Carter Melnik providing bottom of lineup spark for Grand Ledge baseball
EAST LANSING — Carter Melnik began the season as the No. 2 hitter in the lineup for the Grand Ledge baseball team.
But as things got going this spring, the Comets quickly realized they needed Melnik's presence at the bottom of the lineup to get on base for the guys at the top.
Melnik has embraced that role and delivered Wednesday night while helping Grand Ledge advance to the Diamond Classic title game.
Melnik drove in three runs, including the go-ahead run, for the Comets in their 11-9 semifinal victory over St. Johns at Michigan State's McLane Stadium.
"It felt great (to contribute)," Melnik said. "I just really made sure to keep my shoulders square and I worked out and drove it in the opposite way. That's the goal."
Melnik's go-ahead hit came in the fifth inning and was part of eight unanswered runs scored by Grand Ledge after falling behind 7-3.
Grand Ledge co-coach Grant Householder said Melnik's presence at the bottom of the lineup has been valuable for the Comets.
"We needed that table setter down at the bottom so the top of our order could get some guys in," Householder said. "For him to hit over .340 now and get on base all the time and put together long at-bats — it's like a second leadoff hitter and that's what you want in the ninth spot."
Melnik, a junior, has shined while getting his first taste of the Diamond Classic after transferring in from Lowell. He is 4-for-6 with two doubles, a triple and five RBIs from the bottom of the order in Grand Ledge's two Diamond Classic wins.
"I definitely get more fastballs (in the No. 9 spot) and that helps get the top of the lineup up," Melnik said. "That definitely helps. It works out for me and it works out for the team."
Even after building an 11-7 lead, Grand Ledge had to hold on in the seventh to earn a date with Olivet in Monday's championship game.
St. Johns, which had its state tourney run ended with a pre-district loss to Ionia on Tuesday, battled until the final out. Logan Keilen delivered a two-out RBI single and St. Johns added another run on a passed ball to pull within two.
The Redwings had runners on second and third and the go-ahead run at the plate when Grand Ledge was able to finish out the win and punch their ticket to a familiar spot — a Diamond Classic title game.
"It's just perseverance," Householder said. "We always try to get these guys to stay together and embrace the situation that they're in. I say that pressure is a privilege they have to have and this is pressure. It's under the lights on the local campus and it's a big scene out there and they keep finding ways to do it."
More: Dean Shippey Capital Diamond Classic schedule, results
Contact Brian Calloway at bcalloway@lsj.com. Follow him on Twitter @brian_calloway.
This article originally appeared on Lansing State Journal: Grand Ledge baseball tops St. Johns to reach Diamond Classic final
