Ferndale Baseball Rips Southfield 11-5

FERNDALE – The Ferndale boys varsity baseball team won in grand fashion over Southfield on Wednesday.

Matt Callahan capped off a seven-run first inning with a grand slam over the right field fence to give the Eagles an early 7-2 lead. Ferndale was able to hold on and win 11-5 for its sixth win in eight games.

“That was the first home run of his career and the first home run of the season for us,” assistant coach Mike Hand said. “That was nice to see.”

That wasn’t the only hard hit ball in the game for the Eagles (7-3). Garret Rose bounced a ball off the fence in left field in the fifth. It missed making it out of the park by a foot and Rose ended up with a double. Scott Jones also hit a double that fell just short of the fence in the fourth.

“We hit the ball pretty good up the alleys, especially in the early innings,” Ferndale head coach Sibula said.

The power display helped the Eagles overcome an early injury to starting pitcher Josh Allen. Allen injured his shoulder on the base paths in the second inning and didn’t return.

“He was taken out 'cause he dove back to first base on a pick-off move and his shoulder popped out,” Sibula said. “It comes out somehow, it’s an old football injury. He’s ok, we were up in the game. There was no sense in pushing it.”

It was the second consecutive start that Allen’s had to leave early because of injury.

“Poor Josh has thrown two great games in a row and only managed to get four innings in,” Sibula said. “The last game he’s pitching brilliant and a kid lined one off his shin.”

He’s also one of Ferndale’s hottest hitters at the plate. The senior is batting over .600 and was 1 for 1 with a walk and RBI when he was injured.

Jordan Ellis replaced Allen and pitched two innings in relieve. He gave up three runs, two earned, and struck out two. At the plate, he hit a single in the third. 

Pitcher Ryan Humphreys came in the game in the fifth and closed the win out for the Eagles. He worked out of a bases loaded, one out jam in the seventh inning by getting Southfield to hit into a game-ending double play.

Ferndale has a non-league doubleheader scheduled for Saturday against Dearborn (12 p.m. and 2 p.m.). Next week the Eagles have a busy week with no off days until Thursday and then Stout & Sons Coldwater Invitational on Saturday.

They play league games against Pontiac at home on Monday (4:30 p.m.) and a doubleheader on the road against Oak Park on Tuesday (4:30 p.m.). They also play Hamtramack at home on Wednesday (4:30 p.m.).

Note – The game was originally scheduled as game one of a doubleheader. Since the first game went so long, the second game was cancelled. It may be made up at the end of the season.