MUSKEGON, MI – The 2024 Michigan high school baseball season has just begun, but several Muskegon-area teams are already showing impressive results and championship-level potential.
Below is an overview of five Muskegon area baseball teams that are heading in the right direction for the 2024 season.
Reese-Puffer (5-1)
The Rockets have already won against Montague (5-3), won two of three against OK Green Conference rival Mona Shores and are coming off a doubleheader sweep against Holland on Tuesday. .
Senior standout Jackson Whittaker pitched a gem in his team's 2-0 win over Mona Shores last week and pitched three innings against Holland, allowing one hit and no runs, with six strikeouts and one walk. added.
Trent Reichert won the opening game of a doubleheader against the Netherlands, pitching 4.2 innings with one hit and no runs, eight strikeouts and no runs. He also went 2-for-2 with four RBIs and his second home run of the season in his nightcap at-bat.
Manager Reese Puffer also built a balanced batting lineup with players such as Holden Earnest, Quinn Alderink, Lucas Johnson, Brayden Mitchelson, Cade Poe, Landin Wilson, and Ethan Frang. He made a timely contribution to the team's strong start to the season.
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North Muskegon (8-0)
The No. 4 ranked team in Division 3 has lived up to expectations with a perfect 8-0 record so far this spring. The Norse recently defeated Caledonia 11-1 in nonconference play and added a doubleheader sweep against Mason County Central on Tuesday.
Jackson Beane and Ryan Delora led the team to a 7-0 win over Mason County Central in the opening game of a doubleheader, with Beane striking out nine batters and Delora going 0-for-14 with six strikeouts. With this addition, they have emerged as the top pitching duo on the Norseman team. Win with a nightcap. Logan Slimko adds more firepower from the mound for North Muskegon.
In addition to Beane, Delora and Slimko, the Norse team is capable off the bat with All-State standouts Ben Myers, TJ Byard, Bryce Colbert, Bronson Hurst and Carter Mealer.
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Spring Lake (5-2)
The Lakers entered the 2024 season with high expectations after reaching the state quarterfinals last season, getting off to a 5-2 start in April. Spring Lake recently dominated Western Michigan Christian in a non-conference game, but on Monday it defeated OK Blue Conference foe Coopersville.
Louisville's Zane Staal continues to be one of the Lakers' top arms, adding more punch from behind the plate. Maddux Kipling proved to be a reliable starting pitcher from the mound as well.
Jaden Core is one of Spring Lake's most consistent hitters, followed by Will May, Gabe Trask, Oliver Smeese and Zach Schlepp. The Lakers will look for revenge against the Broncos in a single-game OK Green Conference matchup on Thursday.
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Muskegon Catholic Central (7-1)
The Crusaders enter the season as the No. 6 team in the Division 4 field, with several key returners returning to the roster from an impressive 2023 season. Muskegon Catholic dropped an 8-3 decision in a doubleheader to Grand Rapids Covenant Christian, but was otherwise dominant in a doubleheader sweep against Orchardview, Muskegon and Wyoming Potter's House Christian. Ta.
In a recent sweep against Potter's House Christian, Owen Lyonnaise struck out six batters from the mound for a 15-2 win in the opener, and Croix Klint added six strikeouts for a 15-1 win. They achieved a 0-0 victory.
Brian Convertini had four hits in the doubleheader, Ryan Hilson had three hits and three RBIs in the opener, and Dewey Moduff added two hits, including a home run in the nightcap.
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Fruit Port (3-4)
The Trojans are ranked 16th in Division 2 entering the 2024 season and started April with a 3-1 record, with wins over Hamilton (twice) and Sparta. Fruitport lost a 15-8 decision to the Spartans in the nightcap of a doubleheader and lost two heartbreaking games to Holland Christian, 3-2 and 2-0 (6 innings).
Despite some setbacks early in the season, Fruitport remains in contention for the OK Blue Conference with Wake Forest's Ryan Bosh on the mound, Hudson Hayeskamp and Trevor Rusnak in the pitching rotation. They are still a dangerous team.
The Trojans have a diverse lineup of playmakers who can make big hits from the bat, including Brady French, Jax Flynn, Braxton Ward, Avery Lambers, Christian Kennedy, Bosh, Hayeskamp, and Rusnak. ing.
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