Battle Creek -- The drought is over!

   Garden City beat Alpena 2-1 in a 14-inning thriller to win the first-ever state championship in the school's 58-year history.

   Senior Hallie Minch doubled in senior Katie Torok in the top of the 14th inning, then worked out of a bases-loaded jam in the bottom of the inning to lift the Cougars to the Michigan High School Athletic Association Division 1 Championship on June 14 at Bailey Park.

   Minch finished the game with three hits and knocked in both of Garden City's runs. She struck out 17 over 14 innings for the win on the mound.

   "I like pitching under pressure," said Minch. "My adrenaline starts to go and it makes me better -- it's something I like."

   Rachel Brown blasted a home a run in the bottom of the fourth to give Alpena a 1-0 lead. Minch drove home senior Christina Seward with a single in the sixth to tie the game at 1-1.

   Rachel Gebauer pitched all 14 innings for Alpena (34-6), striking out 12.

   "For our town, this is an incredible thing," said Patterson. "We had so many people who followed us that the girls don't realize how big of a thing this is. People were driving past the practice field this week honking their horns and giving us thumbs up.

   "Garden City is not a very big town. It's sandwiched into the metropolitan Detroit area. To me, it's still small town America. I feel great for the city. It's something for them to hang their hats on and be proud of."

   Patterson has had an incredible career at Garden City, winning 512 games during his 22-year career.