Thirteen is a lucky number for the Goodrich baseball team.
The Martians remained perfect in Genesee Area Conference play by sweeping a doubleheader against Mt. Morris May 12, winning the opener 4-1 and the nightcap 12-0 (in five innings). Goodrich’s record is now 13-0 in league play and 17-3 overall.
Senior Michael McCormick handcuffed the Mt. Morris lineup in the opener, striking out 15 batters while allowing four hits and one run (unearned).
The Martians scored three runs in the first inning, which would be all the offense they needed. Craig Van Wagoner went one-for-three with three RBI to pace the Goodrich offense.
In the nightcap, the Martians scored in each of the game’s five innings on their way to the win. Senior Kori Garman struck out eight while allowing only one hit.
Matt Hughes went two-for-three with four RBI and one run scored for the Martians, while Kirk Elsworth went two-for-three with two RBI and one run scored.
The Martians earned a doubleheader win against host Lake Fenton May 8, earning a 12-0 shutout in the first game before winning the nightcap 6-3.
In the opener, Goodrich scored four runs in the top of the second and three in the top of the third, essentially deciding the contest. McCormick struck out 13 Lake Fenton batters and allowed one hit to pick up the win.
Elsworth powered the Goodrich offense, going three-for-four with two RBI and three runs scored. Hughes went three-for-five with two runs scored, while Max Bell went two-for-four.
In the nightcap, Lake Fenton struck first with a run in the bottom of the first inning, but the Martians scored three times in the third inning and two in the fourth to take command of the game.
Garman picked up the win for Goodrich, allowing three hits and two runs (one earned) while striking out 17. He helped his own cause by going three-for-four at the plate with two runs scored. Brent Koss went two-for-four with three RBI and a run scored.
On May 6, the Martians swept a twin bill against visiting Lapeer East, winning a 12-11 slugfest in the opener before cruising to an 8-2 win in the nightcap.
In the first game, the Martians spotted East a one-run lead before answering with four runs in the bottom of the first, one in the bottom of the second and three in the bottom of the fourth to take an 8-1 lead.
However, Lapeer East would make a furious comeback, scoring five runs in the top of the fifth and two in the top of the sixth to tie the game at eight. Although the Martians scored a run to reclaim the lead in the bottom of the sixth, East answered with three more in the top of the seventh to take an 11-9 lead heading into the bottom of the seventh.
The Martians proved to be equal to the task, scoring three runs in the inning. Goodrich scored the game-winning run when Van Wagoner hit a grounder to second. On the ensuing throw to first base, the Lapeer East first baseman pulled his foot off the bag, enabling Goodrich’s Nick McDonald to score the winning run.
Bell started the game for the Martians, going five innings and allowed three hits and six runs (two earned), walking six and striking out three. Hughes came on in relief to pick up the win, allowing four hits and five runs (one earned) while striking out one and walking two.
Van Wagoner went three-for-three at the plate with five RBI, while Bell went two-for-three with four runs scored. McDonald went two-for-four with two runs scored and two RBI, while Garman went two-for-two with three runs scored.
Things were a little easier for the Martians in the second game. Although Lapeer East scored in the top of the third, Goodrich would counter with three runs in the bottom of the inning and never looked back.