Michigan teams take swings in state tourneys
6/9/2009Bedford's Kicking Mules (37-2), Michigan's second-ranked Division 1 team, will have extra incentive in the school's first appearance in a state baseball quarterfinal Tuesday.
The Mules, who take on University of Detroit Jesuit at 2 p.m. at Carleton Airport High School, will be playing for injured senior Drew Jurgenson, who fractured his left leg in Saturday's regional semifinals at Southgate Anderson. Bedford advanced by beating Garden City 2-0 and Taylor Truman 11-1.
It may sound funny to say a school which has won eight state championships is trying to "get over a hump," but that's what the Blissfield Royals (31-11) will be trying to do today at 4 p.m. in a D-3 state quarterfinal at Adrian College against Ann Arbor Gabriel Richard.
Blissfield, which won the last two of its state titles in 2002 and 2003, has been beaten in the state quarterfinals in four of the last five seasons, losing to eventual state champions in 2004, 2007, and 2008.
Elsewhere, Summerfield (14-11) will try to add to an already successful boys sports year when the Bulldogs face Climax-Scotts (31-1) in a D-4 state quarterfinal today at 5 p.m. at Nichols Field in Battle Creek. Summerfield, which won its first regional title last Saturday, reached the football playoffs for the first time last fall, then won its first boys Tri-County Conference basketball crown in 14 years.
SOFTBALL QUARTERFINALS: Monroe will meet Detroit Cass Tech in a D-1 state softball quarterfinal at noon today at Carleton Airport. In D-3, Ida takes on Clinton in a 4 p.m. quarterfinal at Adrian College. And, in D-4, Whiteford (24-8) battles Decatur (26-8) in a 4 p.m. quarterfinal at Bailey Park in Battle Creek.
-STEVE JUNGA