Battle Creek 13, Mankato 0
Bombers win series 2-0
The Battle Creek Bombers are Northwoods League Champions in 2011. The five-year-old franchise swept through the Divisional Series and the Summer Collegiate World Series, winning their final 11 games of the season culminating with a 13-0 blowout victory at home against the Mankato MoonDogs on Friday night at C.O. Brown Stadium in front of 1,202 fans.
Battle Creek all but had this game won shortly after it started. After a quick 1-2-3 top of the first inning defensively, the Bombers first six batters reached base safely and eventually scored in the six-run bottom of the first. Solo home runs by Ryne Otis (Taylor) and Daniel Rockett (Texas-San Antonio) in the 3rd and 4th innings extended the Bombers lead to 8-0. A series of errors by the MoonDogs in the 6th inning extended the Bomber lead to 12-0 before the Bombers added one more in the 7th to complete the scoring. Battle Creek out-hit Mankato 11-3 in the contest.
Jordan Dean (Central Michigan) opened the game with a triple on his way to a 3-for-6 performance. He also doubled, scored two runs and drove in two. Jimmy Martinez (Western Michigan) also had three hits, including a double. Rockett’s home run was his 4th in four postseason games.
Matt Dearden (Indiana) was the starting and winning pitcher for the Bombers. Making his first appearance since late July, Dearden allowed just three hits over five innings.
Caleb Vincent (Kellogg CC) tossed three scoreless innings and Kristian Calibuso (Eastern Michigan) closed out the victory in the 9th inning and struck out the final batter before the celebration ensued.
