Photos by Joyce Degen for CatchMark
Montague’s baseball made some lasting memories in capturing a Division 3 district championship last weekend, capped by an upset of top-ranked North Muskegon.
Wednesday’s 12-1 regional semifinal loss to host Clare in the regional semifinals should not undo the good feelings created by the young Wildcats, who could enter next season with momentum.
Montague closes with a 16-22-1 record on the season, highlighted by last Saturday’s 4-1 victory over No. 1 North Muskegon after losing to the Norsemen three other times earlier.
Clare (31-5-1) advances to Saturday’s 12:30 p.m. regional final at Rockford, where it will face Grand Rapids NorthPoine Christian.
Montague hung in there against Clare through the first four innings, trailing 2-0, before the Pioneers erupted for six fifth-inning runs. Clare tacked on two runs in the sixth and two more in the seventh.
Montague got on the board in the fifth when Cole Moss stole home.
Ryver Jarka, Kellan Francis, Bryton Belinger, Cole Herremans, and Dylan Bailey had hits for the Wildcats, highlighted by Belinger’s double.
Eli Petersen, who notched the pitching win against North Muskegon in the district finals, took the regional loss against Clare. The right-hander allowed eight runs (four earned) on six hits with four strikeouts and no walks in four innings. Belinger pitching the final three innings, surrendering four runs (two earned) on five hits with four strikeouts and three walks.
Ryan Louch had three hits with two RBIs and two runs scored to lead Clare, while Miles Haggart went 2-for-4 with four RBIs. Chase Randall and Carter Smedley also had two hits apiece.
Haggart earned the pitching win for Clare, allowing one earned run on one hit with eight strikeouts and four walks in 4 1/3 innings.
