The Livonia Stevenson baseball team pulled off a stunning extra‑inning victory on Tuesday, edging Detroit Western International 7‑6 to stay alive in the regional playoffs. The win kept the Kensington Lakes Activities Association's last playoff team from being eliminated and set up a showdown with Warren De La Salle at Woodhaven High School.
Playing for Coach Berryman
The game carried an emotional weight, as the team dedicated the effort to their hospitalized head coach, Rick Berryman. Interim coach Nate Hoffman stepped in to guide the squad, emphasizing the players' resolve to honor Berryman's recovery while battling for a spot in the next round.
A rally that defied the odds
Stevenson built an early four‑run lead, but Western rallied to take control. The Spartans answered with two runs in the bottom of the seventh to force extra innings. In the eighth, a hit‑by‑pitch delivered the decisive run, sealing a 7‑6 triumph that sent the team to the regional final.
Looking ahead to history
The victory not only extends Stevenson's season but also places them in position to become the fourth straight KLAA team to capture a state championship. Junior pitcher Caden Gawkowski, who entered the game in the fifth inning to stabilize the pitching staff, said the team is motivated by the chance to play for Berryman and bring a title home.