Grand Blanc sweeps Mt. Pleasant, closes in on title
In a doubleheader with serious ramifications in the Saginaw Valley League, the visiting Grand Blanc Bobcats took both games against the host Mt. Pleasant Oilers Monday from Carlo Barberi Field.
The series sweep gives the Bobcats firm control of first place in the league.
Coming off of a 2021 season that ended with a Division 1 State Championship, Grand Blanc seems primed for another deep run.
The first step? Win the SVL. With a 16-2-1 record in league play, the Bobcats have the conference all but won. Possessing an impressive pitching rotation and a deep batting order, it is unlikely that Grand Blanc will fall from the top of the league in the coming weeks.
Needing a sweep to keep any hope at a league title, Mt. Pleasant is essentially out of the race. The Oilers are now 11-5 in league play, multiple games behind the Bobcats.
However, the season has not gone down the drain just yet for Mt. Pleasant. With the Grosse Pointe Invite and multiple league games ahead, the Oilers have some time to re-calibrate before districts arrive.
Grand Blanc made a statement in game one, crushing the Oilers 12-0. The Bobcat bats were dangerous in every inning, applying pressure early and often
on Mt. Pleasant’s starting pitcher, senior Michael Whitman.
Grand Blanc’s starting pitcher, senior Gabe Morrow, stifled the Oilers’ bats. Mt. Pleasant’s first hit of the game came from junior Max Humphrey in the bottom of the fourth. A subsequent walk, error and single loaded the bases for the Oilers, but they could not capitalize and came out of the inning emptyhanded.
Game two was a much closer affair, but Grand Blanc finished strong in the final few innings to win 5-1.
The game was scoreless until the top of the fourth, where Grand Blanc’s senior David Lally cracked a solo home run to break the tie. The Bobcats slowly built on the lead in the final few innings, putting together tough at bats and consistently battling Mt. Pleasant’s starting pitcher, sophomore Tyler Hutchins.
Mt. Pleasant’s lone run of the game came in the bottom of the fifth. A single from junior Beau Hovey was eventually driven home thanks to a bunt from junior Nathan Koster and a single from junior Griffin Phillips.
Mt. Pleasant is back in action this Thursday with a 4 p.m. road game against Lapeer.