The atmosphere was a skyrocketing combination of playoff pressure, must-win intensity and late-game drama.

Bay City Western calls it a comfort zone.

“The closer the game, the better we perform,” Western catcher Preston Giorgis said. “Everybody stays in it when the game is close. We know it’s going to take our best, so everybody stays locked in. And we were all locked in today.”

Somehow remaining cool and calm amid the chaos, No. 2-ranked Western proved once again that it belongs among the best high school baseball teams in the state. The Warriors outbattled Grand Rapids Kenowa Hills 4-3 in the regional final then No. 4-ranked Hudsonville 3-1 in the state quarterfinal, earning a return trip to the final four.

Western (36-7) takes on No. 1-ranked Macomb Dakota at 11:30 a.m. Friday at Mic

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