The Goodrich baseball team started the playoffs out on the right foot June 1.
The host Martians scored seven runs in the first inning and eight more runs in the fourth inning as they routed Atherton 17-1 in their district opener.
Goodrich (29-8 overall, 19-1 in Genesee Area Conference Red Division play) advanced to take on Byron in the district semifinals Saturday, June 5 at noon.
The other district semifinal pitted Durand (which defeated Lake Fenton 10-5 in the opening round of districts June 1) against Bendle. The district championship was held later that day; results were not available as of press time.
Kirk Elsworth was one of many Martians to light up the scoreboard. The junior outfielder had a home run and went 2-for-5 with five RBI to help spark the Martians to the win.
Basil Wilson also had a big day at the plate, going 4-for-4 with three RBI and three runs scored, while Matt Hughes, Nick McDonald, and Dusty Bourassa added two hits apiece.
Nick Wesener was the winning pitcher for the Martians, allowing an earned run on three hits while striking out two and walking two.
There were so many offensive fireworks during the Martians? May 27 doubleheader against visiting Montrose, you’d have thought the Fourth of July came to Goodrich early.
The Martians scored a combined 35 runs and hit five home runs in the two games against the Rams, winning the opener 17-2 in three innings and the nightcap 18-1 in five innings.
‘It was a complete hit fest,? Goodrich coach Bob Foreback said. ‘It was our best hitting display of the year. The ball was flying all over the field. Runs were scored not because of errors, but simply because we were hitting the ball hard all day.?
The home run proved to be Goodrich’s ticket in the first inning, as Max Bell and Adam Compeau each hit round-trippers to highlight a seven-run first inning. The Martians added six runs in the second and four runs in the third, and before Montrose knew what hit them, the game was done.
Bell picked up the win on the mound for Goodrich, striking out seven and allowing two earned runs on two hits. He also went 3-for-3 at the plate.
Several other Martians joined Bell in the offensive fireworks. Hughes went 4-for-4 with three RBI and two runs scored, while Compeau went 3-for-3 with four RBI and two runs scored, and Renny Grant went 2-for-2 with three runs scored and three RBI.
It was more of the same in the nightcap, as Goodrich scored five runs in the first, four in the second, and five in the third on their way to the win.
Bell hit his second home run of the day in the nightcap, while Elsworth and Dom Rivera also homered. Wilson and Wesener had four hits a piece to lead a balanced Goodrich offense, while Hughes, McDonald, Bell, and Elsworth scored three runs apiece.
Wesener went five innings to pick up the win on the mound for Goodrich, allowing one earned run on three hits while striking out five.