Lansing Catholic vs. St. Johns – – Quarterfinal Game – – Baseball Diamond Classic – – The Bleacher Denizen – – May 24, 2022 – – by Chuck Krafft

Your Bleacher Denizen is back in game mode. Tonight, the St. Johns Redwings will be playing the Cougars from Lansing Catholic.

In this song from my “Chuck Krafft” You Tube Channel, I observe that you never know where the Red River Valley will lead you. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w03AhhNk1M8

I suppose that in this case, the Red Cedar River does lead to the MSU campus, although Kalamazoo Street is what will get you to the Baseball Stadium. Now that we have had our mini-geography lesson, it’s time to look at today’s starting lineups!

Lansing Catholic will bat first and St. Johns will be the home team.

LANSING CATHOLIC:

Austin Gates ss

Seth Elberson cf

Daniel Shipman p

Ty Trahey 1b

Tyler Rakan 3b

Drew Burlingame dh

Patrick Cotter 2b

Jake Sudol rf

Drew Diehl c

Drew Tolfree will play left field, but will not bat.

ST. JOHNS:

Joe Leonard 3b

Landen Mikula 2b

Alex Owen cf

Logan Kielen c

Brody Kusnier rf

Murray Palmatier lf

Jacob Bones ss

Brennan Feldpausch 1b

Logan Dunham p

It is now time to look at the events of this game through the hazy prism of an Aging Bleacher Denizen who will always, always, always cherish the memory of the only fair ball he ever hit in Little League. (It really DID happen once!)

Redwing Second Baseman Landen Mikula ranged back into right field and made a fine catch of a drifting popup to record the first out of the game. For the second out, Landen Mikula quickly grabbed a ball that glanced off the pitcher and threw to first base. Catholic made its third out on a sharp one-hopper to the third baseman.

Joe Leonard walked to lead off the game for St. Johns. Joe Leonard went to third base on Landon Mikula’s lined single to right field. Joe Leonard scored and Landon Mikula advanced to second base on Alex Owen’s sacrifice fly that was tipped from the left fielder to the centerfielder before it was caught. catholic Pitcher Daniel Shipman retired the next two batters on a foul popup to the catcher and a grounder to second base to hold the Redwings to one run for the first inning.

After one inning, St. Johns had a 1-0 lead.

Redwing Pitcher Logan Dunham retired the first two Cougar hitters in the second inning on a grounder to second base and a liner to second base. Drew Burlingame lined a single to right field. The next batter hit a fielder’s choice grounder to the shortstop to end the inning.

Murray Palmatier was safe at second on an error to open the second inning for St. Johns. Murray Palmatier needed a clever slide to do it, but he went to third base on Jacob Bones’ fly to center field. Murray Palmatier scored on a sacrifice fly to right field by Brennan Feldpausch. Catholic Pitcher Daniel Shipman struck out the next batter to end the inning.

St. Johns scored one run in the bottom of the second inning to boost its lead to 2-0.

Logan Dunham retired the first two Cougar batters in the top of the third inning on a bouncer to third base and a fly to left field. Austin Gates beat out an infield single. He went to second base when Seth Elberson walked. The bases were loaded when Daniel Shipman was hit by a pitch. Austin Gates scored when Ty Trahey was safe on an error. Seth Elberson and Daniel Shipman moved to third and second base.

Tyler Rakan rifled a single to drive in Seth Elberson and Daniel Shipman. Ty Trahey advanced to third on the play.

Landon Mikula came in to pitch for St. Johns. Logan Dunham moved to first base and Brennan Feldpausch took over at second base.

Drew Burlingame was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Landon Mikula struck out the next batter to end the inning.

Catholic scored three runs in the top of the third inning to take a 3-2 lead.

Daniel Shipman retired the three Redwing third inning batters on a fly to center field, a strikeout and a fly to right field.

Landon Mikula retired the Cougar leadoff hitter in the top of the fourth inning on a one hopper to the mound. Despite a great diving effort by Redwing Second Baseman Brennan Feldpausch, Drew Diehl beat out an infield single. Drew Diehl was out at second and Austin Gates safe at first on a fielder’s choice grounder to the third baseman. Austin Gates reached third base when Seth Elberson lined a double down the left field line. Landon Mikula retired the next batter on a grounder to shortstop to end the inning.

Catholic First Baseman made a nice running catch of a foul popup to right field to record the first Redwing out of the bottom of the fourth inning. The next Redwing batter was out on a bouncer to the shortstop. Murray Palmatier drew a walk. Daniel Shipman retired the next batter on a bouncer to the mound.

After four full innings, Catholic still had its 3-2 lead.

Jacob Bones came in to pitch for St. Johns. Many Redwing players moved positions. The Bleacher Denizen was permitted to stay in the same seat in the press box.

Jacob Bones struck out the Cougar leadoff batter in the top of the fifth inning. Tyler Rakan drew a walk. Tyler Rakan moved to third base on an errant pickoff throw. Drew Burlingame drive in Tyler Rakan with a single to right field. Drew Burlingame went to second base on Patrick Cotter’s single to left field. The bases were loaded on Jake Sudol’s bunt single. The next batter made the second out of the inning on a foul popup to first base. Jacob Bones retired the next batter on a grounder to third base to end the inning.

Lansing Catholic scored one run in the top of the fifth inning to extend its lead to 4-2.

Daniel Shipman retired the three Redwing hitters in the bottom of the fifth inning on a strikeout, a grounder to second base and a fly to center field.

Seth Elberson walked to lead off the top of the sixth inning for Catholic and took second base on a balk. Seth Elberson advanced to third base on a grounder to second base by Daniel Shipman. Seth Elberson stole home. Ty Trahey was hit by a pitch. Joe Leonard took over on the mound for St. Johns.

Redwing Catcher Logan Kielen ranged far to catch a foul popup from the next batter. Joe Leonard retired the next hitter on a fly to second base to end the inning.

Lansing Catholic scored one run in the top of the sixth inning to increase its lead to 5-2.

In the bottom of the sixth inning, Redwing leadoff barter Landon Mikula was hit by a pitch. Landon Mikula went to third base on a single by Alex Owen. Alex Owen stole second base. Landon Mikula scored on Logan Kielen’s sacrifice fly to center field. Alex Owen held at second base. Brody Kusnier ripped a double down the left field line to drive in Alex Owen. Brody Kusnier held at second base as Murray Palmatier beat out an infield single. Jacob Bones drove a ball to right field; Cougar Right Fielder Jake Sudol nearly made a great diving catch. Brody Kusnier made it to third base on the play, but Murray Palmatier was out at second. Jacob Bones was safe at first.

Brennan Feldpausch doubled to centerfield to drive in Brody Kusnier. Jacob Bones went to third on the play. Logan Dunham singled up the middle to drive in Jacob Bones and Brennan Feldpausch. Logan Dunham went to second base on a passed ball and to third on a wild pitch. Daniel Shipman struck out the next batter to end the inning.

St. Johns scored five runs in the bottom of the sixth inning to take a 7-5 lead.

Patrick Cotter walked to lead off the seventh inning for Catholic. Joe Leonard struck out the next hitter. Patrick Cotter went to second base on Drew Diehl’s grounder to the right side. Joe Leonard retired the next batter on a grounder to third base to end the game.

St. Johns won 7-5 and will play in the semifinal next week.

Drew Burlingame had two singles and an RBI for Catholic. Seth Elberson had a double. Tyler Rakan had a single and two RBI. Austin Gates, Patrick Cotter, Jake Sudol and Drew Diehl each had a single.

Brennan Feldpausch had a double and an RBI for St. Johns. Logan Dunham had a single and two RBI. Brody Kusnier had a double. Alex Owen had a single and an RBI. Landon Mikula and Murray Palmatier each had a single. Logan Keilen had one RBI.

Here is a link to the Grand Ledge/DeWitt game that followed this one. https://thebleacherdenizen.com/2022/05/25/grand-ledge-vs-portland-quarterfinal-diamond-classic-the-bleacher-denizen-may-24-2022-by-chuck-krafft/