Portland vs. Grand Ledge – – Final Game of Baseball Diamond Classic – – The Bleacher Denizen – – June 3, 2025 – – by Chuck Krafft

Today, the Bleacher Denizen is at McLane Stadium at Michigan State University to cover the final game of the 2025 Diamond Classic. The Portland Raiders will be playing the Grand Ledge Comets.

Portland defeated Okemos in this semifinal game from last night. https://thebleacherdenizen.com/2025/06/03/okemos-vs-portland-diamond-classic-semifinal-the-bleacher-denizen-june-2-2025-by-chuck-krafft/

Grand Ledge earned its spot in today’s final game with this win over Williamston in the semifinal. https://thebleacherdenizen.com/2025/06/03/williamston-vs-grand-ledge-diamond-classic-semifinal-the-bleacher-denizen-june-2-2025-by-chuck-krafft/

It’s a beautiful day for baseball today. Your Bleacher Denizen is actually able to wear shorts for the first time this spring. We’re looking forward to a great final game today. One point that will be interesting – – Portland has to rest pitchers for tomorrow’s regional game in the state tournament while Grand Ledge lost last week and is out of the tournament. This means they have a lot more freedom choosing their pitchers that Portland does.

Grand Ledge will be the home team tonight. Portland will bat first. Here are the starting lineups.

PORTLAND

Barrett Brennan p

A.J. Weber cf

Evan Thelen ss

Brody Moore c

Hudson Martin 1b

Tyler Smith dh

Gunner Williams 3b

Max Sandborn lf

Levi Nobis 2b

Keaton McGregor will play right field, but will not bat.

GRAND LEDGE

Aidan O’Keefe rf

Drew Buckland cf

Gavin Wegenke c

Jaydin McCammon dh

Preston Bohnet ss

Kyle Smith 2b

Tyler Terranova 1b

Tory Nyquist 3b

Brett Brown lf

Sam Brown will pitch, but will not bat.

It is now time to review this game through the prism of an occasionally accurate Bleacher Denizen whose baseball career never got off to much of a start. He was showing some progress as a pitcher until the baseball powers that be banned the wind machine he used to make his pitches curve. When the pitches stopped curving, the coach stopped putting your Bleacher Denizen on the mound. Alas.

Comet Pitcher Sam Brown retired Portland’s leadoff batter in the top of the first inning on a fly to center field. Sam Brown walked. Sam Brown struck out the next Raider hitter. Comet Centerfielder Drew Buckland made an excellent running catch of a sinking line drive to get the third Raider out.

Aidan O’Keefe singled up the middle to lead off the bottom of the first inning for Grand Ledge and advanced to second base when Drew Buckland was safe at first base on an error. Gavin Wegenke walked to load the bases as Aidan O’Keefe went to third base and Drew Buckland went to second. Ashton Delaney entered the game as a courtesy runner for Gavin Wegenke. Aidan O’Keefe scored, Drew Buckland went to third base and Ashton Delaney to second base when Jaydin McCammon was safe at first on an error.

Drew Buckland scored went Jaydin McCammon was out at second base and Preston Bohnet safe at first base on a fielders choice grounder to second base. Ashton Delaney went to third base on the play. Kyle Smith beat out an infield single to drive Ashton Delaney home. Kyle Smith advanced to second base and Preston Bohnet scored and Kyle Smith took second base on an overthrow.

Kyle Smith advanced to third base on a groundout to second base by Tyler Terranova. Portland Pitcher Barrett Brennan retired the next batter on a fly to left field to end the inning.

Grand Ledge scored four runs in the top of the first inning to take a 4-0 lead.

Comet Pitcher Sam Brown retired Portland’s leadoff batter in the top of the second inning on a grounder to the shortstop. Tyler Smith singled to left field. Sam Brown struck out the next Raider hitter. Max Sandborn singled to right field and Tyler Smith advanced to second base.

Tyler Smith went to third base and Max Sandborn to second base when Levi Nobis was safe at first when an error was made on his bunt. Sam Brown got the third Raider out on a popup to the pitcher to hold Portland scoreless for the inning.

Brett Baker singled to right field to lead off the bottom of the second inning for Grand Ledge. Brett Baker advanced to third base when Aidan O’Keefe was safe at second base on an error. Drew Buckland was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Brett Baker scored, Aidan O’Keefe advanced to third base and Drew Buckland went to second base on a wild pitch.

Aiden O’Keefe scored and Drew Buckland went to third base on an RBI groundout to the shortstop by Gavin Wegenke. Drew Buckland scored on a sacrifice fly to center field by Jaydin McCammon. Portland Right Fielder Keaton McGregor made a great catch running back to the wall to get the third Comet out.

Grand Ledge scored three runs in the bottom of the second inning to boost its lead to 7-0.

A.J. Weber was hit by a pitch to lead off the top of the third inning for the Raiders. A.J. Weber was out at second base and Evan Thelen safe at first base on a fielder’s choice grounder to third base. Evan Thelen advanced to second base when Brody Moore was hit by a pitch. Trevor Smith came into the game as a courtesy runner for Brody Moore.

Evan Thelen advanced to third base and Trevor Smith to second base on a groundout to second base by Hudson Martin. Grand Ledge Third Baseman Tory Nyquist made a great play charging that ball and throwing to first base to get the runner to end the inning.

Kyle Smith singled to left field to lead off the top of the third inning for the Comets. Kyle Smith went all the way to third base on a wild pitch that bounced away from the catcher. Tyler Terranova drew a walk and stole second base. Kyle Smith scored and Tyler Terranova advanced to third base on a ground single to left field by Tory Nyquist. Mason Vallier came in to pitch for Portland.

Tory Nyquist stole second base. Brett Baker walked to load the bases. Aidan O’Keefe singled to left field to drive Tyler Terranova and Tory Nyquist home. Brett Baker advanced to second base. Drew Buckland was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Brett Baker scored and Aidan O’Keefe advanced to third base on a sacrifice fly to center field by Gavin Wegenke. Drew Buckland stole second base. Aidan O’Keefe scored and Drew Buckland advanced to third base on a sacrifice fly to deep left field by Jaydin McCammon.

Preston Bohnet singled to left field to drive Drew Buckland home. Preston Bohnet advanced to second base when Kyle Smith was safe at first base on an error. Pinch Hitter Owen Shriner singled to center field to drive Preston Bohnet home as Kyle Smith advanced to third base. Deacon Townsend came in to pitch for Portland. Deacon Townsend retired the net Comet batter on a fly to left field to end the inning.

Grand Ledge scored seven runs in the bottom of the third inning to extend their lead to 14-0.

Henry Milbrook came in to pitch for Grand Ledge. Owen Shriner stayed in the game to play second base.

Gunner Williams walked to lead off the top of the fourth inning for Portland and stole second base. Max Sandborn beat out an infield single as Gunner Williams held at second base. Gunner Williams stole third base. Levi Nobis walked to load the bases. The next Portland batter grounded to Comet Third Baseman Tory Nyquist, who fired the ball to Owen Shriner at second base, who threw to first base to complete the double play. Gunner Williams scoed and Max Sandborn went to third base on the play.

A.J. Weber was hit by a pitch and Evan Thelen walked to load the bases with two out. Brody Moore walked to force Max Sandborn home. A.J. Weber advanced to third base and Evan Thelen to second base. Trevor Smith came in to run for Brody Moore. Hudson Martin walked to force A.J. Weber home. Evan Thelen advanced to third base and Trevor Smith Moore to second base.

Michael Bos took over on the mound for Grand Ledge.

Tyler Smith walked to force Evan Thelen home. Trevor Smith advanced to third base and Hudson Martin to second base. Michael Bos retired the next Raider batter on a fielder’s choice grounder to the shortstop.

Portland score four runs in the top of the fourth inning to trim the Grand Ledge lead to 14-4.

Brett Baker and Aidan O’Keefe walked to lead off the bottom of the fourth inning for Grand Ledge.

Conner Fox came in to pitch for Portland.

Brett Baker advanced to third base and Aidan O’Keefe to second base on a bounceout to the pitcher by by Drew Buckland. Gavin Wegenke blooped a single to center field that eluded a great diving effort by A.J. Weber to drive Brett Baker home as Aidan O’Keefe advanced to third base. Jaydin McCammon was intentionally walked to load the bases. Ashton Delaney came in as a courtesy runner for Gavin Wegenke.

Aidan O’Keefe was out at home and Preston Bohnet safe at first on a fielder’s choice grounder to first base. Ashton Delaney went to third base and Jaydin McCammon to second base. Conner Fox retired the next Comet hitter on a grounder to shortstop to end the inning.

Grand Ledge scored one run in the bottom of the fourth inning to boost its lead to 15-4.

Kyle Smith came in to pitch for Grand Ledge.

Kyle Smith retired the Raider leadoff batter in the top of the fifth inning on a grounder to third base. Easton Cochran entered the game to catch for Grand Ledge. Levi Nobis singled to right field. Barrett Brennan singled to center field and Levi Nobis advanced to second base. Levi Nobis advanced to third base and Barrett Brennan to second base on a bounceout to the pitcher by A.J. Weber. Kyle Smith retired the next Raider hitter on a fly to center field to end the inning.

As Grand Ledge had a lead of more than ten runs after four and a half innings, the game was awarded to Grand Ledge because of the Mercy Rule. The Comets won by the score of 15-4.

Congratulations to the Grand Ledge Comets, who won the 2025 Diamond Classic!!!

Brayden Andrus, who pitched an exceptional game against Williamston in the semifinal was named MVP of the Diamond Classic.

Max Sandborn had two singles for Portland. Tyler Smith had a single and one RBI. Levi Nobis and Barrett Brennan each had a single. Brady Moore and Hudson Martin each had one single.

Aidan O’Keefe had two singles and two RBI for Grand Ledge. Kyle Smith had two singles and one RBI. Gavin Wegenke had one single and three RBI. Preston Bohnet had one single and two RBI. Tory Nyquist and Owen Shriner each had one single and one RBI. Brett Baker had one single. Jaydin McCammon had three RBI.

Sam Brown pitched three excellent innings for the Comets. He gave up no runs and two hits while striking out two batters. Kyle Smith also pitched one shutout inning for the Comets.