Hood and Falcons Split Weekend Doubleheader Against Anchor Bay

1st Week in Review (4/10-4/14)

After returning from Sunny and 75 spring training in St. Petersburg, Florida, Ford II’s varsity baseball team had just one practice before they jumped right back into regular season play. Throughout the week Head Coach Ryan Joseph was wanting his team to dip their toes into competitive baseball before league play. Let’s just say they didn’t just dip their toe in the water on Tuesday 4/10, they made a splash. Ford took down Detroit news’ #2 team in the state, Country Day, 12-5 in a complete team win. The 12-5 win included lockdown pitching by senior Matt Domke and clutch bats. Domke claimed nine strikeouts including one punch-out on the Country Day senior first baseman John Malcom, who is committed to Vanderbilt. Players who stroked two hits were junior Colin Cornwell, junior Chase Gahlau, and Domke.

Wednesday 4/11 and Thursday 4/12 included rough losses against local programs Dakota and Stevenson.

In Friday’s 4/13 game against Chippewa Valley, the Big Reds jumped out to an early 3-0 lead. Ford’s offense showed up in the 5th as they knocked out Chip’s starter courtesy of a 2 RBI single by Brett Miller. As the score was tied 3-3 going into the Top of the 7th a couple of errors allowed the tie game to slip right out of their talons giving up 3 runs in the last inning and taking the loss 6-3.

1st Regular Season Series v Cousino Recap

The Falcons entered their first regular season series at a record of (2-4). Their goal was to leave the week seeing their names at the top of the MAC White standings and that’s what they did.

The Falcons’ bats were cold in Game 1 (Wednesday 4/18). They were no-hit until the 5th inning when junior Colin Cornwell broke up the no-hitter with a single through the right side of the infield. Ian Cleary scored for the Falcons in the 5th as they scratched across the game’s one and only run to win 1-0. Matt Domke tossed a complete game shutout, accumulating three strikeouts and just one walk.

Because of a rainout on Monday 4/16 the schools agreed to try to squeeze a double header in on Thursday 4/19.

Game 2 of the series featured a steady stream of batters returning to the Patriot bench courtesy of senior Bryce Dudal who was on the bump. Dudal added eight strikeouts while only allowing two hits in six innings. The offensive side of Ford II’s 6-1 win was led by junior Chance Kirkwood who inked a (2-4) game with a double and two RBIs. Senior Matt Domke also reached base in all three of his at bats with two walks as he was also hit by a pitch. Senior Spencer Carson came in and pitched one inning of relief and picked up a strikeout to close the game out.

Game 3 contained adversity for the Falcons as frustration flowed through the dugout. Chance Kirkwood who had started the game didn’t have the outing he expected to have, and the bats were cold once again. Spencer Carson pitched in relief again in Game 3 picking up 2 Ks in 3.2 innings of work. Ford II was down 2-1 going into the Top of the 7th with the bottom of their order due up. Senior Jonah Varney led the inning off with a single and was then subbed in for a faster baserunner in junior Dawoud Almathrahi. Almathrahi stole a bag to set himself up to be knocked in for the game tying run by a Carson single. The game was called due to darkness at a 2-2 tie and will be made up on a later date.

Head Coach Ryan Joseph spoke to his team after the game that was filled with errors, and missed signals. “Were a good baseball team. But the thing that sets us back from being great is our inconsistency in being able to do the little things. Great teams can do all of the little things to win a ballgame.”

Doubleheader v Anchor Bay Report

Ford hopped out to an early 4-2 lead in Game 1 of the Saturday (4/21) doubleheader due to hot hitting from the top of their order all the way down. All but two of their starters notched a hit. In specific with Gahlau poking two hits, and Kirkwood three. It was just another game where small errors on the defensive caused the loss (5-7). Junior Thomas MacKool threw 4 solid innings only giving up four hits and only giving up one walk. Both juniors Dawoud Almathrahi and Noah Bieniek came in on relief for an inning picking up 2 Ks each.

In Game 2 junior Nolan Hood started on the hill. The first two innings spelled trouble, but Hood escaped only giving up one run and stranding the bases loaded twice. Hood was lights out the rest of his 5 inning outing, racking up seven strikeouts with just two walks. The 5-1 win was highlighted by two freshman. Freshman Kyle Revere who played great defense at shortstop, and freshman Connor Cornwell who caught all seven innings and picked up his first RBI and hit of his career, with his poke through the left side of the infield scoring Bieniek.

The Falcons currently own a record of (5-5-1) as they enter next week’s series against the Lanse Creuse Lancers.

Notable Season Stats

Hitters Batting Over (.250)

• (Jr.) Chance Kirkwood (.300)
• (Jr.) Chase Gahlau (.300)
• (Jr.) Colton Ociepka (.300)
• (Sr.) Brett Miller (.261)

Hits Leader

• (Jr.) Chance Kirkwood (9)

Leader in Doubles

• (Jr.) Chance Kirkwood (5)

Leader in Triples

• (Jr.) Ian Cleary (1)

Leader in Home Runs

• (Sr.) Matt Domke (1)

Leader in Walks

• (Jr.) Colin Cornwell (9)

Leader in Steals

• (Jr.) Colton Ociepka (5)

Notable Pitcher W-L Record

• (Sr.) Spencer Carson (1-0)
• (Sr.) Bryce Dudal (1-0)
• (Sr.) Matt Domke (2-1)

Pitchers with ERAs under (3.00)

• (Sr.) Spencer Carson (3.00)
• (Jr.) Nolan Hood (1.29)
• (Sr.) Matt Domke (1.26)
• (Sr.) Bryce Dudal (0.78)

Pitchers with Positive Strikeout to Walk Ratios

• (Sr.) Spencer Carson (7-6)

• (Jr.) Colin Cornwell (5-4)
• (Jr.) Dawoud Almathrahi (6-3)
• (Jr.) Noah Bieniek (6-3)
• (Sr.) Bryce Dudal (13-5)
• (Sr.) Matt Domke (14-4)