Canton's bench congratulates Garrett Bryden after he scored the Chiefs' first run in the fourth inning.

Chiefs remarkable season hits the end of the road in quarterfinals, 3-1

BY ED WRIGHT
June 15  15, 2010, 9:35 p.m.

  Canton's baseball team hit a few too many "at-em" shots and Ann Arbor Pioneer launched one too many atom bombs.

  The result was a 3-1 setback to the Pioneers in a well-pitched Division 1 quarterfinal showdown on the finely-manicured diamond at Michigan State University.

  A one-out, two-run home run by Miles Sorise over the left-center field fence catapulted Pioneer into Friday's D1 semifinal game against L'Anse Creuse North, which defeated Rochester Adams, 4-2. Saline will take on Saginaw Heritage in the other semifinal contest.

  Both teams received stellar efforts from the middle part of their pitching rotations after using the their No. 1 and 2's during Saturday's Regional.

  Canton sophomore Ryan Bazner sparkled, yielding just two hits and a second-inning run.

  Pioneer's Will Nimke was equally effective, holding the Chiefs to one run on three hits.

  "The road ended today, but I was very proud of how the kids got to this point," said Canton coach Mark Blomshield. "It's a once-in-a-lifetime thing which is hard to do especially because you only have four years to do it.

  "We hit the ball hard, we just had a couple 'at-'em' balls. Both teams had three hits. One of theirs went over the fence, which is why they won."

  Canton finished its season with a 28-8 record. The 28 wins are a school record. Pioneer will take a 29-12 mark into the semis.

  Bazner, who entered the game with a minuscule earned run average, didn't let the big-game pressure get to him. After retiring the side in order in the first, Sorise opened the second with a single and eventually scored on James Strickland's sacrifice fly. The Chiefs escaped further damage when Seth Tschetter threw out Alexander Kinch, who was attempting to advance to third on Kevin Delapaz's throw to the plate.

  Bazner buckled down after the sacrifice fly, giving up just a single in the third and a walk in the fourth to set up the Chiefs game-tying rally in the bottom of the frame.

  With one out, Cody Blakita singled before getting erased at second on Garrett Bryden fielder's choice. Bryden advanced to second on an error and scored on Joe Galanty's clutch two-out single.

  Pioneer threatened the regain the lead in the fifth on a walk and a pair of hit-by-pitches, but with two outs, Bazner got Travis Maezes to ground out to shortstop Chris Perkovich.

  The Chiefs' final golden chance to take their first lead of the day came in the sixth when they loaded the bases on a one-out walk to Cody Blakita, a two-out intentional walk to Galanty and an error on Pioneer's third baseman.

  Staley then hit a soft looper that landed half-way between the mound and second base. Pioneer's second baseman corralled the ball and touched second just ahead of the sliding Perkovich.

  Staley was lights out at the outset after replacing Bazner in the sixth. He set down six of the seven batters he faced in the sixth and seventh.

  However, in the eighth, Maezes walked with one out and scored on Sorise's long blast.

  Canton went down in order in the eighth.

  Delapaz had two of the Chiefs' three hits in his final high school game.

  Bernabie Salinas went 0-for-4, but three of his outs were searing liners right at Pioneer center-fielder Sorise.

  "I thought Bazner and Staley pitched very well; they kept us in the game," said Blomshield. "At the beginning of the year, we're looking for a No. 3 guy who can step up big in quarterfinals games like this.

  "It's kind of  bittersweet right now, losing in the quarterfinals. But I couldn't be more proud of these guys."

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

Canton's bench was vocal throughout the quarterfinal contest.

Cody Blakita was a tad late on this tag.

Kevin Delapaz completes a successful head-first slide into first base Tuesday.