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Varsity baseball team falls short against archrival North

Photo by MIKEY SULLIVAN '13 | Staff Writer. Jack Doyle '13 delivers the ball toward the plate during Monday's 1-0 loss to Grosse Pointe North.

SAM KUHNA ’13 and RYAN NEWA ’12 | Staff Writer and Online Sports Editor

After six innings of sloppy baseball, the varsity baseball team lost a gut wrenching game to MAC Red rival Grosse Pointe North 1-0 on Monday afternoon.

The rain started after only the second inning and increased throughout the game. Finally in the top of the seventh, the umpires decided that the rain was too much and decided to call the game, meaning the Blue Devils wouldn’t get their last at bat.

Jack Doyle ‘13 pitched all six innings for the Blue Devils, allowing only two hits, but it was not enough.

“He (Doyle) certainly didn’t deserve to lose,” said head coach Dan Griesbaum. “He threw a great game, and it’s one of those unfortunate things when you have two pitchers that are doing well, somebody’s going to come out on the losing end.”

However, Norsemen pitcher Chip Wujek 12’ matched Doyle pitch for pitch, avoiding giving up crucial hits. Wujek also went the distance for the Norsemen pitching all six innings allowing only two hits as well.

“He’s (Wujek) got some good stuff,” Griesbaum.  “He can throw hard; he’s one of the hardest throwers we’ve seen. We, for some reason, were really having trouble hitting his fastball even when we knew it was coming.”

North scored its only run in the top of the fourth on a controversial call. After walking Wujek, his courtesy runner stole second with only one out. The next batter flied out to Cam Gibson ’13 in center field, allowing the man on second to tag up and get to third. However, many thought the runner left early, and it should have been a double play.

“You can complain about the umpires and terrible calls as much as you’d  like,” said Doyle. “It’s how you react to it is what matters.”

After the umpires met and decided the runner did not leave early, North’s next batter David Kracht ’13 singled home the runner, giving the Norsemen a lead they would not surrender.

The rest of the game can be summed up by missed opportunities for the Blue Devils. After the Devils loaded the bases, Wujek got the crucial strikeout he needed to get out of the first inning.

Again, the Blue Devils threatened in the bottom of the sixth getting a man on second and third with two outs, but again Wujek got out of the jam.

After the sixth South, coaches tried to get the field in playing shape after the rain steadily increased. This was to no avail as the umpires called the game early.

“We weren’t finished yet,” said Doyle. “We got cheated out of a baseball game.”

South is still tied for the MAC Red division lead with Sterling Heights Stevenson despite the loss. South will get a chance at revenge on May 16, when they play at North.

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