Photos by Scott DeCamp | CatchMark
NORTH MUSKEGON — North Muskegon’s 2023 softball team has a blend of all experience levels — even those with no experience to speak of.
The Norse are not letting that slow them down, however. They’re playing some good ball out of the gate this season and that trend continued with a lopsided sweep of visiting Mason County Central Tuesday in West Michigan Conference Rivers Division play.
Behind the strong pitching of Madison Balon, who tossed a no-hitter in the second game, North Muskegon defeated MCC, 11-1 and 20-1.
Here are more details and notables:
- In Game 1, Balon struck out 12, allowed only two hits and walked one.
- Balon and Mattie Houseman had two hits apiece to lead North Muskegon in the first game.
- Also in the first game, Rylee Cooper crushed a home run for the Norse.
- North Muskegon’s Audrey Brown had three stolen bases in Game 1.
- In Game 2, Balon allowed no hits, struck out eight and walked two.
- In the second game, North Muskegon scored eight runs in the fourth inning. Brown, Balon, Houseman, Mila VanTol, Chloe Packard and Baila Lang all drove in runs during the uprising.
- With the sweep, North Muskegon improved to 6-2 overall and 4-0 in the WMC Rivers to presently sit alone atop the divisional standings presently.
- Mason County Central is now 3-2 and 2-2, respectively.
- Next Tuesday (April 25), North Muskegon hosts unbeaten Ravenna (7-0, 2-0 WMC Rivers) in a big divisional doubleheader that is slated to begin at 4 p.m.
Carl Parrish
April 19, 2023 at 9:54 am
Scott Decamp, I think you forgot to mention Rylee Cooper’s home run in Game 1, if you are commenting on highlights.
Scott DeCamp
April 19, 2023 at 10:14 am
Thanks for letting me know. I have added it.
It was not in the game report submitted to me, otherwise I would have included it.
Carl Parrish
April 19, 2023 at 10:42 am
Who does the reporting
Carl Parrish
April 19, 2023 at 12:25 pm
Hey Scott, where do you get the info or report from the games? Just thinking, all the girls like seeing their names in print when they get hits or make a great play. We have girls who never played the game before. We have some travel players. Heck, we even have a girl from Norway playing, and having a blast!! Thanks for your time!!
Scott DeCamp
April 19, 2023 at 4:48 pm
Typically, the coach(es) of each team or a designated stat person submits stats to media after each game. But you should understand, media outlets do not have the time or resources to list the stats of every single player. We typically hit on the highlights.
Carl Parrish
April 19, 2023 at 6:16 pm
Oh, I understand!!! I didn’t mean to cover every player for every game, but I did think that I home run should qualify!!
Scott DeCamp
April 20, 2023 at 4:41 pm
Most certainly!
Carl Parrish
April 19, 2023 at 10:18 am
She did have other hits and stolen bases also. Thanks