LANSING, May 15, 1998 – Macomb County can add two more lucky residents to the list of Michigan Lottery players that have won top prizes!  Joseph Battaglia of Sterling Heights won $150,000 in The Big Game and an anonymous New Haven man won the top prize of $100,000 in the Cash 5 game.

Sterling Heights resident Joseph Battaglia collected the $150,000 prize in The Big Game, by matching the first five numbers in the March 27 drawing.  That day’s winning numbers were: 13, 15, 29, 36, 47, and the Big Money Ball number was 24.

Battaglia, 39, said his father purchased the winning ticket for him and mistakenly told Battaglia it was a $150 winner.  "I thought it was an April Fool’s joke," said Battaglia.  "My father thought the ticket only matched four numbers, so he took it to Kim’s Party Store in Sterling Heights where he usually goes, and the owner gave him $150.  Later on, the store owner called back to tell my dad they had made a mistake and the ticket was really worth $150,000 – so they returned the ticket to him!"

Battaglia said he will share the prize money with his father.

The winning Big Game "easy pick" ticket was purchased at Ada’s Party Market, 21790 23 Mile Road, in Macomb.

A New Haven man picked his own lucky numbers and won the $100,000 Cash 5 top prize in the March 20 drawing.  That day’s winning Cash 5 numbers were: 4, 10, 19, 28 and 35.

"My wife played my numbers for me, but had missed one number," said the winner, who requested anonymity.  "Luckily, I had played all of my numbers too, so I ended up with the $100,000 winning ticket and a $350 winner too!"

The winner said he and his wife plan to share their prize money with their children and grandchildren, and will "think about what to do with the rest."

The winning Cash 5 ticket was purchased at New Haven Market, 58475 Main St., in New Haven.

Big Game and Cash 5 tickets are available at more than 6,400 Michigan Lottery retailers statewide.

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