Today:

TOP JOBS Attention Drivers Dearborn Steel Express is now hiring 6 Company drivers for local- intra ... JOB COACH Part-time in a vocational program. Training preferred. Call 313-299-0387 between...  [ View All Top Jobs ] TOP AUTOS FORD WINDSTAR LX 2001, 99K miles, good condition, very clean, new tires, brakes & steering... 1997 SEADOO Jet Boat, new engine, exc. condition, new battery. $3950. 313-318-4629  [ View All Top Autos ] TOP HOMES Flat Rock "Deerfield Estates" Doublewide on Gardeners Lot ** Beautiful 3 bdrm. ** 2 full ...  [View All Top Homes ] TOP RENTALS DEARBORN HTS. 4995 Jackson, 4 bdrm., garage, fenced, $895/mo. Showing Sun. & Wed. 6:30 pm.... LINCOLN PARK S. Efficiency Lower Unit Perfect for single person/student 1 Bedroom Walking...  [ View All Top Rentals ] TOP MERCHANDISE PROFESSIONAL COUPLE looking to rent in Chelsea area, no children, no pets, non smokers. 23... TAYLOR 10674 Continental Dr. May 17th & 18th. 10-4. Moving sale. Furn., clothes, new books...  [ View All Top MDSE ]   View Classifieds   Submit a TopAd        or call 1-877-888-3202

	The Ypsilanti Courier A Heritage Newspaper Weekly Publication

Braves take home White

By Bruce Mason, Special Writer

PUBLISHED: May 31, 2007

Call them the Mega White Champs.

Advertisement

With a 13-4 thrashing at Redford Union on Monday, Ypsilanti defended its Mega White title, and gave first-year head coach Terry Bigham a quick route to success.

"It was awesome," said Bigham. "I'm very proud of the kids, but we understand there's more we want to do. It's our first step to where we want to get."

Eastern Michigan University bound catcher Jacob Rhodes jump started Ypsilanti with a first-inning home run against a big, right-handed Union pitcher that can hit 90 MPH on the radar gun.

In the second inning, Ypsilanti added another seven runs, started by an RBI-double off the bat of Kevin Osborn. From there, Ypsilanti scored 11 runs in five innings off a Union starter whom scouts came to watch.

Rhodes finished the day 4-for-5 with a triple, home run and five RBIs. Eric Noland, another Eastern Michigan bound player on Ypsilanti's roster, went 2-for-4 with a home run, 2 RBIs and 4 runs scored.

"We just came out hitting," Bigham said. "I never thought it would explode into that. I thought it would be a close game."

Bigham told his team prior to the game he "never felt as good" as he did that day. And they proved him right.

When his players get tight, Bigham likes to tell a joke to loosen them up. So on Monday, sensing a need for his kids to relax, he relayed a joke to Rhodes, who then delivered it to the team.

Everyone laughed.

"They weren't laughing at the joke, they were laughing at him for the joke he told, which is just as good," Bigham said. "It wasn't a very good one. They were taking pokes at him for not having a good joke."

The conference-clinching victory, along with a 9-1 victory against Woodhaven on Thursday, gives Ypsilanti 11 consecutive victories. After starting the season 0-5, which included some hard luck in four straight one-run losses, Bigham's team has won 18 of its last 21 games.

"My kids are real confident right now," Bigham said. "We're playing good baseball. Just sticking with the fundamentals, doing the little things. The constant in our last 20 games has been our pitching and our defense. We've been outstanding."

Ypsilanti will play Milan at home on Tuesday, then Saline on Wednesday. On Saturday, it's MHSAA district time against the winner of Lincoln and Ann Arbor Huron.

"It's going to be a tough district," Bigham said. "If we continue to play the way we're playing now, we can do some damage."

Bruce Mason is a freelance sports writer for The View and Courier newspapers. He can be reached at brucemason19@hotmail.com