STEVENSVILLE, Mich.---The Kingsford Greens American Legion Baseball team opened Class A state tournament play on Thursday with a 9-5 victory over the Three Oaks Oakers in the far southwest Lower Michigan town of Stevensville.
The Greens scored four runs in the bottom of the sixth inning to break a 5-5 tie in a game played under sweltering 90-degree heat that was amplified by the artificial turf on the field. Kingsford plays the host Stevensville-Lakeshore team Friday at 4:00 ET.
Nolan Hendrickson's RBI double broke that 5-5 tie, and then Jack Kriegl's two-run single made it an 8-5 game. Trent McLain's RBI single scored the final Kingsford run.
In the top of the seventh, Kriegl had a rocky finish as he gave up a double to Sean Driscoll and he hit a batter. But Kriegl struck out Vaughan Nickel to end the game.
Earlier, Kingsford scored three runs in the third inning to take a 4-0 lead. Hendrickson got a bunt single, Cam Varda doubled, and Kriegl was intentionally walked to load the bases. Andres Finley lined into a double play, but McLain singled home a run and Landon Amundson's line drive to center field scored two runs.
Finley had shut the Oakers out up until this point, but in the top of the fourth inning, Ethan Lejewski hit a long two-run homer that brought the Oakers to within 4-2. A double and a bunt single plated another run, and closed Kingsford's lead to 4-3.
McLain relived Finley on the mound, and threw two innings, before Kriegl threw the last two innings to end it. None of the three Kingsford pitchers threw more than 45 pitches, keeping them all eligible for further play as the state tourney continues.
Driscoll took the loss for Three Oaks, throwing five innings and allowing five runs on nine base hits. The tournament continues on Friday at Stevensville-Lakeshore.
