MONTAGUE — Montague shook up the Division 3 state bracket Saturday, defeating top-ranked North Muskegon 4-1 in the district championship.
Montague lost to the Norsemen 15-0 and 10-2 in an April 10 doubleheader, but turned the tables Saturday.
“We felt great as a team every day at practice that week,” said Wildcats’ coach Jeff Moss. “We talked about the new season starting Saturday. Everyone is 0-0 and if we do the small things right, we could be there at the end. Control the controllable and good things will happen. We put one game all together on both sides of the ball and knew we were capable of being the team that showed up on Saturday.”
The ‘Cats scored twice in the second inning on a bases-loaded hit batter and a bases-loaded walk. They added a third run in the third when courtesy runner Jimmy Thommen circled the bags after pitcher Eli Petersen’s single.
Moss explained he was proud of his team as a whole, but stayed impressed with the progress of many of his players.
Moss credited sophomore Eli Petersen and his outstanding pitching performance on Saturday. Petersen struck out seven and allowed six hits and a walk. He added a double and scored Montague’s final run in the fifth.
“I’m really impressed by the team as a whole, from day one to the district final,” Moss said. “They improved dramatically. We were constantly plugging different lineups in weekly just trying to figure out who worked where. We are so young and the future looks very promising. Bryton Belinger, Ryver Jarka and Kellan Francis were big-time players this season with outstanding support from the rest of the starting roster.”
North Muskegon scored their first and only run in the final inning and loaded the bases with two out, but Petersen induced a pop-up to secure the win.
Moss credited North Muskegon coach Garret Moyer for leading the Norsemen to great heights.
“Hats off to Coach Moyer and his North Muskegon team on the great season they had,” said Moss. “They faced such adversities all year with no home field to play at and every game on the road. Moyer kept them dialed in, and focused all year and deserves a ton of credit for North Muskegon’s success. As for our community, I can’t thank them enough for showing up and supporting the team. The place was packed, and I know the team and myself appreciate it.”
Moss is looking forward to what the future holds for Montague baseball and its players, as the entire starting lineup from Saturday’s games will be back next year.
“We’re losing three seniors; Thommen, James Cloud and Ben Mischler,” Moss said. “We will miss them, but we have a great team coming back loaded with talent and all the experience needed to continue our quest for a long state title run. The sky’s the limit for Montague baseball if we put the work in. Don’t count us out, for sure.”
Despite there being standout players throughout the entire season as a whole and the district championship game, Moss appreciated the team’s adaptability and coachability.
“I’m thanking the team for trusting us as coaches and the decisions we made,” said Moss. “Not one player on this team is selfish and will do whatever is asked of them to help the team’s success. They know I love them and only want the best for them.”
Moss described the feeling the moment he accepted the district championship trophy on behalf of the team.
“I have been coaching for a long time, mostly as an assistant and have grabbed a mitten or two with my other previous coaches,” Moss said. “But to grab one as a head coach, and hand it to your team, there was no better feeling in the world to see the look on all of their faces.”
The Wildcats beat Ravenna in the semifinals, 8-3, paced by two hits and three RBI from Cole Moss. Bryton Belinger also had two hits. Ryver Jarka struck out five and allowed one earned run in 6 2/3 innings.
