EGELSTON TOWNSHIP – The Fruitport baseball team had a “never say die” attitude on Saturday in the Division 2 district tournament at Oakridge High School.

They rallied in both games, but the second rally was not quite enough to secure a district title.

The Trojans, trailing by four runs, were three outs away from being eliminated by Whitehall in the semifinal game.

But Fruitport roared back in the last inning and defeated the Vikings 14-12 to advance to the district finals.

Fruitport’s Trevor Rusnak delivers a pitch.

The Trojans had another challenge in the title game against rival Spring Lake, trailing by five runs early.

They fought back to within a run, then gave up another five runs late in the contest and fell to the Lakers 10-4.

Fruitport ended its season with a 14-18 record and high hopes for next year, when most of the players will return.

“We let Whitehall back in the first game,” said Fruitport coach Nick Reed, alluding to the semifinals, when the Trojans squandered a big lead before rallying to win. “The boys battled back in the title game and gave themselves a chance. We just ran out of guns on the mound. But they played their hearts out and scratched and clawed their way.”

Fruitport’s Brady French rips a hit. 

Against Whitehall, the Trojans jumped out to an 8-1 lead in the third inning but gave up eight runs in the bottom of the third and trailed 9-8.

The Vikings added another three runs in the fourth to take a 12-8 lead.

Fruitport was down to its last two outs in the seventh and final inning with just one runner on base, but then the flood gates opened.

Ryan Bosch and Brady French each singled to load the bases, then Trevor Rusnak walked in a run to cut the deficit to 12-9.

Fruitport’s Braxton Ward (5) slides into second base. 

Tommy Anderson added a two-run double to make the score 12-11, then Avery Lambers drove in the eventual winning run for Fruitport with a two-run single.

The Trojans added another run to take a 14-12 lead before Bosch closed out the contest on the mound, stranding three Whitehall baserunners to earn the save.

Fruitport struggled early in the finals against Spring Lake, allowing three runs in the opening inning.

Owen Smies had an RBI single for Spring Lake and Zane Stahl had a two-run base hit to put the Lakers on top 3-0.

Rusnak cruises into third base on a hit by a teammate.

Spring Lake added a run in the third inning with an RBI double by Stahl to take a 4-0 lead.

The Lakers increased their lead to 5-0 in the fourth with a single from Will May.

Fruitport made another comeback attempt in the sixth inning, scoring four runs on three hits to cut its deficit to 5-4.

French had an RBI single, Anderson drew a bases loaded walk, Lambers had an RBI single, and Braxton Ward knocked in a run on a fielder’s choice.

Fruitport’s Christian Kennedy hauls in a pop fly. 

But the Lakers regained control of the game by adding five runs in their half of the sixth inning. Oliver Smies had an RBI double before the Lakers added three more runs on a sudden spate of Fruitport errors.

Spring Lake closed out the scoring on a wild pitch.

The Trojans were paced offensively in the finals by Bosch with two doubles, while Christian Kennedy and French each had two singles.

Rusnak suffered the loss on the mound, allowing three runs on four hits in 1 1/3 innings pitched while walking four and striking out two batters.