CENTREVILLE — For six innings, Jonesville baseball looked firmly in control.
Senior Marshall Baker set the tone on the mound, the Comets built a five-run cushion and appeared poised to cruise into the Division 3 regional championship game.
Then chaos arrived.Centreville stormed back with six runs in the seventh inning, erasing a 7-2 deficit and suddenly putting Jonesville’s season on the brink. Instead of folding, however, the Comets answered every challenge before Carson Young delivered the final blow in the bottom of the ninth, lining a walk-off single to center field to give Jonesville a dramatic 9-8 victory in the Division 3, Region 44 semifinal on Wednesday, June 3, at Centreville High School.The win sends Jonesville into the regional championship game against Detroit Edison at 10 a.m. Saturday, June 6, at Plymouth Christian.”It was just simply, as a senior, I feel like a parent for the group,” Baker said. “I want everyone to do good. I want everyone to try their hardest and I just want everyone to have a good time. All season Carson’s hit behind me and he’s always hit good, always gotten me around where I needed to go, so it’s kind of just expected at this point.”Baker’s leadership was evident from the opening innings.The senior right-hander worked four innings on the mound, allowing three hits and two runs, only one earned, while striking out three and walking one.
Jonesville answered in the second when senior Ian Doyle singled home the tying run. The Comets moved ahead in the third on Talon Titus’ sacrifice fly before exploding in the fourth.
Young’s two-run single highlighted a five-run inning that transformed a tight game into what looked like a comfortable 7-2 advantage. Baker helped lead the offensive charge, finishing 2-for-3 with three runs scored, two RBIs, two doubles, a walk and two stolen bases.
Young added two hits and a team-high three RBIs, while Titus drove in two runs. Doyle scored twice and knocked in a run as Jonesville collected eight hits and drew eight walks.
But Centreville refused to go quietly.After Young came on in relief, the Bulldogs chipped away before delivering a stunning seventh inning. Centreville scored six runs to grab an 8-7 lead.
Jonesville still had one last answer in regulation.
With two outs in the bottom of the seventh, freshman Aiden Bolze-Sweebe reached base and helped ignite a rally. The Comets eventually loaded the bases before Baker worked a crucial walk, forcing home the tying run and extending the season.
Coach Brian Stroble said contributions from throughout the roster helped keep the Comets alive.”Our seniors came through and played well,” Stroble said. “Our guys on the bench realized that when called upon to do a job, they do the job.”
The team has brought up several freshman from a standout 32-3 junior varsity team. So far, the mix of newcomers has proven effective.
“The underclassmen coming up is really awesome because they bring a spirit to the dugout that we haven’t seen all season,” Baker said. “For them to come out and give it their all and actually compete with us is pretty cool. We’re going to have a really nice team the next couple of years with these guys.”
The game moved into extra innings, where another underclassman stepped into a pivotal role.
Freshman arm Connor Chenevare entered during Centreville’s rally and was tasked with navigating the game’s most pressure-packed moments. The right-hander pitched the seventh, eighth and ninth innings, allowing four runs — only one earned — while helping the Comets survive multiple threats with the help of a standout fielding effort. Jonesville loaded the bases in the eighth but couldn’t push across the winning run.
The ninth inning set the stage for Baker one more time.
The senior reached base, stole second and continued applying pressure. Moments later, he advanced to third, putting the winning run just 90 feet away.That brought Young to the plate.
The junior catcher lined a single into center field. Baker crossed home plate and the Jonesville dugout emptied as the Comets celebrated their second straight postseason championship opportunity.
The victory continues a memorable postseason run for Jonesville, which captured the Division 3 District 82 championship and now sits one win away from a regional title. This is the team’s first regional title game appearance since 2024.
“We’re going to keep practicing,” Baker said. “There’s always stuff to work on, whether you’re hitting or playing the field.”
This article originally appeared on Hillsdale Daily News: Jonesville baseball survives thriller to reach regional final
Reporting by Joseph Flaherty, Hillsdale Daily News / Hillsdale Daily News
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Joseph Flaherty, Hillsdale Daily News | USA TODAY Network
