BY DAN STICKRADT
CORRESPONDENT
dan.stickradt@northoaklandsports.com
Twitter: @LocalSportsFans
EAST LANSING — There is a first for everything.
Holland Christian and Linden had the grand opportunity to play for their respective communities’ first baseball state title.
Third-ranked Holland Christian made the most of the opportunity, rallying past Linden, 8-5, on June 18 at Michigan State University’s Old College Field for the Division 2 state title.
It marked Holland Christian’s first-ever trip to the Final Four and first title. Linden had reached the D-2 title game in 2004 only to fall short.
“We told them to focus on the little things,” offered Holland Christian coach Jim Caserta. “Focus on the ball. Catch and throw the ball. Make the plays and try not to think about it being the state final.”
Holland Christian (36-6) scored three in the sixth to break a 5-5 tie. Brandon Riemersma perfectly laid down a suicide squeeze to plate Chris Mokma for the go-ahead run.
It marked the fifth time in the postseason that the Maroons the had successfully enacted the squeeze play.
“We have been successful with that all season,” sad Caserta. “It seemed like right time to do it and it worked again.”
Holland Christian scored three in the bottom half of the second and added another run in the third to take a 4-0 lead.
Linden erupted for five runs on three hits and three errors in the top of the fourth to take a 5-4 advantage. Only two of the five runs were earned.
The Eagles (29-10-1) could not sustain the momentum and eventually succumbed to the Maroons.
In the bottom of fourth, Holland Christian knotted the score at 5-5 when Chris Mokma walked and later scored on an RBI Single to right by Riemersma.
“When we got down, when a couple bad things happened, our guys didn’t panic, and that’s what it takes,” offered Caserta. “All year long that’s what we’ve done — don’t panic and keep grinding and make something good happen.”
Holland Christian’s grinding became Linden’s misfortune.
“We had a couple of bad innings. Holland Christian is a good team and they took advantage of (their opportunity),” said Linden coach Steve Buerkel. “We scored all of those runs in the same inning, but we couldn’t hold the momentum. Good teams will come back at you. They are a very good team, well-coached, with some very good pitching. Our pitching was very good all season long, too, especially in the tournament. But again, we had a couple of bad innings (in he finals) and it cost us. I’m not disappointed in our effort.”
Linden’s dominating run in the postseason included a pair of shutouts in the district rounds (6-0 over Goodrich and 4-0 over Flint Powers Catholic). In the regionals, the Eagles twice ventured into extra innings to down Frankenmuth (2-1) and Clio (4-0).
Finally in the quarterfinals, Linden toppled Gaylord (2-0) for its third shutout of the postseason before outlasting powerhouse Dearborn Divine Child in the state semifinals (5-2).
Fifth-ranked Linden yielded more runs in the finals than it had in its previous six tournament games. The Eagles outscored the opposition 23-3 entering the finals.
“This was a very special (team),” said Buerkel. “We averaged 25-26 wins a season over the past few years. But we gradated six players that played in college this year, so we had some spots to fill. We had some younger players step up and help this year and we were able to make a run. It’s not the result we wanted, but I don’t think a lot of people thought we’d be playing for the state championship at the beginning of this season.”
Holland Christian more than doubled up the opposition in its tournament run, posting a 39-18 edge. The Maroons surged past Grand Rapids South Christian (7-0), Hudsonville Unity Christian (4-3), Grand Rapids Kenowa hills (5-1), Grand Radids Forest Hills Northern (2-1), Niles (9-5) and DeWitt (4-3) before the 8-5 decision over Linden.
“We had a great run and found different ways to win,” said Caserta. “But the one constant has been pitching.”
Mike Mokma gained the win from the bump for Holland Christian, striking out 14, giving up four hits, two walks and two earned runs while firing 104 pitches over seven innings.
Jack Shore suffered the loss for Linden, giving up nine hits with two walks against four strikeouts. Only three of the eight runs were earned.