Goodrich opened its 2006 baseball season with an 8-6 loss to Lapeer East.
In a bit of symmetry ? although not the kind the Martians were hoping for ? the Eagles also ended the Martians? season, defeating the Martians 6-4 in a Division 3 district final Saturday, June 3 at Goodrich.
The loss ended the Martians? season with a record of 22-11. Goodrich advanced to the district final earlier in the day with a 5-4 win against Linden.
In the first game against Linden, the Martians countered a two-run first inning by Linden with two runs of their own in the bottom of the first. Jake Bourassa led off the inning with a walk, then Bennett Gilliam was hit by a pitch.
Dom Rivera then singled to load the bases, then Dusty Bourassa drove in Jake Bourassa and Gilliam with an RBI single.
The two teams traded runs in the third inning before the Martians took the lead with one run each in the fifth and sixth innings, and held off a late Linden rally for the win.
‘It was a well-played game by both teams,? Goodrich coach Bob Foreback said.
Dusty Bourassa led the Goodrich offense by going 3-for-3 with a run scored and three RBI. Tom Holton was the game’s winning pitcher, striking out four and walking five in 5-1/3 innings, allowing seven hits and three earned runs.
Against Lapeer East, the Martians took a 4-2 lead into the top of the fifth inning, when the Eagles tied the game at four on a Goodrich error and two Lapeer East hits.
After Goodrich failed to score in the bottom of the fifth inning, the Eagles scored two more runs in the sixth inning on a two-strike blooper hit, and the Martians were then shut down in the sixth and seventh innings.
Despite the loss, the future looks bright for the Martians, Foreback said, as the team is losing just three seniors ? Weston Coleman, Rivera and Matt Hughes (who was out the entire season due to injury).