EAST LANSING – The 64th annual Dean Shippey Diamond Classic resumed play on May 27 in the semifinals, where three-loss Lansing Catholic, which opened the tournament with a win over Williamston, faced an energized Haslett group that had scored 26 runs over its first two tournament games.
And with both teams playing their best ball of the season, it was fitting for Wednesday’s semifinal to go into extra innings.
Tied at 3-3 with two outs in the bottom of the ninth inning and a runner on third, Lansing Catholic sophomore outfielder Anthony Branoff stepped into the batter’s box. He had an earlier chance to win it in the seventh with a hit, but instead dribbled a ball to second base to end the inning.
This time, Branoff made good contact, delivering a base hit up the middle and into center field to send the Cougars to the Diamond Classic championship.
“I just want to thank my teammates and thank God, and I’m grateful that I got the opportunity to make that happen,” Branoff said. “It’s really exciting. I saw it start going through the middle, and I threw my helmet. I knew it was game over. It’s the best feeling in the world.”
The Vikings jumped out to an early lead when senior shortstop Ayden Smith scored on a throwing error and then tacked on to the lead in the second inning on an RBI single from senior outfielder Braeden McGuire.
Lansing Catholic would draw even in the bottom of the frame, getting a run across after a balk, then scoring again on an RBI double from freshman Isaac Gallegos.
Senior catcher Zach Curtis put Haslett back in front in the third on a deep sacrifice fly to center field.
The Cougars then leveled the game in the fourth, scratching across a run on an errant throw from first base to third base.
Lansing Catholic sent out Elijah Jungwirth, Conor Weber and Watson Ferreri on the mound, and Jungwirth led the way with four strikeouts.
“There are a few things that could have been better, but no one gave up on each other, and we had pitchers that came in and hammered the zone,” Lansing Catholic coach Dillon Reust said. “We faced some adversity with the bats, but we’ve been preaching all year about taking that adversity and turning it into something positive. The kids showed that today.”
Lansing Catholic (24-3) will face the winner of Grand Ledge and Mason in the Diamond Classic final on June 1. But before then, the Cougars open district play on May 30 against Springport. Haslett (14-11) will face Michigan Center in district play on May 30.
Contact Nathaniel Bott at nbott@lsj.com and follow him on X @Nathaniel_Bott
This article originally appeared on Lansing State Journal: Lansing Catholic baseball walks it off in extras to make Diamond Classic final
Reporting by Nathaniel Bott, Lansing State Journal / Lansing State Journal
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