The week of April 15th was the opening week for league play in the MAC Red. As the top division in the Macomb Area Conference, games are always competitive and the series between Dakota and Eisenhower was no different. Entering the series both teams held impressive records of 6-1 for Eisenhower and 5-1 for Dakota. The last time these two team met thw winner would be declared MAC Red champions, which Dakota became victorious for their first league championship in school history.

Game 1

The starting pitcher for Ike was Junior, Colin Seeling, who pitched six innings surrendering 3 runs on five hits while also striking out 10 Dakota hitters. After taking a 2-0 lead in the 2nd inning off a John Sovey double and a Connor Verduci single, Dakota’s offense would be stagnant until the 5th inning where Matt Love’s hit by pitch with bases loaded would give Dakota the lead again. In the bottom of the 6th inning, the Eagles third baseman would hit an infield single to score the go ahead run. Geiger came in for the 7th inning and shut the door receiving the save, as Eisenhower wins by a score of 4-3.

Game 2

The first home game of the season for the Cougars was certainly a an exciting one. John Sovey toed the mound for Dakota and completely shut down the Eagles offense. Sovey pitched a complete game shutout allowing only three hits while also recording six strike outs. This game was a pitching duel, as Vizzaccaro allowed three runs in the 5th inning but other than that he also pitched a complete game allowing no other runs. That 5th inning would include a single to center field by Jeff Reseigh, a Preston Leon hit by pitch, a Greg Guzik single to right field scoring Reseigh, and a Gabe Mata single to center field scoring Leon and Guzik. The final score was 3-0 in Dakota’s favor.

Game 3

The rubber match in this interleague series would heat up when a questionable call by the umpire would allow the 3rd inning to continue where the Eagles would score three runs taking a 3-1 lead. In the next half inning the Cougars would respond scoring a run off of four straight walks to cut the deficit to 3-2. Dakota’s offense would resume in the 6th inning where a passed ball and error by the second baseman would score two runs giving the Cougars a 4-3 lead heading into the 7th. Matt Love, who relieved Jeff Reseigh for the last two inning of the game was phenomenal, allowing zero base runners and striking out five of a possible six batters to secure the win for Dakota, by a score of 4-3.

Dakota is currently 2nd in the MAC Red standings behind Division foe Grosse Pointe South. The Cougars and Blue Devils will square off next week and the winner of the series will ultimately take control of the MAC Red for the time being. The series will begin of Monday, April 22nd