DeWitt at Grand Ledge – – First Game of Baseball Doubleheader – – The Bleacher Denizen – – May 6, 2024 – – by Chuck Krafft

Today, the Bleacher Denizen is headed to Grand Ledge where the Comets will host the DeWitt Panthers in a baseball doubleheader. Grand Ledge has possibly the nicest facility in the area, so it is always fun to cover Grand Ledge baseball and see the park. I also enjoy the concessions which involve barbecued hamburgers and hot dogs; I always make it a point to have at least one when I go to a Grand Ledge baseball game.

It’s time for the game to start. Grand Ledge Junior Keegan Dougherty is announcing the games and the dulcet tones from his deep bass voice adds a lot to the atmosphere! He announced the starting lineups and as you are reading, you can’t hear them, so I will type them out for you.

DeWitt is the visiting team and will bat first. Here are the starting lineups:

DEWITT

Sam Leonard 3b

Brandon Becker cf

A.J. Alicea ss

Elliott Larner rf

Abram Larner lf

Zach Nevison p

Nick Weiss 1b

Jake Schorfhaar dh

Trav Moore 2b

Cooper Kingsbury will catch, but will not bat.

GRAND LEDGE

Gavin Wegenke p

Preston Bohnet ss

Alex Cornman dh

Lucas Caterino 1b

Andrew Deibel 3b

Aidan O’Keefe lf

A.J. Skinner rf

Owen Shriner 2b

Drew Buckland cf

Easton Cochran will catch, but will not bat.

It is now time to review the events of this game through the occasionally observant eyes of an Aging Bleacher Denizen whose baseball career never got off the ground. However, I’m thrilled to report that many umpires and opposing catchers loved the cooling breezes generated by his attempts to hit thrown baseballs!

Grand Ledge Pitcher Gavin Wegenke retired DeWitt’s leadoff batter in the top of the first inning on a fly to the shortstop. Brandon Beckner beat out a bunt single and went to second base when A.J. Alicea lined a single to center field. DeWitt made its final two outs of the inning on fielder’s choice groundouts to the shortstop.

I’m not sure if the starting lineup was officially adjusted, but Kyle Smith is going to bat in Aidan O’Keefe’s place. Andrew Deibel has moved to left field and Kyle Smith will play third base.

Gavin Wegenke walked to lead off the bottom of the first inning for Grand Ledge. Preston Bohnet doubled off the right-center field fence to move Gavin Wegenke to third base. Gavin Wegenke scored and Preston Bohnet went to third base on a wild pitch. Alex Cornman walked. Lucas Caterino doubled into the right field corner to drive in Preston Bohnet as Alex Cornman went to third base. Andrew Deibel was hit by a pitch to load the bases.

Alex Cornman scored when DeWitt’s next batter hit into a double play; Lucas Caterino advanced to third base. DeWitt Pitcher Zach Nevison retired the next Comet hitter on a fly to center field to end the inning.

Grand Ledge scored three runs in the top of the first inning to take a 3-0 lead.

Gavin Wegenke struck out DeWitt’s first two hitters in the top of the second inning. Jake Schorfhaar singled to left field. Grand Ledge Third Baseman Kyle Smith made a great catch of a foul popup to end Dewitt’s half of the inning.

Owen Shriner beat out an infield single to lead off the top of the second inning for Grand Ledge and went to second base on Drew Buckland’s single to left field. Zach Nevison struck out the next Comet hitter. Preston Bohnet was safe at first base and Drew Buckland out at second base on a fielder’s choice grounder to the shortstop as Owen Shriner advanced to third base. Grand Ledge’s next batter was out on a fly to left field to end the inning.

Sam Leonard and Brandon Beckner walked to lead off the top of the third inning for DeWitt. Sam Leonard took third base and Brandon Beckner second base on a bouncer to first base by A.J. Alicea. Sam Leonard scored and Brandon Beckner moved to third base on a wild pitch. Gavin Wegenke struck out the next two Panther hitters to end the inning.

DeWitt scored one run in the top of the third inning to trim the Grand Ledge lead to 3-1.

Zach Nevison struck out the first two Comet hitters in the bottom of the fourth inning. Grand Ledge made its third out on a grounder to second base.

Gavin Wegenke struck out the Panther leadoff batter in the top of the fourth inning and retired the next hitter on a fly to center field. Jake Schorfhaar was safe at first base on an overthrow. Grand Ledge Catcher Easton Cochran did a fine job backing up the overthrow to hold the runner to second base. Trav Moore singled to left field and Jake Schorfhaar advanced to second base. Gavin Wegenke picked the runner off second base to record DeWitt’s third out.

A.J. Skinner was safe at first base on an error to lead off the bottom of the fourth inning for the Comets. Zach Nevison retired the next Comet hitter on a popup to second base. Drew Buckland was hit by a pitch and A.J. Skinner moved to second base. A.J. Skinner went to third base and Drew Buckland to second base when Gavin Wegenke lined a single off the second baseman’s glove. Zach Nevison struck out the next two Grand Ledge batters to hold the Comets scoreless for the inning.

Gavin Wegenke retired DeWitt’s leadoff batter in the top of the fifth inning on a grounder to second base. Brandon Beckner doubled to center field. A.J. Alicea was intentionally walked. Gavin Wegenke retired the next two Panther batters on a fly to center field and a popup to first base.

Zach Nevison retired the Grand Ledge leadoff batter in the bottom of the fifth inning on a grounder to shortstop. Andrew Deibel was safe at first base on an error. Grand Ledge made its final two outs on a grounder to third base and a strikeout.

With five full innings in the books, Grand Ledge has a 3-1 lead.

Gavin Wegenke got DeWitt’s leadoff batter in the top of the sixth inning out on a fly to the shortstop. Nick Weiss singled down the left field line. The next Panther hitter bounced the ball back to Gavin Wegenke on the mound; he calmly threw to second base to start an inning-ending double play.

Owen Shriner singled to open the bottom of the sixth inning for Grand Ledge. Zach Nevison struck out the next two Comet hitters. Preston Bohnet beat out an infield single to move Owen Shriner to second base. Noah McCartney entered the game to run for Preston Bohnet. Owen Shriner advanced to third base and Noah McCartney to second base when Alex Cornman was safe at first base on an error.

The Comets had the bases loaded with two outs. Lucas Caterino singled to right field to drive in Owen Shriner and Noah McCartney as Alex Cornman advanced to third base. Lucas Caterino advanced to second base on the throw home.

Nathaniel Torrence came in to pitch for DeWitt. He retired the next Comet hitter on a fly to left field to end the inning.

Grand Ledge scored two runs in the bottom of the sixth inning to extend its lead to 5-1.

A.J. Skinner came in to pitch the final inning for Grand Ledge. Jameson Patten went in to play right field.

Trav Moore was hit by a pitch to lead off the top of the seventh inning for DeWitt. A.J. Skinner retired the next Panther batter on a fly to right field. Brandon Beckner was safe at first base and Trav Moore out at second base on a fielder’s choice grounder to first base. Brandon Beckner advanced to second base on a wild pitch. A.J. Skinner got the third Panther out on a fly to left field to end the game.

Grand Ledge won the opener of this doubleheader by the score of 5-1.

Brandon Beckner had a single and a double for DeWitt. A.J. Alicea, Nick Weiss, Jake Schorfhaar and Trav Moore each had a single.

Zach Nevison the entire game except for one out and struck out eight Comet hitters.

Lucas Caterino had a double, a single and three RBIs for Grand Ledge. Preston Bohnet had a double and a single. Owen Shriner had two singles. Gavin Wegenke and Drew Buckland each had one single.

Gavin Wegenke pitched six innings for Grand Ledge. He allowed one run while striking out five Panther hitters.

Here is the play by play of the second game. https://thebleacherdenizen.com/2024/05/07/dewitt-at-grand-ledge-second-game-of-baseball-doubleheader-the-bleacher-denizen-may-6-2024-by-chuck-krafft/