LocalSportsJournal.com
WHITE CLOUD — Now, it’s on to the districts for the White Cloud baseball team after the Indians knocked out Mason County Central 7-4 in a pre-district contest at home Tuesday night.
After the Spartans grabbed a 1-0 lead, thanks to a solo home run by Simon Shimel, the Indians answered in their half of the inning when Alex Cruzan clouted a two-run homer for the lead.
Mason Ruether kept the Spartans at bay on the mound through the next two innings, and the Indians struck again in their half of the third with five consecutive hits leading to five runs. That boosted their lead to 7-1.
Christian Ringler ripped a double and Landyn McGowen contributed a sacrifice fly. Ruether, Alex and Mason Cruzan and Reece Hewitt all had singles in the inning.
The Spartans managed a run in the fifth on a run-scoring single by Peyton Merz after Shimel had doubled. It left the Spartans trailing by a 7-2 margin.
But the Spartans further eroded the Indians lead when they scored two more runs in the seventh and had two runners on base with no outs.
Mason Cruzan came out of the bullpen and shut the door on the Spartans, enticing the first batter he faced into a pop fly out and then struck out the next two to end the threat.
Ruether worked six innings and gave up six hits, three walks and four runs while striking out 13 to get the win.
Will Chye started the game for the Spartans and gave up seven runs, only one of which was earned.
Shimel finished the game 3-for-3 with a home run and a double. Brady Anes contributed a double while Merz and Colten Sanders each had singles. Chye had two runs scored and Sanders one.
Mason County Central ended its season with a 19-10 record overall, 10-2 in the West Michigan Conference Rivers Division.
The Indians improved to 21-11-1 and will play Hart in the district semifinals on Saturday.
