Ludington wins a baseball thriller, 5-4 over Newaygo in Division 2 pre-district game

 

BIG RAPIDS — Ludington scored three runs in the bottom of the sixth inning Tuesday afternoon to rally from a 4-2 deficit and a thrilling 5-4 win over Newaygo in a MHSAA Division 2 pre-district baseball game at Newaygo.

 

Gavin Henion led the Orioles at the plate with two hits and three runs batted in. He contributed a two-run single in the sixth that secured the win.

 

Starting pitcher Aris Knoll collected three hits and contributed two runs scored.

 

Showing no signs of fatigue despite having competed in the regional golf tournament earlier, Evan McCarthy also had a pair of hits and drove in a run.

 

Knoll threw 6 1/3 innings from the mound and gave up all four runs (three earned) on six hits and eight strikeouts. He did not a batter. struck out eight.

 

The Orioles gave the ball to sophomore lefthander Caleb Benz to pitch the last 2/3 of an inning and he earned the save. Ludington committed just one error on defense.

 

“We played really clean baseball,” said Ludington coach Alan Albrecht. “Aris threw a heck of a game, and (Benz) came in and finished it for us.”

 

Ludington (16-13) takes on Fremont at 10 a.m. Saturday in the district semifinals at Big Rapids. Whitehall plays Big Rapids at noon, with the championship game at 2 p.m.