Grand Ledge baseball edges St. Johns in extras, DeWitt wins big over Mason in Diamond Classic

EAST LANSING ― Jaydin McCammon and the Grand Ledge baseball team reached a point Tuesday evening when they were determined they were not going to lose.

And that determination helped the Comets fight their way to a victory in the Dean Shippey Capital Diamond Classic.

Grand Ledge outlasted St. Johns in 10 innings, capitalizing on an error to record a 6-5 victory at Michigan State's McLane Stadium.

Preston Bohnet scored the winning run for the Comets on a throwing error as St. Johns attempted to turn an inning-ending double play that would have sent the game to an 11th inning.

"We picked the perfect time to finally put a game together," Grand Ledge coach Grant Householder said. "We reached a point in that game where we were not going to lose. That's the resiliency that they've faced all year. It's been maybe a non-traditional year for our team. We've tested them and I think that's what prepared them for this moment."

McCammon helped fuel that determination to win for Grand Ledge with one of his best offensive games. He had four RBI while playing a role in the Comets rallying from a 5-1 deficit. McCammon had three hits with the biggest coming in the fifth inning when he had a three-RBI double that pulled Grand Ledge within one.

"That hit — that was just an amazing hit," McCammon said. "I have no words for it. I just went up there and tried to do anything for the team. (I drove) the ball hard and got it done."

McCammon reached base four times and had a RBI singles in the second inning while playing a role in Grand Ledge advancing to the Diamond Classic semifinals to face either Okemos or Williamston on May 29.

"It's a huge spot for him," Householder said. "He's kind of been in and out of the lineup this year and contributed in some different ways. He's been better on the mound but for him to get three hits in some clutch spots — (especially) that big three-run fifth inning — I can't give him enough credit and be anymore proud of him for just sticking with it and getting his opportunity."

Brandon Schomisch finished with two RBI for St. Johns.

More: Dean Shippey Capital Diamond Classic schedule, results

DeWitt routs Mason to reach semis

In the nightcap, DeWitt scored runs in four of the first five innings while recording a 10-0 mercy-rule victory in five innings over the CAAC Red champion Bulldogs to continue their Diamond Classic journey.

Zach Nevison and AJ Alicea helped DeWitt (19-9) set the tone early. Nevison struck out the side in the opening inning and AJ Alicea followed with a RBI hit in the bottom portion to get the Panthers off to a good start.

DeWitt added two runs in the third on a Mason fielding miscue before taking control with four runs in the fourth. Sam Leonard and Elliott Larner each plated a pair of runs in the fourth inning before DeWitt finished things off with three runs in the fifth.

"We had a lot of big hits," DeWitt coach Alan Shankel said. "We've been waiting for that all year. It was great energy in the dugout. We didn't let down. We just kept going. Credit to our guys — they kept the pressure on all night."

That offense as plenty for Nevison, who put together a strong performance on the mound while not allowing a run and helping DeWitt earn a spot in the semifinals May 29 where it will face either Olivet, Holt or Portland St. Patrick.

"(He had) pinpoint control early on," Shankel said. "He's had some rough first innings and then he settles in. He was on right from the beginning. He's got great stuff and he can throw any pitch in any count. He's a competitor. He's going to fight

Contact Brian Calloway at bcalloway@lsj.com. Follow him on X @brian_calloway.

This article originally appeared on Lansing State Journal: Grand Ledge, DeWitt baseball earn spots in Diamond Classic semifinals