The Lansing Tigers are Champions of the 2012 East Lansing Baseball Club Spring Tournament U9 division, after winning two games on Sunday at the East Lansing Softball Complex. The Tigers defeated the Lapeer Outlaws in the semi-final game, 14-0, to advance to the championship game against Dewitt. Lansing beat the Panthers 13-3 to win the tournament title.
The Tigers blasted 15 hits against Lapeer in the first game, scoring eight runs in the third inning to create a double-digit lead. The game was called after four innings by mercy rule. Three Lansing pitchers gave up three hits to combine for the shutout.
The Tigers scratched out a first-inning run against Dewitt, adding six runs in the second inning for a seven-run lead before the Panthers second chance to bat. The Lansing lead stretched to 13-0 before Dewitt rallied for three runs in the bottom of the fourth. Three Tiger pitchers gave up five hits, while the Lansing batters popped nine hits, including a triple by Joel. The mercy rule was invoked for the fourth time in as many games, and the Tigers claimed the championship trophy.
This was the first tournament championship for the Lansing Tigers, and it was celebrated with jubilation and good sportsmanship. Each player got a trophy and a tee-shirt to commemorate the occasion, and all of the Tiger players and fans showed respect for the Dewitt team after the game.
Coach Paul held a post-game victory meeting with the team in center-field, and after posing for the team picture, all of the Tigers players tackled Coach Rob to the ground in a joyful dog-pile. It should be noted that Coach Rob held his ground while waves of young Tigers jumped on him, and it took all 12 players to finally take him down.
The Lansing Tigers are now 11-3 on the season, with a 4-0 Pony League record. The Tigers have three league games this week before taking time off for the Memorial Day weekend.
