Moment: Hartland Wins Marathon Matchup
April 29, 2020
By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor
Hartland and Portage Northern both entered the 2015 Division 1 baseball championship game as frequent contenders, but both pursuing their first Finals title on the diamond.
Over the last five seasons, both have gone on to claim what previously had been elusive – but a 10-inning marathon decided which program would celebrate first.
On the arm of pitcher John Baker, and thanks to Brett Oliver’s game-winning drive up the hill in right field at McLane Stadium, Hartland earned that privilege with a 2-1 win over the Huskies.
Richard Bortle had led off the 10th inning for Hartland, setting up the eventual blast by the ninth-hitting Oliver. Baker, meanwhile, threw all 10 innings and struck out 11 while giving up only five hits. He also drove in the game’s first run, in the bottom of the first inning.
“Getting over the Quarterfinal hump was huge for our program because we’ve been getting there, we’ve been pretty successful,” said Hartland coach Brian Morrison that day, referring to how his team had made the Quarterfinals four times in seven seasons. “We kept knocking on the door and finally broke through. You get here and anything can happen.”
Portage Northern enjoyed a similarly-strong eight innings from its starter, Tommy Henry, who gave up just the first run while striking out eight. The Huskies did earn their first baseball championship last year, defeating Rockford in the title game.
Click for coverage of the 2015 Final from Second Half and watch the game winner below from the NFHS Network.
Moment: Sophomore Scores for Seniors
April 30, 2020
By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor
Few upperclassmen receive the opportunity to make the memories Luke McLean made as a sophomore on the Rockford baseball team last season.
But at the end, he was just hoping to do his part to make more for the seniors who led the Rams to the Division 1 Baseball Semifinals at McLane Stadium.
McLean, batting fifth and playing third base, helped Rockford deadlock Macomb Dakota 2-2 after six innings on June 13. McLean then moved to the mound, where he threw two scoreless innings – and received the win after also sprinting home to score the winning run in the bottom of the eighth.
The run, making the final score 3-2, was the second scored by McLean on the day. He also struck out two and allowed just one hit over his two innings throwing in relief as Rockford moved on to the Division 1 Final.
McLean reached base in the eighth with his lone hit on the day. After advancing to second on a fielder’s choice, he took off for third on teammate Owen Cairns’ hopper through the grass in front of third base. McLean circled around the bag and took off for home on the throw trying to get Cairns at first, and slid safely ahead of the throw attempting to beat him to the plate.
“All that was going through my mind was my seniors,” McLean said moments after his winning sprint. “I was playing for them. I really wanted to play for them in the state championship, and I was just busting my tail down that line to score.”
Although Rockford went on to fall in the Final to Portage Northern, it was the Rams’ second championship game appearance and first since 2011.
Check out coverage of the Semifinal from Second Half and see below for Rockford’s winning score from the NFHS Network.