GRAND RAPIDS, MICH. — In a dramatic regional final on June 7 at Cornerstone University, No. 2–ranked Bay City Western slipped past Kenowa Hills with a narrow 4–3 victory to earn a berth in the MHSAA Division 1 Final Four.

Western improved to 35–7 on the season, advancing to the state semifinals for the sixth time since 2006. Kenowa Hills, which had built momentum earlier in the playoffs, saw the defeat drop their record to 25–10‑1, ending their four-game win streak.

Pitching was the story, as Bay City Western leaned on Brayden Simmon, who delivered six strong innings in the regional final to earn the win. Simmon scattered seven hits, allowed two runs, walked two, and struck out five batters. Offensive firepower came from seniors Jack Sequin, who drove in three runs, and Mikey Deluca, who added multiple hits and knocked in a run.

Earlier in the regional semifinal, Jack Sequin dominated on the mound, hurling a nearly perfect one-hitter, striking out 11 and walking none in a 1–0 shutout win over Traverse City West. BCW’s lone run came on a fourth-inning sacrifice fly by Jaxon Jenkins, following a walk and advance to third on wild pitches.

In the regional final showdown against Kenowa Hills, Western took an early lead in the first inning on a sacrifice fly by Jack Sequin. Kenowa tied the game in the third, but Western responded with a decisive three-run rally in the fifth. RBI hits from Deluca and Jack Sequin turned the tide, giving Western a 4‑1 edge before Kenowa threatened with two runs in the sixth.

The win marked BCW’s fifth straight, extending an impressive streak in the postseason and underscoring their resilience in close contests. Bay City Western’s season-long excellence is anchored by their team ERA hovering around 1.30, reflecting a season built on clutch pitching and timely hitting from senior leaders.

The Warriors will now head to Michigan State University for the semifinals, where they’ll face top-ranked Macomb Dakota, setting the stage for another challenging test in the hunt for a state title.

Despite a hard-fought season that ends in the final four with a 6–2 loss to Dakota, BCW has once again reinforced its status as one of Michigan’s premier high school baseball programs, fueled by its senior core and depth on the mound.