grosse Pointe North, 5-2.
Northville is living up to the No. 1 state ranking it earned early this season — and it’s doing so with a bunch of longtime buddies led by a first-year Hall of Fame head coach.
“A lot of us have been playing together since we were 7- or 8-years-old, so to be able to finish our high school careers in the biggest game is awesome,” said senior Caden Besco, who relieved starting pitcher Justin Brown with two outs and two on in the top of the fourth.
To check out video highlights of Thursday’s game, click here.
Besco shines
Besco, who ended the threat with a call-looking strikeout of Jack Berthiaume, allowed just one baserunner (a sixth-inning walk) over the final 3 1/3 innings.
“Caden is a junkyard dog; that’s the nickname I gave him,” said Northville Head Coach Dan Cimini, who has coached a team to the state finals nine times since 2011. “He comes in there and gives everything he’s got. ‘Browny’ (starter Justin Brown) pitched a good game; he just kind of ran out of gas. Caden came in and just closed it out.”
Hopefully, there were some Major League Scouts in the stands because Northville’s MLB Draft prospect Dante’ Nori put on a show.
Nori reached base in three of four at-bats — the most memorable reach a massive solo home run in the bottom of the third that tied the game at 2-2. Nori was intentionally walked in his final two at-bats, scoring both times.
“I think it was a 1-0 count and I knew I’d have to get something over the plate,” Nori said, recounting the at-bat when he launched his second home run of the season.
No-doubter
“The pitch I hit was middle-middle and I just didn’t miss it.”
Nori said he doesn’t mind getting intentionally walked (although, obviously, he’d rather get to swing) because it brings up the Mustangs’ hottest hitter — Joey Broughton — with men on base. Broughton finished with four RBI, three coming on a bases-loaded two-out double in the fourth.
“Most of the time, in situations when we have runners on and first base is open, I expect to get walked,” Nori said. “But that’s alright when you have a guy like Joey who has been unbelievable since he’s been back (Broughton missed the first month-plus of the season with an arm injury). Whenever I get walked, I know Joey is going to make them pay.”
When asked if he takes it personally when opponents choose to walk Nori and pitch to him, Broughton smiled before answering.
“Personally, I think it’s smart (to walk Nori),” Broughton said with a grin, “and I invite teams to keep doing it. Keep it coming.”
Cimini had high praise for Nori and Broughton.
“If Dante’s not Mr. Baseball, then he should be — he’s that good,” Cimini said of his Mississippi State University-bound centerfielder/lead-off batter. “He is without a doubt the best player in Michigan and one of the best high school players I’ve seen in a long time.
“And Joey has been amazing.”
Early advantage
Northville took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the second thanks to some well-executed small ball. Connor Vissotski led off with walk, was sacrificed to second on an 0-2 bunt by Besco, and ultimately scored on a wild pitch.
Western rallied to take a 2-1 lead in the top of the third thanks to RBI hits from Mikey Deluca and Bryce Neitzel.
After Nori’s long tater knotted the scored at 2-2 in the bottom of the third, Western threatened in the top of the fourth, putting runners on second and third with two outs.
After Brown threw one pitch (a ball) to Berthiaume, Cimini summoned Besco, who registered a pivotal strikeout.
The Mustangs all but punched their ticket to the final game in their half of the fourth, scoring five two-out runs.
The biggest hits in the frame were Parker Dell’s pinch-hit RBI single and Broughton bases-load, bases-clearing double.
Icing on the cake
Northville’s final two runs came in the sixth when Broughton and senior Carter Jurcisin ripped RBI singles.
“We’ve been trying to make it here forever,” said Broughton, looking around the MSU campus. “I’m really proud of all of us as a group and I thank our coaching staff for helping us get here.”
Ed Wright can be reached at 734-664-4657 or edwright@socialhousenews.com.
