Photos by Bethany McCullough | CatchMark
RAVENNA — North Muskegon’s baseball team won two games in completely different ways Saturday en route to seizing a Division 3 district title at Ravenna.
The Norsemen edged Kent City, 1-0, in a pitcher’s duel in the district semifinal. In the finals, the Norse lit up the scoreboard in a 17-5 victory over Montague.
North Muskegon (34-5-1), which was ranked No. 5 in the latest Michigan High School Baseball Coaches Association poll, extended its winning streak to 20 games.
The Norsemen, who went unbeaten in West Michigan Conference Rivers Division play, advance to Wednesday’s regional semifinal. The Norse will take on host Grandville Calvin Christian in a 4:30 p.m. matchup at Calvin Christian.
Montague, co-champ of the WMC Lakes Division with Oakridge, closes the season with a 23-13 record. Kent City finishes 17-16-2.
In the other district semifinal game, Montague beat Ravenna, 11-1, in five innings.
Here are details from the three games at the Ravenna district Saturday:
- In the finals, North Muskegon’s Ben Meyers had a monster game at the plate. He went 4-for-5 with a grand slam, two triples, eight RBIs and three runs scored.
- In the championship, North Muskegon scored three runs in the first, three runs in the second, and four in the third. The Norse put the game away with five runs in the seventh.
- North Muskegon’s Troy McManus picked up the pitching win against Montague, allowing five runs (two earned) on six hits with three strikeouts and five walks in 5 2/3 innings. McManus also went 2-for-5 at the plate with two runs scored.
- Carsen Moat went 3-for-5 for North Muskegon against Montague with two runs scored.
- Ryan Delora went 2-for-5 with two runs scored
- TJ Byard went 2-for-4 for the Norsemen in the title game.
- In the district finals, Montague’s Kade Johnson took the loss. He allowed six runs (six earned) on seven hits with three strikeouts and one walk. Johnson did the job at the plate, going 3-for-4.
- In North Muskegon’s 1-0 semifinals win over Kent City, Delora outdueled Kent City senior Kyler Larson. Delora scattered four hits and allowed no runs with 10 strikeouts and two walks in a complete-game effort. Larson surrendered only two hits and one earned run with six strikeouts and one walk in six innings of work.
- North Muskegon scored the game’s lone run in the third inning, when John Caliendo doubled to lead off, was bunted over to third base by Byard and McManus drove him in with a single to left field.
- In Montague’s semifinal victory over Ravenna, Nick Moss went 3-for-3 with a double, two RBIs and one run scored. Moss also earned the pitching win, allowing only two hits and one run with four strikeouts and one walk in four innings.
- Chase Gowell doubled and Kade Johnson tripled for Montague in the win over Ravenna. Gowell and Johnson each scored a pair of runs for the Wildcats, as did Bryton Belinger and Ryver Jarka.
- Ravenna managed only two hits against Montague, one by leadoff man Hunter Hogan, who scored the Bulldogs’ lone run.
- Ty Bradtmueller took the pitching loss for Ravenna, allowing seven runs (six earned) on seven hits with one strikeout and one walk in 1 2/3 innings.
Photos by Laura Moat for CatchMark
