Rams closing on on LMCBL championship
The Michigan Rams are closing on on a league championship following a successful weekend at Ford Field in Livonia.
Coach Rick Berryman's team (22-4) will clinch the Livonia Men's Collegiate Baseball League title with any combination of two victories or two losses by the Michigan Bulls — the second place team with a 19-7 record.
With the Rams being 22 & 4, the only need 2 , either wins or a Bulls loss,as the Bulls are in 2nd place with a record of 19 & 7 and we only play 30 games.
On Saturday, the Rams earned a doubleheader sweep over the Great Lakes Diamond Kings, winning 7-4 and 3-1.
In the nightcap, pitcher Jack Ferguson threw a two-hitter, striking out six in the process. The only run he gave up was in the first inning, and his team scored runs in the second and third innings to take a 2-1 lead. An insurance run was tallied in the fifth.
Delivering key hits in the victory for the home team were Anthony DiPonio (double), Zack Schmidtke (double) and Patrick Downing (RBI single).
The Rams scored four runs to open up Game 1, and never trailed, with strong pitching by starter Addison Pawelek (10 strikeouts) and reliever Gordon Ferguson (two-thirds of an inning for the save).
Downing (2-for-2, three runs), DiPonio (2-for-3, triple, two runs), Tristen Jorah (3-for-4), Gordon Ferguson (2-for-4, RBI) and Trevor MacDonald (double, three RBI) led the attack. Other hits were collected by Jordyn Finney and Kevin O'Malley.
On Sunday, Brendan Wetmore (Wayne State) pitched the Rams to a 9-0 victory over A Green, giving up one hit and one walk and striking out 16.
Collecting multiple hits for the Rams were DiPonio (2-for-4, RBI, two runs), Jack Ferguson (2-for-4, three RBI), O'Malley (2-for-3, three runs, two RBI), Finney (2-for-2, run) and Gordon Ferguson (2-for-4, two RBI).
Chipping in with a homer was MacDonald, while Alex Nicholson (Salem) and Downing each added hits.