BY ED WRIGHT
June 13, 2010, 8:35 a.m.

  On the second Saturday of June in 2008 and 2009, members of Canton's baseball team were forced to endure the gut-wrenching sight of Birmingham Brother Rice baseball players celebrating Regional titles just a few feet in front of their faces.

  On the second Saturday of 2010, the tables turned for the Chiefs - faster than an Andrew Tidwell curveball.

  The "Brother Rice Curse" that haunted the Chiefs the past two Junes met its demise at 5:12 p.m. yesterday when it was officially buried in the webbing of Ben Staley's glove.

  Staley, the Chiefs' right fielder, squeezed Kyle Galli's towering pop up down the right field line to cap Canton's tension-packed 3-2 victory over the Warriors in the Region 8-1 final at Novi High School.

  The Chiefs will play in the program's first quarterfinal contest since 1982 on Tuesday at 1 p.m. at Michigan State University when they face Ann Arbor Pioneer.

  As Staley sprinted toward the infield with the prized ball tucked securely in his glove, the Chiefs gang-tackled senior side-arm pitcher Andrew Tidwell, who silenced the Brother Rice bats most of the afternoon, scattering seven hits.

  The end didn't come easy for Tidwell, whose right hand started cramping up so badly in the seventh inning, the game had to be stopped for a few minutes so Canton coach Mark Blomshield could deliver a bottle of water to his side-arming slinger.

  Tidwell said it wasn't nerves, the heat or dehydration that caused the problem.

  "I think I was just throwing too hard," he said, smiling.

  The Warriors would have probably agreed.

  After Jimmy Pickens clubbed a two-run home run to give Rice a 2-0 lead in the third, just one Warrior base-runner reached second base against Tidwell, who struck out two and was backed by an air-tight defensive effort.

  "The crowd was going wild and I just wanted to win a Regional championship for Canton," Tidwell said, when asked what he was thinking prior to his final pitch to Galli. "Our defense was amazing today. It seemed like every inning, somebody was making a great play."

  The victory was No. 28 for the Chiefs - a school record.

  "I'm just so happy for all the players and coaches, but especially for the seniors," said Canton coach Mark Blomshield. "I really think the experience we gained in having been in two Regional finals before this year paid off."

  Exhibit A of the Chiefs' stellar defensive performance came in the bottom of the second inning when Rice's Will Schwartz led off with a double and advanced to third on a balk. Two batters later, Kyle Mackenzie lifted a medium-depth fly ball to left field that Canton left-fielder Garrett Bryden grabbed before unloading a missile of a throw to catcher Seth Tschetter, who applied a tag on Schwartz, who had tagged up.

  "First of all, I was focusing on making the catch, something I've had a little trouble with this season," said Bryden. "The throw felt good right when I let it go. Seth made a great play on it."

  While the Chiefs were struggling to figure out Brother Rice starter Dalton Greyerbiehl (4 innings pitched, 1 hit), the Warriors mounted another threat in the third, only this time they made it count. With two outs and Pat MacKenzie on second, Pickens launched a two-run shot over the left-center field fence.

  Two innings later, the Chiefs answered against Rice reliever Mike Ruppenthai. Bryden led off with a scorching triple to right center and scored when the next batter, Chris Perkovich, ripped a sharp single.

  The Chiefs then manufactured two more runs on three straight bunts - from Staley, Tidwell (suicide squeeze) and Kevin Delapaz - to seize (or squeeze) a 3-2 lead.

  "It was just a classic case of executing small ball," said Blomshield. "We didn't do anything fancy, but we got the job done. That's what this team is about."

  Canton senior third baseman Cody Blakita, a four-year varsity player, helped the Chiefs secure their narrow lead by robbing Galli of a sure hit in the fifth when he dove to his left to gobble up a hard-hit two-hopper. Blakita then started a 5-4-3 double play in the sixth.

  "Andrew works fast - sometimes too fast (smile) - so you have to be ready," said Blakita, who walked in all three of his plate appearances. "The key to playing third is to react to the ball and throw your body at it."

  The victory was extra-sweet for senior Kevin Delapaz, who, like Blakita, is a four-year varsity player.

  "This means so much because we've worked so hard this year," said Delapaz. "This team is successful because we work as a team, we're not a bunch of individuals. Somebody different steps up every game."

  Ed Wright can be reached at (734) 453-1980 or info@plymouthcantonsports.com.
  

Canton's Seth Tschetter was plunked by a pitch in the Chiefs' 5-2 Regional semifinal victory over Novi Saturday morning. (photo courtesy of PlymouthPictures.com)

Canton second baseman Bernabie Salinas keeps his eye on the ball. (photo courtesy of Plymouth Pictures.com)

Canton center fielder Mark Main closes in on a pivotal diving catch during the fifth inning of the Chiefs' 5-2 victory over Novi. (photo courtesty of PlymouthPictures.com)

Ryan Bazner turns a double play against Novi. (photo courtesy of PlymouthPictures.com)

Kevin Delapaz tossed a three-hitter in the Chiefs' 5-2 semifinal win over Novi. (photo courtesy of PlymouthPictures.com)

The Chiefs mob winning pitcher Andrew Tidwell after the last out of their 3-2 victory over Brother Rice. (Ed Wright photo)
Cody Blakita throws out a Brother Rice base runner. (Ed Wright photo)

Canton's Garrett Bryden legs out the triple that ignited the Chiefs' winning three-run rally against Brother Rice. (Ed Wright photo)