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By Dave Sontag
PBR Michigan Scout

We look to bring the state of Michigan top-notch high school coverage throughout the entire state.

We will have the 2016 Scout Blog, Spotlight Games, Inside the Recruitment Articles, Unsigned Senior Spotlights, The Recruiting Trail, All-State Selections, Full Coverage of the MHSAA State Tournament as well as numerous other articles throughout the spring.

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+ Division 1
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+ Division 1
+ Division 2
+ Division 3/4

To view the full list of 2016 Team Previews that we have already completed, please click here.

For insider information and scouting notes from the PBR staff during the 2016 spring season visit the 2016 Michigan Scout Blog by clicking here.

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PBR Michigan Spotlight Game: #2 (D-1) Saline vs Bedford

Game 1

Saline High School pitchers dominated Bedford Monday as the two teams began play in the rugged SEC.

Using three pitchers, the No. 1 ranked team in Division 1 relied on strong pitching, solid defense and timely hitting to beat Bedford in a double header sweep, 4-1 and 4-2.

In the first contest on its home field, Saline’s sophomore Cole Daniels limited Bedford to two hits and one unearned run over 4 2/3 innings. Senior Josh Nelson notched a save for the Hornets with his one-hit pitching over the remainder of the game. Both hurlers were supported with solid defense as Saline turned two double plays.

Saline began the game by scoring its four runs in the first inning off of Bedford’s Joey Oehlers. After a Thomas Miller walk and a Zach Owings infield single, Daniels helped his own cause with a two-strike single to left to plate Miller. Jake Finkbeiner followed with a sacrifice fly to knock in the second run. A Bedford error led to two more runs for the Hornets.

Daniels used a lively fastball and a sharp-breaking curve to hold Bedford down. The southpaw walked four and struck out three in his first extended stint on the mound this season. Bedford scored its only run in the 4th following a walk, a Saline error and a groundout by David Jeffers.

Saline coach Scott Theisen turned to senior Josh Nelson with one out in the 5th to halt a Bedford rally. Nelson used a sneaky fast ball and a sharp-tilting curve ball to stem the tide. Nelson, who will attend Wayne State University next fall, struck out two and walked one in his 2 1/3 innings as he picked up the save.

Jeffers relieved Oehlers in the first inning and shut down the Hornets for his 5 1/3 innings. The Bedford pitcher only surrendered three hits and no runs in his relief effort.

Game 2

In the second contest, the two SEC rivals used strong pitching again to hold the hitters down. Saline turned to senior Rich Hovde to take on its mound duties, while Bedford leaned on Tony Yambor.

Bedford held the Hornets to just one run through four innings before Finkbeiner unloaded the biggest hit of the day for Saline. With two outs and the bases loaded in the 5th, the Saline third baseman drove a double to the gap in left-center to clear the bases and give the Hornets a 3-2 lead.

Yambor almost wiggled out of danger as he loaded the bases on three walks. Finkbeiner made the big right-hander pay with his bases-clearing double. Mike Schuby knocked in the final Hornets’ run with a sacrifice fly.

Coach Craig Trychel’s Bedford team picked up two unearned runs in the 4th inning off of Hovde.

A walk to Joey Wiemer, a botched pick-off by Saline, and singles by Tanner Glass and Justin Rozek led to Bedford’s lone runs of the game. Wiemer pitched the final 1 2/3 for Bedord, giving up no runs and no hits.

Saline turned to Nelson again in the second game of the twin bill to pick up the win. After earning the save in the first game, Nelson notched the win in Game 2. The crafty right-hander pitched 2 2/3 and did not give up a run or a hit. He also struck out three Bedford hitters.

Top Performances

+ Jake Finkbeiner: Double, single, two walks, sacrifice fly, SB, three RBI, GWRBI.

+ Zach Schwartzenberger: Two singles, SB, two runs.

+ Rich Hovde: 4 2/3 IP, 0 ER, three hits.

+ Josh Nelson: Win, save, 4 2/3 IP, 5 strikeouts, 0 runs.

+ Cole Daniels: Win, 4 2/3 IP, 2 hits, 1 ER.

+ David Jeffers: 5 1/3 IP, 3 hits.

Linescore – Game 1

Bedford         000 100 0 - 1 3 3
Saline             400 000 x - 4 5 1

WP – Daniels
Save – Nelson
LP – Oehlers

Linescore – Game 2

Bedford         000 021 0 - 2 3 0
Saline             100 030 x - 4 4 1

WP – Nelson
LP - Yambor