Strong pitching, clutch hitting fuel
Canton's crucial 'W' over Spartans
BY ED WRIGHT
May 3,
2010, 11:45 p.m.
Mondays became a lot more
tolerable for Canton's baseball team.
After suffering two of its three losses on the first day of the
week earlier in the season, the Chiefs rebounded Monday with a an
important 6-1 victory over once-beaten and surging Livonia Stevenson.
Kevin Delapaz picked up his second win of the season for the
winners, limiting the Spartans' sizzling bats to just two hits over six
innings. Andrew Tidwell pitched a one-hit seventh.
"We lost to Novi and Northville on Mondays, so it was nice to
chase away the 'Monday Blues'," said Canton coach Mark Blomshield.
"We've had a hard time winning the big games against really good teams
this season, so it was nice to finally get one.
"We beat a quality pitcher in (Jeff) Sorenson, too, which was
nice. Kevin keeps getting better each time out. He's getting a handle
on all three of his pitches. He's starting to pitch like he pitched all
of last year."
The victory improved Canton's record to 13-3 overall and 8-2 in
the KLAA Kensington Conference. Stevenson slipped to 15-2 and 8-2,
respectively.
Canton scored three in the third off Sorenson and never trailed
thereafter. The three-run uprising was sparked by Garrett Bryden, who
blasted a triple to deep center field to start the frame. Bryden scored
on a double by Mark Main, who scored along with Chris Perkovich (walk)
on Seth Tschetter's two-run double.
"Seth's been a streaky hitter this season, but today he was on a
hot streak," said Blomshield. "He had a great game behind the plate,
too. He made a diving catch on a foul pop-up and was strong in all
parts of the game."
After the Spartans cut their deficit to 3-1 with an unearned run
in the third, Canton got one back when Chris Perkovich reached on an
error, stole second and third, and scored on a two-out single by
Tschetter.
The Chiefs added a pair of runs in the sixth when a Bryden
double plated Cody Blakita and Tidwell's single brought home
Bryden.
