Haslett vs. Lansing Catholic – – Diamond Classic Baseball Semifinal – – The Bleacher Denizen – – May 27, 2026 – – by Chuck Krafft

Today, the BleacherDenizenMobile is pointed at Michgan State University’s McLean Stadium, where the Dean Shippey Capital Diamond Classic will be hosting its 64th set of semifinal games!! In tonight’s first semifinal, the Cougars from Lansing Catholic will take on the Vikings from Haslett.

Haslett reached the semifinal by beating Portland and Okemos. Lansing Catholic defeated Williamston in its quarterfinal game to get here.

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

Here are the starting lineups. Lansing Catholic will be the home team and Haslett will bat first.

HASLETT

Ayden Smith ss

Kai Schafer cf

Jacob Rienstra dh

Zach Curtis c

Ryan Wescott 2b

Jackson Barrager p

Austin Prinz 3b

Brandon Nelson 1b

Brandon McGuire lf

Cameron Swope will play right field, but will not bat.

LANSING CATHOLIC

Ethan Link ss

Anthony Branoff cf

Elijah Jungwirth p

Jason Boldman 3b

Bryceen Castillo 1b

Noah Jungwirth dh

Chase Moreno 2b

Isaac Gallegos rf

Watson Ferreri lf

Drew Reece will catch, but will not bat.

It is a great, sunny day – – almost perfect for baseball. Your Bleacher Denizen outwaited a train and went up to the McLean Stadium press box.

It is now time to review the events of this game through the occasionally vigilant eyes of an Aging Bleacher Denizen who will be turning 70 soon, but has still never achieved much of a baseball career. However, I am proud of the fond memories many umpires and opposing catchers have of the cooling breezes generated by my flailing attempts to hit baseballs!

Ayden Smith grounded the ball past diving Cougar second baseman Chase Moreno and led off the game with a single for the Vikings. Lansing Catholic Pitcher Elijah Juingwirth struck out the next Haslett hitter. Ayden Smith stole second and then took third base on an errant pickoff throw. Jacob Rienstra walked. Elijah Jungwirth struck out the next Viking batter. Ayden Smith scored and Jacob Rienstra advanced to second base on an errant pickoff throw. Elijah Jungwirth struck out the next batter to end the inning.

Haslett scored one run in the top of the first inning to take a 1-0 lead.

Ethan Link lined a shot off the third baseman for a single to lead off the top of the first inning for Lansing Catholic. Ethan Link went to second base on a sacrifice bunt by Anthony Branoff. Viking First Baseman Brandon Nelson made a great throw to third base to catch the runner trying to get an extra base. Haslett Pitcher Jackson Barrager struck out the next Catholic hitter to end the inning.

Elijah Jungwirth struck out Haslett’s leadoff batter in the second inning and got the next batter on a fly to second base. Brandon Nelson beat out an infield single; he was awarded second base on an overthrow. Braeden McGuire singled to right field to drive Brandon Nelson home. Braeden McGuire stole second base. Ayden Smith walked. Elijah Jungwirth retired the next Viking hitter on a popup to first base to end the inning.

Haslett scored one run in the top of the second inning to boost its lead to 2-0.

Haslett Pitcher Jackson Barrager retired Catholic’s leadoff batter in the top of the second inning on a bouncer to the mound. Brycen Castillo was safe at first base on an error. Brycen Castillo went to second base when Noah Jungwirth singled to right field. Brycen Castillo advanced to third base and Noah Jungwirth to second on a wild pitch. Jackson Barrager struck out the next Cougar batter.

Brycen Castillo scored and Noah Jungwirth went to third base on a balk. Isaac Gallegos doubled to right field to drive Noah Jungwirth home with the tying run. Jackson Barrager retired the next Cougar batter on a popup to first base to end the inning.

Lansing Catholic scored two runs in the bottom of the second inning to tie the game at 2-2.

Jacob Rienstra beat an impressive throw from Catholic Right Fielder Isaac Gallegos and was safe at first base with a single to lead off the top of the third inning for Haslett. Jacob Rienstra advanced to second base on an errant pickoff throw and moved up to third base on a wild pitch. Cougar Center Fielder Anthony Branoff made a great running catch of a deep fly by Zach Curtis to record the second out. Jacob Rienstra scored from third base on the sacrifice fly.

Cougar Third Baseman Jason Boldman made a great diving stop of Ryan Westcott’s bid for a double down the left field line and threw him out at first base. Noah Jungwirth retired the next Viking batter on a fly to left field to end the inning.

Haslett scored one run in the top of the third inning to take a 3-2 lead.

Jackson Barrager retired the three Cougar hitters in the bottom of the third inning on a grounder to shortstop, a grounder to third base and a strikeout.

Connor Weber came in to pitch for Lansing Catholic. Elijah Hungwirth moved to first base. Connor Weber retired the first two Haslett batters in the top of the fourth inning on a grounder to second base and a strikeout. Braeden McGuire beat out an infield single. Catholic Catcher Drew Reese fired the ball to second base to catch the runner stealing for the third out.

Jason Boldman rifled a double into the left field corner to lead off the bottom of the fourth inning for Catholic. Jason Boldman advanced to third base on a groundout to third base by Connor Weber and scored on an overthrow to third base to tie the game.

Noah Jungwirth walked. Jackson Barrager retired the next Catholic batter on a fly to right field. Noah Jungwirth advanced to second base on a passed ball. Catholic made its third out on a popup to second base.

Lansing Catholic scored one run in the bottom of the fourth inning and tied the game at 3-3.

Ayden Smith walked to lead off the top of the fifth inning for Haslett. Ayden Smith advanced to second base on a wild pitch and stole third base. Connor Weber retired the next two Viking hitters on a strikeout and a popup to first base. Zach Curtis was intentionally walked. Ethan Kingdon went in as a courtesy runner for Zach Curtis. Connor Weber struck out the next batter to end the inning.

Austin Prinz came in to pitch for Haslett and Jackson Barrager moved to third base.

Austin Prinz retired the three Cougar hitters in the bottom of the fifth inning on a grounder to shortstop, a fly to left field and a foul popup where First Baseman Brandon Nelson made a fine catch above the Haslett dugout.

Catholic Pitcher Connor Weber retired the three sixth inning Haslett hitters on a foul popup to first base, a popup to the shortstop and a strikeout.

Elijah Jungwirth walked to lead off the top of the sixth inning for Lansing Catholic. Matt Dunn entered the game to pinch run for Elijah Jungwirth and went to second base on a single to left field by Jason Boldman. Matt Dunn went to third base and Jason Boldman to second on a sacrifice bunt by Connor Weber. Austin Prinz retired the next two Cougar batters on a foul popup to the catcher and a fly to left field to end the inning.

Going into the top of the final regulation inning, the score was tied at 3-3.

Connor Weber retired the three Viking batters in the top of the seventh inning on a strikeout, a grounder to second base and another strikeout.

Isaac Gallegos singled to left field to lead off the bottom of the seventh inning for Lansing Catholic and went to second base on a sacrifice bunt by Watson Ferrari. Isaac Gallegos went to third base on a groundout to second base by Ethan Link. Austin Prinz retired the next hitter on a grounder to second base.

As the game remained tied 3-3 after the regulation seven innings, we had EXTRA INNINGS at the Diamond Classic!!

Wat

Watson Ferreri came in to pitch for Lansing Catholic. Kash Ritter went out to play right field.

Anthony Branoff made a fine running catch in center field to secure the first Haslett out of the top of the eighth inning. Zach Curtis walked. Ethan Kingdon went in as a courtesy runner for Zach Curtis. Watson Ferrari retired the next Viking hitter on a fly to left field. Cougar Catcher Drew Reece fired the ball to second base to catch the runner stealing for the third out.

Elijah Jungwirth singled to left field to lead off the bottom of the eighth inning for Lansing Catholic, but was called out for using an illegal bat. Jason Boldman walked. Austin Prinz struck out the next Cougar batter. Noah Jungwirth singled to center field and Jason Boldman advanced to second base.

Matthew Hood went in to pitch for Haslett. Austin Prinz moved to second base. Viking Center Fielder Kai Schaefer went way back to catch a drive by Chase Moreno for the third out.

Jackson Barrager lined a single to center field to lead off the top of the ninth inning for Haslett; he advanced to second base on a groundout to third base by Austin Prinz. Jackson Barrager advanced to third base on a wild pitch. Watson Ferreri struck out the next Viking hitter and got the third out on a fly to left field to hold Haslett scoreless for the inning.

Isaac Gallegos walked to lead off the bottom of the ninth inning for Catholic.

Lawrence Suiaunoa went in to pitch for Haslett.

Isaac Gallegos stole second base. Lawrence Suiaunoa retired the next two hitters on a fly to center field and a line drive to center field. Isaac Gallegos stole third base. Anthony Branoff singled to center field to drive Isaac Gallegos home with the winning run.

Lansing Catholic won this game 4-3 and will play the winner of the Mason/Grand Ledge game in Monday night’s final.

Braedon McGuire had two singles and one RBI for Haslett. Ayden Smith, Jacob Rienstra, Jackson Barrager and Brandon Nelson each had one single.

Jackson Barrager pitched four innings and struck out three batters. Austin Prinz pitched three and two thirds innings and struck out one batter. Matt Hood pitched one third of an inning. Lawrence Suiaunoa pitched two thirds of an inning.

Isaac Gallegos had a double, a single and one RBI for Lansing Catholic. Jason Boldman had a double and a single. Noah Jungwirth had two singles. Anthony Branoff had one single and the game-winning RBI. Ethan Link had one single.

Elijah Hungwirth pitched three innings and struck out four batters. Connor Weber pitched four innings and struck out five batters. Watson Ferreri pitched two innings and struck out one batter. Neither Connor Weber nor Watson Ferreri gave up any runs.