LocalSportsJournal.com

It’s been three long years since the Oakridge baseball team has appeared in the state final eight, but that drought will end on Tuesday.

The Eagles earned a spot in the Division 2 state quarterfinals by winning a regional championship in Gaylord on Saturday. They beat Sault Ste. Marie 6-4 in the semifinal round, then took out Big Rapids 8-3 in the championship game.

The semifinal victory was a squeaker. Oakridge led 2-0 after five innings, then Sault Ste. Marie scored four runs in the sixth to take a late lead. But the Eagles fought back with four runs in the bottom of the sixth to take the lead for good.

Koleman Wall came in to pitch the seventh inning and got the win for Oakridge. Jaxon Fri had three hits and scored two runs while Austin Fairchild and Blake Masterman each knocked in two runs.

In the championship game, Oakridge pounded out 13 hits to capture the easy win. The Eagles scored seven runs in the first two innings to take control of the contest.

Wall started the championship game on the mound and earned another victory, tossing 5 1/3 innings. Fairchild finished the game in relief.

Oakridge will meet Saginaw Swan Valley in the state quarterfinals on Tuesday at 4 p.m. at Central Michigan University in Mount Pleasant. The winner will advance to the state semifinals at Michigan State University.