Grosse Pointes

Liggett rolls into state final

By Mike Moore
C & G Sports Writer

» click to enlarge « Photo by Mike Moore Liggett players gather around pitcher Connor Fannon following a 15-3 victory against Rudyard High in a Division 4 state semifinal. Photo by Mike Moore Liggett players gather around pitcher Connor Fannon following a 15-3 victory against Rudyard High in a Division 4 state semifinal.

BATTLE CREEK — Playing the earliest game of the 2012 state semifinals certainly didn’t bother the Grosse Pointe Woods University Liggett baseball team.

Not much has this year, though.

The Knights, back in Battle Creek for the second straight season, opened play in the Division 4 semifinals with a commanding 15-3 victory against Rudyard High in a game that started at 10 a.m. and was called after five innings.

“Our guys really battled,” Knights coach Dan Cimini said. “We took advantage of some of their mistakes, but I like how we played.”

Liggett (25-3) got things rolling right away, scoring twice in the first inning on a two-RBI double by junior Connor Fannon.

The Knights added two more in the second inning, but blew the game wide open with 10 runs on five hits in the third. The offensive outburst was assisted by three Rudyard errors in the frame.

Junior Mark Evan Auk got things going with a two-run single in the frame.

Senior Alex Daar added an RBI single of his own and later scored on a wild pitch.

But the big blast came courtesy of junior Kevin Allen, who slammed a three-run home run to deep right field.

Liggett added its final run in the bottom of the fourth.

Rudyard (20-17) scored once in the fourth and twice in the fifth, but Fannon, who earned the win on the mound, otherwise limited any Bulldogs chances.

“The experience of being here last year was huge,” Cimini added. “We went through the exact same routine as last time, ate at the same place and so on. The guys were way more relaxed.”

Liggett moves on the D-4 final with a chance to defend its 2011 title.

The Knights face Decatur High (35-6) in a 9:30 a.m. June 16 game at C.O. Brown Stadium.

You can reach C & G Sports Writer Mike Moore at mmoore@candgnews.com or at (586)498-1038. Follow Mike on Twitter.