By Craig Beilfuss
LocalSportsJournal.com

MUSKEGON—Before a near capacity crowd, the 2022 Greater Muskegon All Star Classic saw the Red Team defeat the Blue Team, 7-2.

The game took place Wednesday night at historic Marsh Field. The game was originally scheduled for Monday evening, but was postponed due to weather conditions.

Because of the warm temperatures, the home run derby was canceled, and due to postponement from Monday, several changes were made to the rosters.

Prior to the game, Ravenna’s veteran baseball coach Paul Herremans who has been running the Bulldog varsity baseball program for more than 30 years talked about the opportunity to manage the Blue Team.

“This is my first time,” veteran Ravenna coach Paul Herremans said. “I’ve been looking at and reviewing some stats of our guys and I’m really looking forward to the chance to watch these guys play ball. I am really excited.” Herremans, who has been a coach for more than 30 years, was the coach of the Blue Team.

“We have a lot of talent around Muskegon County and so this is a great opportunity for everybody.”

“Bard (Brandon, Mona Shores coach) and I talk about that often along with a lot of other coaches,” Red Team and Reeths-Puffer coach Butch Attig said of the baseball talent in the area.  “There is a big talent pool in Western Michigan that needs to be tapped. I guess I am biased, but we have some special kids that can play at the next level and it is getting more competitive every year. I just think in Western Michigan there is a talent pool that goes unrecognized.

“I really want to applaud Walt (Gawkowski) and Pete (Gawkowski) for putting this on so we can display these seniors who have put a lot of time and effort into there craft and really want to play at the next level,” Attig said.

Each team consisted of 18 players.

The Blue team roster : Alex Johnson (Reeths-Puffer), Sam Convertini (MCC), Aiden Vela (Fruitport), Hunter Billman (Hesperia), Hayden McDonald (Montague), Jason Anderson (Mona Shores), Jackson Core (Spring Lake), Aiden Buchberger (Montague), Aaron Piasecki (Mona Shores), Brody Panozzo (Reeths-Puffer), Tate Stine (Montague), Landon Thalman (Mona Shores), Cody Matuz (Fruitport), Gabe Hogenson (Ludington), Hayden Madl (Ludington), Sam Liggett (WM Christian), Travis May (Ravenna) and Thomas McCullough (Ravenna).

The Red team roster: Diego Pena (Mona Shores), Stephen Weinert (Ludington), Logan Nelson (Fremont), Will Gunsell (Ludington), Mark Konecny (Mona Shores), Colton Blankstrom (Montague), Mason Brunworth (Mona Shores), Kaden Edwards (Reeths-Puffer), Austin Fowler (Holton), Joseph Hayes (Shelby), Jared Tithoff (Grand Haven), Nick Penrice (Spring Lake), Gavin Reames (Fruitport), Tuff Nichols (Montague), Kreegan Deverney (Spring Lake), Jordan Bochenek (Reeths-Puffer), Brandon McFarren (Ravenna) and Dayton Thomas (Ravenna).

The 2022 sponsors of the Greater Muskegon All Star Classic included Subway, Extra Innings, Marsh Field, Mercy Health Partners, Raymond James, Sports Clips Haircuts and Local Sports Journal.

Photo’s below are courtesy of LSJ photographer Leo Valdez