Grand Ledge vs. Mason – – Diamond Classic Baseball Semifinal – – The Bleacher Denizen – – May 27, 2026 – – by Chuck Krafft

Today, your Bleacher Denizen is at Michigan State University’s McLean Stadium covering the semifinals of the 64th Dean Shippey Capital Diamond Classic. The Comets from Grand Ledge will be playing the Bulldogs from Mason to determine who will advance to next Monday’s final game!! I also covered the other semifinal between Mason and Haslett. You can read all about that game here! https://thebleacherdenizen.com/2026/05/28/haslett-vs-lansing-catholic-diamond-classic-baseball-semifinal-the-bleacher-denizen-may-27-2026-by-chuck-krafft/

Mason advanced to this Semifinal Game by defeating DeWitt in the quarterfinal. Grand Ledge defeated Portland St. Patrick in the quarterfinal to advance to this point.

As we wait for the game to begin, I hope you will enjoy this cover video of “God Bless the USA!” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5ePjJiWG5OY

Here are the starting lineups. Mason will be the home team and Grand Ledge will bat first.

GRAND LEDGE

Breaden McDaniels 2b

Xavier West cf

Easton Benaske dh

Tyler Terranova 1b

Michael Box p

Carson Marlan ss

Brett Baker rf

Cooper Parks 3b

Austin Schilling lf

Ashton Costello will catch, but will not bat.

MASON

Travis Davis ss

Joey Schild 3b

Colton McCaleb 1b

Ryan Myers dh

Kohlton Tyrell 2b

Gerrit Koot p

Hunter Thorne c

Carson Chapin lf

Logan Davis cf

Hayden Hendrickson will play right field, but will not bat.

It is now time to review the events of this game through the eyes of an Aging Bleacher Denizen (soon to be 70) who never had much of a baseball career. He was showing a lot of potential as a fastball pitcher, but the Baseball Powers That Be ruined everything when they ruled that the Bleacher Denizen could no longer use his shoulder cannon to fire his fastballs at the plate. Alas, when the pitch velocity slowed way down, so did the Bleacher Denizen’s baseball career.

Mason Pitcher Gerrit Koot retired the first two Grand Ledge batters in the top of the first inning on a popup to the shortstop and a strikeout. Easton Benaske was hit by a pitch and went to second base when Tyler Terranova beat out an infield single. Easton Benaske took third base and Tyler Terranova second base when Michael Bos beat out an infield single. Brayden Schilling entered the game as a courtesy runner for Michael Bos.

Carson Marlan belted a double to right field; Easton Benaske, Tyler Terranova and Brayden Schilling all scored. Brett Baker walked. Gerrit Koot retired the next Comet batter 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.

Grand Ledge Pitcher Michael Bos retired the Mason leadoff batter in the bottom of the first inning on a line drive to the pitcher. Joey Schild was hit by a pitch and took second base when Colton McCaleb singled to center field. Michael Bos struck out the next two batters to end the inning.

Austin Schilling doubled to right center field to lead off the top of the second inning for the Comets. Mason First Baseman Colton McCaleb slipped as he fielded a sacrifice bunt by Braeden McDaniels, but recovered to get the third out. Austin Schilling advanced to third base. Gerrit Koot struck out the next batter. Easton Benaske blasted a double off the left field fence to drive Austin Schilling home. Mason Center Fielder Logan Davis made a great catch running back into the outfield to catch a drive by Tyler Terranova to end the inning and prevent at least one run.

Grand Ledge scored one run in the top of the second inning to boost its lead to 4-0.

Gerrit Koot walked to lead off the bottom of the second inning for Mason. Carter Kilmon entered the game as a courtesy runner for Gerrit Koot. Michael Bos struck out the next Bulldog hitter. Carter Kilmon stole second base. Carson Chapin walked. Carter Kilmon went to third base and Carson Chapin to second when Logan Davis walked. Michael Bos struck out the next batter and got the third out of the inning on a fly to center field to get out of the inning without allowing a run.

Michael Bos walked to lead off the top of the third inning for Grand Ledge. Brayden Schilling entered the game as a courtesy runner. Logan Davis made a great diving catch in center field to get the first Comet out of the inning. Gerrit Koot struck out the next batter. Brayden Schilling stole second base. Grand Ledge made its final out of the inning on a fly to center field.

Colton McCaleb was hit by a pitch to open the bottom of the third inning for Mason. Colton McCaleb was out at second base and Ryan Myers safe at first base on a fielder’s choice grounder to the shortstop. Ryan Myers advanced to second base on an overthrow. Kohlton Tyrell singled to center field. Comet Center Fielder Xavier West made an excellent throw to the infield to hold Ryan Myers at third base.

Easton Benaske took over on the mound for Grand Ledge. Gerrit Koot singled to right field to drive Ryan Myers home. Kohlton Tyrell advanced to second base. Carter Kilmon entered the game as a courtesy runner for Gerrit Koot. Hunter Thorne walked. Kohlton Tyrell went to third base and Carter Kilmon to second. Carson Chapin looped a single to right field to drive Kohlton Tyrell home. On an overthrow, Carter Kilmon scored, Hunter Thorne went to third base and Carson Chapin made it to second base.

Logan Davis walked to load the bases. Hunter Thorne was out at the plate and Travis Davis safe at first base on a fielder’s choice grounder to the shortstop. Carson Chapin went to third base and Logan Davis to second. Easton Benaske retired the next Mason hitter on a grounder to second base to end the inning while preventing the tying run from scoring.

Mason scored three runs in the bottom of the third inning to cut the Grand Ledge lead to 4-3.

Gerrit Koot retired the three Comet hitters in the top of the fourth inning on two strikeouts and a groundout to second base.

Colton McCaleb walked to lead off the bottom of the fourth inning for Mason and advanced to second base on a wild pitch. Colton McCaleb went to third base on a groundout to shortstop by Ryan Myers. Xavier West made a great diving catch of a bid for a single by Kohlton Tyrell; Colton McCaleb had to hold at third base. Gerrit Koot singled to drive Colton McCaleb home with the tying run.

Carter Kilmon entered the game as a courtesy runner for Gerrit Koot. Easton Benaske retired the next Bulldog hitter on a bouncer to the mound to end the inning.to third

Mason scored one run in the bottom of the fourth inning to tie the game at 4-4.

Gerrit Koot retired the Comet leadoff batter in the top of the fifth inning on a bouncer to the mound. Tyler Terranova singled to right field. Gerrit Koot got the next hitter to hit a grounder to Second Baseman Kohlton Tyrell, who relayed the ball to Shortstop Travis Davis, who fired the ball to First Baseman Colton McCaleb to complete a slick double play and end the inning!

Easton Benaske retired the Mason leadoff batter in the bottom of the fifth inning on a fly to right field. Logan Davis beat out an infield single and went to second base when Travis Davis singled to left field. Logan Davis went to third base and Travis Davis to second base on a groundout to second base by Joey Schild. Colton McCaleb was intentionally walked. Easton Benaske retired the next Bulldog batter on a fly to center field.

Carson Marlan doubled into the right field corner to lead off the top of the sixth inning for Grand Ledge. The next Comet hitter stepped out of the batter’s box while trying to bunt and was called out. Carson Marlan advanced to third base on a passed ball. Carson Marlan scored on a sacrifice fly to left field by Cooper Parks. Gerrit Koot struck out the next batter to end the inning.

Grand Ledge scored one run in the top of the sixth inning to take a 5-4 lead.

Easton Benaske retired the Mason leadoff batter in the top of the sixth inning on a grounder to the shortstop. Gerrit Koot singled to left field. Carter Kilmon entered the game as a courtesy runner for Gerrit Koot. Carter Kilmon advanced to second base when Pinch Hitter Brayden Carl walked. Hunter Thorne reentered the game to run for Brayden Carl. (Brayden Carl had pinch hit for him.) Carter Kilmon advanced to third base and Hunter Thorne to second when Carson Chapin walked to load the bases.

Carter Kilmon scored the tying run when Logan Davis was safe at first base on an error. Hunter Thorne moved up to third base and Carson Chapin to second base.

Hudson Miller entered the game to pitch for Grand Ledge.

Hunter Thorne was out at home and Travis Davis safe at first base on a fielder’s choice grounder to the shortstop. Carson Chapin moved up to third base and Logan Davis to second base. Joey Schild singled up the middle to drive Carson Chapin and Logan Davis home. Travis Davis advanced to third base and Joey Schild to second base on the throw home. Colton McCaleb was intentionally walked. Ryan Myers singled up the middle to drive Travis Davis and Joey Schild home. Colton McCaleb went to second base. Mason made its third out on a grounder to second base.

Mason scored five runs in the bottom of the sixth inning to take a 9-5 lead.

Colton McCaleb made a great catch of a foul popup by the Grand Ledge dugout to record the first Comet out of the top of the seventh inning. Gerrit Koot struck out the next two batters to end the inning and the game.

Mason won this game by the final score of 9-5 and will play Lansing Catholic in the Diamond Classic final on Monday.

Carson Marlan had two doubles and three RBI for Grand Ledge. Easton Benaske and Austin Schilling each had one double and one RBI. Tyler Terranova had two singles. Michael Bos had one single. Cooper Parks had one RBI.

Michael Bos pitched two and one thirds innings for Grand Ledge and struck out four Mason batters. Easton Benaske pitched three innings. Hudson Miller pitched two thirds of an inning.

Gerrit Koot had three singles and two RBI for Mason. He also pitched the entire game and struck out eight Grand Ledge hitters.

Joey Schild and Ryan Myers each had one single and two RBI. Carson Chapin and Logan Davis each had one single and one RBI. Travis Davis and Kohlton Tyrell each had one single.