EAST LANSING — After a heartbreaking offseason, Hartland sophomore Dylan Crowe delivered an unforgettable moment in the MHSAA Division 1 baseball state semifinals.
Crowe drove in all four runs in Hartland’s 4-2 win Friday morning over Grosse Pointe South in the Michigan high school baseball Division 1 semifinals at Michigan State’s McLane Stadium, going 2-for-2 with two doubles and a sacrifice fly.
“It means a lot,” Crowe said. “I’ve struggled with some adversity for the last year and it means a lot for me and all the guys on the team getting back (to the championship).”
Over the offseason, Crowe and his brother, senior catcher Brayden, lost their father to a battle with pancreatic cancer. It has been “tough” for Crowe and his brother, who said he is playing in his honor this season.
“It just motivates me to keep grinding every day and do my best,” Crowe said.
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He pushed Hartland back to the school’s first state title game since winning it all in 2015. Hartland’s four runs, all produced by Crowe, were the most runs the Eagles scored in their six playoff games.
Prior to Friday’s semifinals, Hartland had nine runs in five games, advancing thanks to stellar pitching and defense.
The Eagles will play Macomb Dakota in Saturday’s Division 1 state final at 2:30 p.m. at McLane Stadium.
Crowe drove in the game’s first run with a sacrifice fly in the first inning.
His next time up, he followed a two-out double from Brayden by jumping a changeup for a line drive down the third-base line, driving in two runs.
In the fifth inning, Crowe hit a ball deep to the opposite field to drive in Roman Forcia for his fourth RBI.
“It’s been tough, but this season has been good to us,” Crowe said. “I wouldn’t want to do it with any other team.”
The Hartland coaching staff and players have rallied around the Crowes while the family has dealt with the loss.
“They’ve handled it with total class and about as best you can,” Hartland coach Brad Guenther said. “I think it has been a team effort just checking on them. We always say (we are a) family and I always tell them I will be there for them and be there for the tough times.
“The tough times aren’t going to last, but those tough people do. And the Crowes are definitely a tough family.”
The Crowes have been an integral part of Hartland’s run to the state title game, including Dylan’s defense at third base and presence in the fifth spot in the lineup despite being in just his second season of high school baseball.
In addition to making plays at the plate, Crowe perfectly fielded a bunt down the third-base line for one of the final three outs in the seventh inning.
“His demeanor is like a senior,” Guenther said. “… I always call him nonchalant when he’s out in the field because he’s so smooth and never in a rush. That’s a testament to how good and comfortable he is in the sport, but a tough offseason losing a loved one.”
Crowe’s personal offensive output was more than enough for starting pitcher Ty Kraut. The senior left-handed pitcher pitched all seven innings, giving up two runs on six hits on two walks. He relied on the defense behind him to produce outs, striking out only one of the 28 batters he faced.
“Kudos to (Kraut) and a lot of credit to my guys,” Guenther said. “The six games we’ve won, we’ve been in a lot of those situations where we’ve had to pitch out of it and minimize. And if we didn’t, our season is probably over.”
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Jared Ramsey covers high school sports for the Detroit Free Press. Contact him at jramsey@freepress.com.