A Late‑Game Resurgence
The Orchard Lake St. Mary's baseball team entered the MHSAA Division 2 championship game with a 4‑0 deficit after three innings, facing a Grand Rapids Kenowa Hills squad that seemed to have the upper hand.
A brief team meeting outside the first‑base dugout sparked a shift in momentum, as the players rallied around a shared resolve to rewrite the script.
Luke Crighton ignited the comeback with a single, and he finished the game 4‑for‑5 at the plate, driving in key runs and energizing his teammates.
Tyler Shubnell delivered a clutch double that brought in two runs, and his effort was rewarded when Nate Bauman followed with an RBI single, tying the contest in the sixth inning.
Anthony Abela then took the mound, delivering five innings of one‑hit, three‑walk baseball while striking out six, preserving the tie and setting the stage for the final push.
The Eaglets ultimately edged the opposition 6‑4 in eight innings, securing their seventh state championship and marking a milestone for the current graduating class.