Rain doesn’t stop Hatchet’s parade to the title

BY CHRIS OGRYSKI
Editor
It was well worth the wait.
Due to inclement weather last Friday, officials at Bad Axe were forced to delay the D3 district championship game until Saturday at noon. But when the game was finally played and all was said and done, the host Hatchets had knocked off USA 8-6 to win the district crown.
Against the Patriots, Tim Rader pitched 6 2/3 innings to get the win, striking out eight and allowing three earned runs (six total). Pete Salens came on in relief to get the save for the Hatchets, while Heath Schmidt took the loss for the Pats.
A key to Bad Axe’s win, was their four run rally in the sixth, which included a Mitch Roth RBI single and a two run double from Chris Smith, which gave the Hatchets an 8-4 lead.
Overall for Bad Axe, Roth had three hits, Smith a double and a single, while Jason Brown added a fifth inning solo home run.
Lance VanHoost had two doubles and a single for USA, while Kelson Gettel and Heath Schmidt added two knocks each.
In the semis, Bad Axe beat Lakers 11-1. Salens earned the win with six solid innings, while EPBP’s Craig Smith allowed six runs in three inning s to take the loss. Brown led the Hatchet offense with a two run homer, a double and four RBIs.
Zack Gilbert had a double for Lakers.
Bad Axe advances to regionals this Saturday at Reese, where they face Hemlock at 10 a.m.