LocalSportsJournal.com
HART – White Cloud had no trouble swinging the bats on Saturday, hitting their way to a district title with wins over Hart and Shelby, 10-0 and 15-3.
First up for the Indians was a semifinals bout with Hart. After holding the Pirates scoreless in the top half of the first inning, White Cloud was able to snag a 1-0 lead. KJ Strait scored after reaching base on a single and crossing home plate on a wild pitch from Hart pitcher Blake Weirich.
Both Hart and White Cloud went scoreless in the second inning and with thunder and lightning approaching, the game was delayed 2 1/2 hours.
Landyn McGowen plated home two with a double in the third to give White Cloud a 3-0 advantage. From that point on, Hart’s offense stalled. The Pirates batters went down in order the last three innings.
Pair that with runs driven in by White Cloud’s Alex Cruzan, Strait and Jayden Robinson and the Indians were firmly in control for the remainder of the contest.
Mason Ruether was on the hill for the Indians, allowing just one hit and no runs through five innings, while striking out five. Cruzan pitched one inning in relief.
White Cloud was led by Strait (four hits, four RBI) and McGowen (two RBI).
For Hart, Weirich threw four innings with four runs earned on six hits and three walks.
With a semifinal win, White Cloud advanced to the finals to take on Shelby. The Tigers were fresh off an extra innings win over Hesperia, where head coach Brian Wright notched his 600th career win.
The Indians started the game by loading the bases on walks from Ruether and Christian Ringler. Cruzan also reached after getting hit by a pitch. Shelby’s Lalo Garcia struck out a strikeout to end the threat.
The Tigers were the first on the board, scoring two in the bottom of the first on a two-run single from freshman Cam Smith. White Cloud stormed back and scored four in their half of the second.
Strait came through once more for the Indians, knocking in McGowen and Robinson to even the score. Then, Reuther knocked in Strait and scored on a groundout from Cruzan to put White Cloud out front, 4-2.
The Indians allowed just one run in the game’s remaining innings. An eight-run seventh inning sealed the victory and put them on top, 15-3.
McGowen earned the win after pitching 1 2/3 innings, allowing four walks and one hit. Mason Cruzan picked up a save with 5 1/3 innings pitched with just one hit and two walks allowed.
White Cloud advances to the regional semifinals where they’ll take on Benzie Central at Hart High School at 5 p.m. Wednesday.
