LocalSportsJournal.com
TRAVERSE CITY — It was an historic season for the Manistee baseball team, but it ended a bit prematurely with an 8-3 loss to Benzie Central in the Division 3 district championship game Saturday at Traverse City Christian.
After getting on the board first with two runs in the top of the first inning, the Chippewas saw the Huskies put across five in the bottom half for a 5-2 lead and could not mount a comeback.
Manistee had only five hits from five different players.
Devyn Kirchinger had one hit and collected two runs batted in. Also getting hits for the Chippewas were Ethan Edmondson, Adam Workman, Miles Joseph and Tyler Protasiewicz.
Jeff Huber started the game on the hill for Manistee and allowed five runs (four earned) on four hits and one walk over 1 1/3 innings.
Kirchinger threw 4 2/3 innings of relief and gave up three earned runs on five hits, walked three and struck out three.
Manistee advanced to the finals with a 4-1 victory over tournament host Traverse City Christian in the semifinals earlier in the day.
The Chippewas scored single runs in the first and second innings for a 2-0 lead and added two more in the top of the fifth. The Sabres got their only run in the sixth.
Eli Workman pitched a complete game and gave up four hits, no walks and struck out four.
Manistee had only three hits, one apiece by Huber, Edmondson with one run batted in, Adam Workman with one RBI and Kirchinger with one RBI.
The Chippewas ran wild on the bases, finishing with 13 stolen bases. Adam Workman had five of them.
Manistee closed the books on the 2023 season with a 22-16 record.
