By Greg Gielczyk
LocalSportsJournal.com

MUSKEGON — The score was tied 2-2 in the fifth inning of Saturday’s Tier 1 championship game of the Greater Muskegon Athletic Association tournament when Mona Shores broke the game open and sped to a 13-2 win over Reeths-Puffer to take the title.

The championship game took place at Marsh Field before a packed crowd on a beautiful day for baseball.

The Rockets took a 2-0 lead in the bottom half the second inning on a pair of singles and a dropped fly ball by the Sailors in the right center gap.

Mona Shores answered back scoring twice in the top of the third inning on three hits and left the bases stranded, knotting the score at 2-2.

After coming out of the bullpen in relief, Bryson Belanger benefited from the Sailors’ offensive explosion to earn the win on the mound.

He threw the final 4 1/3 innings and shut down the Rockets’ offense after he took the hill, keeping them from crossing the plate.

In fact, the Rockets could only get two more hits the rest of the way.

A perfect bunt single by Isaac Habetler knocked home two runs for the Sailors. The Rockets committed a throwing error as well, and the floodgates opened as the Sailors pushed across five runs in the top of the fifth inning to take a 7-2 lead.

Mona Shores added to the lead scoring six runs in the sixth inning with the big hit coming off the bat of Mark Konecny who tripled with the bases loaded.

Habetler finished 3-for-3 at the plate and scored three runs. Konecny reached base five times, hitting a double, triple and a single, and drove in four runs. Aaron Piasecki also had two hits.

Mark Konecny of Mona Shores being thrown out at home plate (Photo/Michael Banka)

Earlier in the day, the Sailors defeated North Muskegon by an 11-5 score as Jason Anderson picked up the win, throwing six innings and improving his record to 5-0.

Piasecki was the Sailors’ pacesetter at the plate, with three hits and three RBI. Konecny finished with two hits, including a two-run home run, four RBI and scored two runs. Javanni Johnson belted a three-run homer.

Mona Shores held off Fruitport 5-3 in the semifinal as Trevor Cunningham got the win in relief. He threw three hitless innings while striking out two.

Leading the Sailors at the plate was again Piasecki who had two hits, one RBI and two runs scored. He provided the clincher with a two-out base hit to drive in a run in the fifth inning.

Also knocking out two hits was Landen Thalman. He scored one run.

Cody Matuz led the Trojans with a double, two RBI and one run scored. Mayson Whitlow also drove in a run. Aiden Vela and Gavin Reames each scored a run.

Whitlow started the game on the mound for the Trojans and gave up one run on two hits, walked four and struck out four in three innings of work.

Brady Weck relieved him and threw the next two innings, giving up two runs on three hits and Brady Brown finished the last inning and gave up two runs on one hit.