Traverse City Record-Eagle

Prep Sports

June 2, 2012

Trojans win D-1 baseball district

Central's Keller throws three-hitter, Dorer homers

from staff reports ----

TRAVERSE CITY — Nick Keller pitched a three-hitter as Traverse City Central repeated as Division I district baseball champions Friday with a 5-2 win over Traverse City West in the title game.

The Trojans (26-10) advance to the Saginaw Valley regional next Saturday.

Zack Dorer belted a two-run homer in the first inning as Central jumped to a quick lead over West.

Keller, meanwhile, pitched shutout ball through five innings. The Trojans, leading 3-0, added two more runs in the top of the sixth on Adam Stepan's single.

West scored its two runs in the bottom of the sixth on an RBI single by Joey Caraccio and an RBI double by Joe Kniss.

Keller struck out nine and walked three in earning the win. Kniss started for the Titans (26-10) and went 4 2/3 innings before Walt Borkovich came on in relief.

"West is a quality team," Central coach Mike Gle said. "We had a lot of kids step up in key situations and obviously Nick did a really nice job."

It was Central's third district crown in five years under Gle.

Central reached the finals with a 4-1 win over Marquette. Dorer tossed a four-hitter, striking out nine. He drove in a run in the first with a sacrifice fly, and then drove in another in the third with a double. Nick Keller added an RBI in the fifth.

West defeated Alpena 9-2 in its opener. Caraccio went the distance on a six-hitter. He struck out five to finish the season 8-2.

Will Reed had two hits and two RBIs for the Titans.

Text Only