Caledonia High School Athletics

Yesterday afternoon the Fighting Scots head to Grandville High School to take on the Grandville Bulldogs in the first round of the 2023 MHSAA Regional Playoffs. In the top of the first inning, Caledonia went 1-2-3 with two fly outs and a strikeout. In the bottom of the first inning the Bulldogs were able to get on the board early with a walk and a ground ball single. Junior Corbin Raffler was able to lead off the bottom of the second with a single to center field. That was all Caledonia was able to get in the top of the second as they were retired in order to finish the second. Grandville went 1-2-3 in the bottom of the second as the score remained 1-0 at the end of the second. After Tommy Clarey struck out, Micheal Douglass was able to reach base on a deep ground ball in the hole at second. A fly out by AJ Szabo quickly gave the Scots two outs. Senior Jace Lawton was able to continue the inning for the Fighting Scots when he singled to center. Caledonia then took a 2-1 lead when Derek Pennington ripped a line drive double to right. The game remained scoreless through five and a half innings. In the bottom of the fifth, Grandville was able to retake the lead. After the number six hitter was able to reach base on a hit by pitch. A sacrifice bunt was able to advance him to second. A double and a single allowed the Bulldogs to take a 3-2 lead. The Dawgs were able to maintain their lead through six innings. In the top of the seventh, Caledonia had to score at least one to keep their season alive. Senior Canyon Veldhouse lead the inning off with a single. Tommy Clarey was then able to advance Issac Jurmu (who came in to pitch run for Veldhouse) to second and reach base on his bunt after an error by the Grandville 3rd baseman. A single by AJ Szabo was able to score both Jurmu and Clarey and tie the game at three. A single by Jace Lawton was able to score Szabo and give the Scots a 4-3 lead. Caledonia then took a 5-3 on a wild pitch that scored Szabo. A single by Corbin Raffler was able to extend the lead to 6-3. Grandville was able to get a lead off double to start the bottom of the seventh but a strikeout, fly out and line out was able to shutdown Grandville and preserve the win for Caledonia. Sophomore Cam Myers got the start for Caledonia. Myers lasted four and two/thirds innings allowing four hits, two runs and one walk. Mitch Smith was able to close out the fourth inning as he allowed one walk. Senior Aaron Hileman was credited with the win as he tossed one inning of scoreless baseball. Canyon Veldhouse recorded the save as he pitched the seventh inning allowing one hit, no walks and one strikeout. Canyon Veldhouse lead the way offensively has he went 2 for 3. Derek Pennington also chipped in with 2 RBIs. Caledonia will now head to Central Michigan to face Traverse City West in the Regional Semi.