Michigan Clobbers Indiana, Heads To Great Lakes Championship

WESTFIELD, IN — Michigan thoroughly dominated Indiana on Wednesday, easily winning 14-2 in a Little League Baseball Great Lakes regional tournament matchup that, going into the matchup, featured two undefeated teams. Now, the Grosse Pointe Woods-Shores Little League all stars (3-0) are heading to the regional championship.

Michigan struck early and often against the New Albany Little League all stars (2-1), collecting 12 hits, including three doubles and three triples. The Grosse Pointe kids struck first, plating three runs in the first inning off Indiana pitcher Chase Loesh. Indiana answered with two runs of its own in the second inning, but it would be all downhill from there for New Albany, which finished the day with just one hit. That's because Michigan pitchers Ryan Knaebel and Brennan Hill combined to throw four innings and struck out nine batters. Knaebel collected the win.

Grosse Pointe's offense was lead by stellar performances from multiple players, including Knaebel, who helped his own cause with a triple, two runs scored and adding two RBIs.Four players had multiple hits, including Reggie Sharpe and Jarren Purify. Purify had a day to remember, collecting three hits, three RBIs and three runs scored.

Both teams came into the game hot with back-to-back wins in their previous contests. Michigan beat Illinois on Sunday 7-2 and followed that up by trouncing Wisconsin the following day 12-2. Brennan Hill has been leading the charge for Grosse Pointe, collecting three hits and a whopping six RBIs in the games, including a pair of home runs. He also pitched in both games. Reggie Sharpe also homered twice in Michigan's two games, collecting four hits total and three RBIs.

New Albany easily handled Kentucky in Sunday, winning 6-1. The team then came back against Ohio the following day to win 8-5. New Albany has gotten contributions from numerous players in its two games. Jack Beyl collected two runs on two hits in the first game and Brian wall collected two RBIs on one hit that game. He also scored twice. But in the second game. Luke Krwr lead the charge with three RBIs and a run scored on one double.

New Albany is about 13 miles northeast of Columbus. Grosse Pointe is about 8 miles northeast of Detroit.

Ohio (1-1) is poised to play Kentucky (1-1) in the semi-final Thursday evening. The Great Lakes championship is scheduled for Saturday. The winner will play the Northwest champion Aug. 17.

Rosters

Michigan

Reggie Sharpe

Jarren Purify

Oliver Service

Marwynn Matthews

Ryan Knaebel

Brennan Hill

Preston Barr

Cameron Schafer

Ryan Henderson

Chase Mazey

Elliot Nederhood

Jake Martin

JJ Schoeck

Indiana

Maxwell Alexander

Luke Krwr

Jack Beyl

Caden Reed

Landon Gum

Cody Jackson

Aydian Lahman

Chase Loesh

Maddox Culpepper

Brian Wall

Blaine Hamilton

Cooper Anderson

Cole Huett

Gavin Rand

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