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"We struggled a little defensively," Coach Jim Vanwagoner said. "We've been pretty solid all year on that side of the ball."

If the defense was sluggish, the offense made up it by scoring three runs in the first spawned by a base hit from Greg Blanco, an error in favor of Tony Derrer and a double by Cody Sehl. Tom Pecar's base hit scored Sehl, who tore apart St. Mary's pitching crew with big hits at key moments. Blanco allowed one run in the bottom of the first, then struck out two in a row to leave the score at 3-1.

Offensive action heated up in the fourth with a single from Mike Dalton, a Trenton Sweet double, then an error that gave Blanco first base. Points began mounting at this point with help from Derrer and Sehl, setting the stage for a final score of 9-5.

In the first game, Blanco went 2-for-4 with 2 RBIs and two runs, Sweet went 3-for-3 with two runs and Kodi Balhorn slammed three out of four.

"Kodi Balhorn back behind the plate is huge for our ball club," Vanwagoner said.

Although the nightcap ended after five innings due to darkness, Mancelona's offense continued to light up the plate.

The second inning put Sehl on base by error to start things off but then looked as if St. Mary would dismiss the Ironmen quickly after getting two outs while Sehl stood waiting at first. Dalton started a fire by sending a ball to right field for a double.

Blanco thought a double sounded like a good idea and hit one to left center field. This scored Sehl, who wouldn't stay in the dugout long. Sweet was next, scoring Blanco off a base hit and using stealthy footwork to move to third. Singles by Derrer, Balhorn and Nick Lockman followed before Sehl picked up a bat and returned to home plate.

The hit was labeled a "monster" by Vanwagoner and it capped off the eight-run inning.

In a game that ended at 11-5, Derrer took the win in relief of pitcher Nick Lockman. He struck out seven, allowing three hits and one run in four innings on the mound and went 2-for-4 at bat. Blanco contributed two RBIs, two runs and went 3-3.

Pellston travels to Mancelona to take their chances against the Ironmen on May 8.