Wildcats record historic victory over
perennial power Northville, 10-1
BY ED WRIGHT
May 3,
2010, 11:55 p.m.
There's something about the
best teams in the KLAA Central Division that brings out the best in
Plymouth's baseball team.
For the second time in eight days, the Wildcats upended a
Central power on Monday, clubbing Northville, 10-1. It was the first
time in the history of the school that Plymouth had corralled the
Mustangs.
The decisive win came one week after coach Bryan Boyd's team
doubled-up state-ranked Novi, 6-3.
"Beating Northville for the first time in school history is a
big deal because Northville is a very good baseball team," said Boyd,
whose squad improved to 8-8 overall and 3-6 in the KLAA Kensington
Conference. "The kids came out and really jumped on their starting
pitcher. Any time you can get 14 hits against a team like Northville,
you're doing something right.
"The most important thing about today's game was that we didn't
commit one error. I've said all along that if we play good defense, we
can play with anybody."
Junior right-hander Harrison Michels improved to 3-1 after
tossing a complete-game six-hitter. Michels struck out five and walked
just one Mustang.
"Harrison pitched great again," said Boyd. "He forced them to
hit a lot of ground balls."
After Northville struck first with a run in the top of the
third, the Wildcats countered with a five-spot in the bottom of the
fourth. Phil Emminger, who finished the day with three hits and three
RBI, tripled home Michels, who had reached on a perfectly placed
one-out bunt single.
Emminger scored on Zach Yokum's single. With two outs Ben Wohl
singled and scored along with Yokum on Rich Guglielmi's three-run blast
over the left-field fence.
The Wildcats kept the heat on Northville in the fifth when they
pushed three runs across. Matt Priebe started the uprising with a
towering home run to left. After Kevin Lozier doubled, Michels brought
him around with an RBI single. Michels then scored on a passed ball.
The final two runs came in the sixth when Emminger ripped a
single, scoring Mike Nadratowski and Priebe.
Plymouth outhit the Mustangs, 14-6.
In addition to Emminger, Wohl (3-for-4), Nadratowski (two hits)
and Michels (two hits, two runs) had multi-hit games.
The Wildcats return to action Wednesday when they travel to
Westland John Glenn.
