Mona Shores got the best of Reeths-Puffer in another hard-fought game between the rivals, scoring twice in the final inning to win 2-0 in the district semifinals Saturday. The loss ended an impressive Rocket season at 22-7.
It was the fifth matchup between the teams this season, with only one - a 7-3 Rockets’ win in April - decided by more than two runs. Grand Haven later routed Shores in the district finals, 13-2.
Senior pitcher Jaxson Whitaker threw a terrific game, allowing only three hits and striking out 10. Unfortunately, two of those three hits came in the decisive seventh inning. After a single and sacrifice bunt, Whitaker issued an intentional walk. He struck out the next batter to move within an out of escaping the jam, but on a 1-1 pitch, Shores’ Jaden Thomas delivered a game-winning double into the outfield.Cayden Theisen singled to lead off the bottom of the seventh for the Rockets, but his teammates couldn’t sustain the rally. Trevor Cunningham limited R-P’s bats to four hits for the game to pick up the win, two of them by Theisen.
