Oakridge nips Sparta 1-0, now the only area baseball team left in state tournament

LocalSportsJournal.com

Oakridge is now the only local high school baseball team still alive in the state tournament, following a dramatic 1-0 victory over Sparta on Wednesday in a Division 2 regional semifinal game.

The game was scoreless until the sixth inning when Hunter Jennings knocked in Kolbe Stewart for the game’s only run.

Oakridge pitcher Ethan Miller and Sparta pitcher Jeremy Marble engaged in a dual, with Miller scattering five hits in the shutout win, and Marble only allowing four.

The Eagles wiggled out of Sparta scoring threats in the first, fifth and sixth innings. Sparta had runners on first and third with no outs and still failed to score, thanks to flawless play by the Oakridge defense.

Oakridge now advances to the super regional on Saturday at Saginaw Valley State University. The Eagles will play Cadillac at 10 a.m. in the regional finals, with the winner advancing to the state quarterfinals at 3 p.m.