Photo Courtesy of Maria Nelson
It was a championship-filled Tuesday night across the lakeshore as conference races reached their climax and teams sharpened up for the postseason. Ludington celebrated a West Michigan Conference Lakes Division co-championship alongside Montague on Senior Night, Spring Lake clinched at least a share of a second straight OK Black title, and several area teams delivered statement performances with district play looming just days away.
Orioles Earn Share of WMC Lakes Championship Alongside Montague
The Ludington Orioles varsity baseball team saved some of its best baseball for the biggest night of the season.
Playing on Senior Night and Parents Night at Don Stokely Diamond, the Orioles swept Muskegon Oakridge by scores of 2-1 and 4-1 on Tuesday to clinch a share of the West Michigan Conference Lakes Division championship alongside the Montague Wildcats. Both teams finished league play at 11-1.
The Orioles improved to 17-11 overall entering district play next week.
Game 1 turned into a pitcher’s duel that needed late-inning heroics. In the bottom of the seventh inning, Brian Dickinson delivered the game-winning sacrifice fly, bringing home Zach “Moonlight” Graham for a walk-off victory.
Ludington managed just two hits in the opener, with Tyler Albrecht and Asher Forfinski accounting for both. Forfinski also drove in the Orioles’ other run.
On the mound, the Kaminski brothers once again dominated. Senior Brody Kaminski worked six strong innings, allowing just one unearned run on five hits while striking out three. Sophomore Brayten Kaminski closed the door with a scoreless seventh inning to earn the win.
The Orioles completed the sweep in Game 2 behind another strong pitching effort and timely hitting.
Junior Karson Knowles tossed a complete-game gem, surrendering just four hits and one unearned run while striking out six and walking only one batter.
Offensively, Ludington totaled six hits. Asher Forfinski led the way by going 2-for-5 with a run scored and an RBI. Brody Kaminski scored twice and added an RBI, while Tyler Albrecht crossed the plate once. Cooper Holmes added a sacrifice fly RBI and Chase Buck chipped in a run-scoring hit.
Ludington now turns its attention to district play, where the Orioles will face Big Rapids on Tuesday at Cadillac in a pre-district matchup.
Other Area Baseball Scores
Spring Lake Clinches At Least Share of OK Black Title
Spring Lake swept Zeeland West 14-2 and 10-0 to secure at least a share of the OK Black Conference championship for the second consecutive season. Owen Smies powered the Lakers in Game 1 with a three-run homer, grand slam, and seven RBIs in the opening inning alone. Oliver Smies earned the win on the mound. In Game 2, Max Feltner blasted a three-run homer while Alex Strauss fired a one-hit shutout with seven strikeouts. Spring Lake improved to 22-7 overall and 15-3 in conference play.
Montague Dominates Orchard View
Fresh off clinching a share of the WMC Lakes championship with Ludington, Montague rolled past Orchard View 11-0 and 16-0 in a doubleheader sweep.
Fruitport Sweeps Belding
Fruitport earned an OK Silver sweep over Belding with 8-4 and 10-0 victories. Trevor Rusnak struck out 11 in Game 1, while the Trojans powered up offensively in the second game with home runs from Avery Lambers, Liam Campbell, and Hudson Hazekamp.
Fremont Takes Two from Manistee
Fremont defeated Manistee 7-4 and 8-2 in West Michigan Conference Lakes action. Weston Rottier and Chase Mercer led the Packers offensively, while Deagan Klimek contributed key hits in both games. Fremont improved to 11-13 overall.
Mason County Central Sweeps Hart
Mason County Central defeated Hart 5-4 and 15-7. JV call-up Coleson Cameron starred in the nightcap with a home run, double, and five RBIs in just his second varsity appearance. The Spartans also turned a rare triple play in Game 2.
Ravenna, North Muskegon Split
North Muskegon defeated Ravenna 6-1 in Game 1 before Ravenna answered with a 9-5 win in the nightcap. Cameron Hurst earned the win for the Norsemen in the opener, while Ravenna capitalized on patience at the plate in Game 2, drawing 11 walks in the victory.
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