LANSING, MI - A year ago, Holt was not a part of the Dean Shippey Capital Diamond Classic. Meanwhile, last year at this time defending Diamond Classic Champion Grand Ledge was capturing its sixth title (in the past 7 years, 25th overall) against St.John's in the title game.

This year the two teams were pinned to face each other in the Diamond Classic title game, their second meeting in five days. A CAAC Blue matchup between the two rivals created an interesting storyline. If Grand Ledge won, it would be their third straight championship, seventh in the last eight years and 26th overall. If Holt won, it would be their first title since 2005 and they would be responsible for knocking Grand Ledge out of the Diamond Classic and the Division 1 Districts - both within a five day span.

The Rams shut out the Comets, 6-0 in the first game of the Division 1 Districts on Saturday, June 4th. Holt’s Jesse Heikkinen and Burrell Jones combined for a two hit, no run game. In the Diamond Classic Finals on Wednesday, June 8th it was looking like Holt would do it again.

“It meant everything, we didn’t want to go down like that because they knocked us out in districts. We just wanted some payback, it was a big game,” said Grand Ledge Senior Cam Collins.

Bottom of the fourth and Holt led 3-0, after Ethan Miller slid across home plate to bring in another run for the Rams. The script was going according to plan for Holt but Grand Ledge on the other hand needed to make something happen if they didn’t want their season to end with a loss.

“We just came together and said ‘It was now or never, we’ve got to make something out of it,’’’ said Grand Ledge Senior Brendan Baker. That something came in the top of the fifth when a wild pitch by Holt walked Grand Ledge’s Zach Hanes, bringing home Collins to get the Comets on the board 3-1.

Grand Ledge got another break in the top of the fifth when the ball slid past the third baseman, Baker stole third and then scored to cut the lead 3-2.

In the bottom of the sixth, the Rams still remained on top 3-2. Only an inning left to go and it looked like Holt would be the 2016 Diamond Classic Champion but luck would quickly change that. Top of the seventh, a toss by Holt that coasted into the outfield while trying to start a potential game-ending double play resulted in Collins and Baker scoring the game tying and go-ahead runs. Grand Ledge led 4-3.

A huge seventh inning for the Comets, Xavier Farr, Wyatt Rush and Cooper Alspaugh trailed with RBI hits to bring home three more guys pushing the lead 7-3. “The opportunity and everything was there, the script was written perfectly,” said Holt Head Coach Nathan Potts. “I think we weren't able to just close the door, I can't really point to one situation, one scenario, one player or one instance. I think Grand Ledge’s experience helped them.”

Grand Ledge’s five runs in the seventh inning drove them to their 26th Diamond Classic Championship, a feeling that never gets old for Head Coach Pat O’Keefe. “No it never gets old, they’re all sweet but each time that they come at the expense of great competition and comebacks, those are the ones that everybody remembers,” said O’Keefe.

It was a night that will definitely be remembered by one member of the Grand Ledge Baseball Team in particular: Senior Brendan Baker. He was named the tournament MVP after securing the pitching win in relief for the second straight game. Baker pitched 3 ⅔ innings of scoreless relief and scored the run in the seventh that gave the Comets the lead.

“It’s big for us, ten seniors, we grew up playing together and to be able to end it like this in a Diamond Classic Championship is huge,” said Baker.

According to Potts having a senior on your team like Baker is huge. “A senior like that, he has so much confidence and experience, for him to contribute both offensively and then be able to come in and shut the door like that, I mean it’s huge,” said Potts.

Baker was one of the ten seniors that assisted in the third straight title for Grand Ledge.“These guys have come back quite a few times and against some really good teams. They’ve won some good games coming back, it’s the seniority on the team and that’s what they’re supposed to do,” said O’Keefe. “Tonight was no exception, that’s what they did.”