Frankfort edges Eagles, 4-3

By MIKE ECKERT
meckert@record-eagle.com

June 06, 2009 09:57 pm

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GLEN LAKE — A year ago, Frankfort ended a 17-year regional baseball drought.

It didn't take nearly as long for the Panthers to hoist their next trophy.

Frankfort senior Devin Gokey scored the winning run in the eighth inning for a 4-3 Division 4 regional championship victory over Lake Leelanau St. Mary's.

"They were both just great ball games," Panthers coach Mike Zimmerman said of the two consecutive regionals. "That's kind of how regional games are supposed to end. St. Mary's played outstanding today. Both teams made some big plays when they had to, and luckily we came out on top in the end."

The Panthers (36-1-3) will play Norway on Tuesday at Traverse City Central in the state quarterfinal.

"Last year we had never been there, so it was really exciting," Panthers senior Tyler Stratton said. "This year, we feel like we're taking another step towards our main goal and that's a state championship."

The Eagles fell to 24-5-1 with the loss.

Gokey led off the bottom of the eighth inning with a single up the middle. He then moved to third base on a throwing error when the Eagles tried to pick him off at first.

Gokey, who had a big lead off first base, admitted that he probably would have been caught if the throw was on the mark.

"If he would have made a good throw on target, I would have been out," Gokey said. "But it was a little off the bag, he missed it and I got lucky. It was one of those plays."

That brought Stratton to the plate, who was confident Gokey was going to come home for the win.

"There was no way (he wasn't scoring)," Stratton said. "Even if I didn't bring him home, the next guy was going to squeeze him in. I was pretty confident in my spot, and when you're feeling confident, good things happen."

Stratton lined a shot up the middle to finish the game. It was his third hit of the game.

Stratton had previously made a big defensive stop at first base to end the top of the eighth inning. Raymond Platts lined a grounder towards right field, but Stratton made a diving stop, rolled to his back and flung the ball to pitcher Cameron MacArthur who was covering the base.

MacArthur pitched the win with eight strikeouts — including four in the final two innings — and also helped his cause with an RBI double.

"He's done a great job all year," Zimmerman said. "We lost two of our top four pitchers in the pre-season and he's stepped in and done a great job filling that role for us. We've been very fortunate."

Adam Peplinski took the loss for St. Mary's. Kienan Sutton had two hits.

The Eagles advanced to the title game with a 4-2 victory over Mesick in the opening game. St. Mary's scored four runs in the fourth inning, capped by a two-RBI shot from Sutton. Platts pitched the win. Mesick (21-7-4) had two hits from Ben Brown.

Frankfort beat Central Lake 5-1 in the other semifinal. Kyle Zimmerman fanned 17 for the Panthers and also had two hits and an RBI. Tim Stieve and Kyle Brouillet each had two hits.