EAST LANSING, Mich — Brandon Riemersma drove in the tying run in the 4th inning and eventual winning run in the 6th as Holland Christian beat Linden 8-5 to win the division two state championship game at Michigan State University.
The Maroons built a 4-0 lead after 3 innings but Linden came back with 5 in the top of the fourth to take the lead.
“When the other team comes up with five, that is a pretty big blow” Holland Christian head coach Jim Caserta said, “but when you get knocked down like that and theses guys bounce right back that is what has made this team very successful all year.”
With the game tied at 5 in the 6th, Riemersma laid down a perfect bunt on the squeeze play to score pinch-runner Cam Schut, Holland Christian also executed a squeeze in the 2nd inning to score its first run.
“Everybody is kind of teasing me about the squeeze play” Caserta said, “I tell you what, when it works it’s awful nice.”
Chase Dreyer doubled with one out in the 6th and Schut came in to run and advanced to 3rd on a wild pitch and Riemersma knew what his coach would as of him.
“Honestly I ran off to the side so I wouldn’t get called for interference and I looked at Josh Sterenberg who was on deck and I said here comes the squeeze” Riemersma said, “coach Caserta loves to squeeze bunt and I knew it was coming and I was ready for it.”
Stating pitcher Mike Mokma improved to 15-0 with the complete game victory, he allowed just two earned runs and struck out 14.
The title is the first in baseball in school history for Holland Christian (36-6)
