Mona Shores wins first baseball district championship in 10 years

LocalSportsJournal.com

NORTON SHORES — Mona Shores won its first baseball district championship in 10 years at home on Saturday.

The Sailors didn’t allow a single run in two games, defeating Muskegon 15-0 in the opener and Kenowa Hills, 11-0 for the title.

Hayden Smith was the winning pitcher in the opener with five strikeouts over the three innings played.

Leading the way offensively for the Sailors were Hunter Krueger, who had three hits, drove in three runs and scored three runs. Nathan Opfermann contributed two hits and three runs scored, while Ethan Ring lashed out a double and had four RBI.

Jaxon Huffman allowed just two singles and struck out five in pitching a complete game against Kenowa Hills

The Sailors pounded out 13 hits, as Zack Keessen, Huffman, Isaac Habetler, Bryson Belanger, Jaden Thomas and Ring had two hits apiece

Ring collected three RBIs while Brady Recknagel had a double and three RBI.

Mona Shores improved its record to 26-7 on the season and host a regional semifinal game on Wednesday at 5 p.m. against Cedar Springs (23-12).

The Sailors celebrate after the final out. Photo/Eric Sturr

Kenowa Hills reached the finals with a narrow 6-5 win over Reeths-Puffer in the other semifinal, out-hitting the Rockets 9-8. Each team committed one error.

Trent Richert started the game on the mound for the Rockets and worked five innings, allowing five earned runs out of six on nine hits while walking one and striking out five.

Jaxson Whitaker finished the final two innings and did not allow any runs or hits while striking out two.

Kyle Schlaff paced the Rockets with three hits and two runs scored while David Wilhelm contributed two hits and one run scored.

Whitaker had one hit and drove in two runs while Caiden Theisen and Lukas Johnson had one hit and one RBI apiece. Catcher Earnest also had a hit.

Reeths-Puffer ended the season with a 17-15 overall record.