Montague enjoyed another impressive campaign in 2023, earning a third straight conference championship. For the Wildcats to make it four, though, they’ll have to do a great job replacing two program cornerstones.
All-state players Kade Johnson and Nick Moss are graduated, having both signed to play at Lake Michigan College after impressive careers. Moss’ ability to get on base from the leadoff spot and Johnson’s reliable work as the top pitcher, as well as his big bat, will be deeply missed, said coach Jeff Moss.
They’re just two of seven key players who graduated, including players who supplied 17 of the 23 pitching wins Montague recorded last spring. With so much talent now gone and so much youth stepping into larger roles as a result, it will be interesting to see how the Wildcats develop early in the season. Coach Moss said the goals don’t change; his team still hopes to be a factor in the conference and district races.
“Pitching will be the biggest factor to determine if we meet those goals or not,” Moss said. “This is a young staff but I’m excited about them.”
Moss does bring back a good group of players, and he’s confident in their abilities to fill the positions they need to. He’s looking in particular for big seasons from Bryton Belinger, who will take over Nick Moss’ old shortstop position, and Kellan Francis, who will continue to be a fixture in the middle infield. Both looked good in winter workouts, and Belinger smashed a three-run home run in the team’s season opener at Reeths-Puffer.
Junior Ryver Jarka did some pitching last year, but now moves into a more prominent role. He’ll also play center field, and Moss credited him with a solid winter in the weight room too. Jarka and Belinger were honorable mention all-conference performers in 2023.
Sophomore Eli Petersen had an impressive freshman season, and he too will be moving up in the rotation, taking Johnson’s old spot.
“He has put in a lot of offseason work and looks great,” Moss said of Petersen.
Petersen won’t be the only underclassman hurler, as sophomore Cole Herremans moves into the rotation. Herremans got a taste of varsity play last year and it should serve him well as he takes on more responsibility in 2024.
The Wildcats are a young team without a lot of experienced seniors, but Ben Mischler, Jimmy Thommen and James Cloud will provide needed leadership for the team.
Montague will play up in non-conference play as it often does, facing off with larger schools such as West Ottawa and Forest Hills Eastern, but it’s an early matchup with rival Whitehall that Moss thinks will be an early barometer for the team.
“I believe the Whitehall games will let both of us know where we stand,” Moss said. “They are always tough games when you cross the river to play your rival.”
Whitehall preview
Whitehall brings back players with impressive credentials this spring, stoking hopes that the Vikings can be contenders in the West Michigan Conference Lakes and in the postseason. The team finished third in the WMC Lakes a year ago and surrendered a late lead to Fruitport in a district heartbreaker last June.
Leading the way will be Kyle Stratton, an all-state second team player last year at shortstop. He hit over .450 in WMC Lakes games and stole 21 bases in only 12 conference contests. Stratton will also continue to be part of the pitching rotation, which also includes all-WMC Lakes honoree Isaac VanAmberg. VanAmberg is also a strong infielder and hitter. Ryne Christensen, a Muskegon Community College signee and a mainstay for the Vikings at both second base and on the mound, is back as well. All three are seniors.
Those three are the most notable returning players for Whitehall, but the Vikings are bolstered by returners at several positions. Longtime coach Warren Zweigle is excited to see what veterans Brock Morningstar, Noah Meinert, Ryan Goodrich and Cash Bloomberg-Brown can bring to the diamond this spring.
“I think they have a real opportunity to make some major contributions,” Zweigle said.
Games against defending WMC Lakes co-champions Oakridge and Montague will be key to the Vikings’ own title ambition, and Whitehall will also get cracks at some strong non-league foes. Ranked teams Zeeland East, Algonac, Spring Lake, Coopersville and North Muskegon dot Whitehall’s non-conference slate.
Reeths-Puffer preview
Reeths-Puffer has taken home district championships in two of the last three seasons, and the Rockets have the personnel necessary to make a run at another one this spring.
R-P had a winning campaign in 2023 and returns most of its top players from a season ago. The team’s biggest graduation loss is Kyle Schlaff, a strong defensive outfielder, along with starting catcher Catcher Earnest and utilityman David Wilhelm.
Two of the team’s best pitchers, Jaxson Whitaker and Trent Reichert, are back and are projected to hold down the top two spots in the rotation. They’re also expected to be fixtures in the middle of the batting order. The Rockets have impressive pitching depth, too, as Brayden Mitchelson evidenced when he pitched five shutout innings in the team’s season opener against Montague before handing the ball to Reichert.
R-P is hoping to put out a deep lineup that can produce runs from anywhere in the order. A key to those hopes will be third baseman/outfielder Lukas Johnson and centerfielder Jack Yonkman, each of whom coach Butch Attig expects to emerge as key cogs for the team.
“We must get 1% better every day,” Attig said. “If each player knows their role and does their job, we will be ready to compete for a third district crown in four years.”
The Rockets will be tested in the O-K Green Conference, always filled with strong opposition. Last season, Zeeland East was king of the conference, winning all 21 league contests, and Zeeland West was third. It so happens that the Rockets end the league schedule with three games against the Chix and three more versus the Dux, so if R-P proves to be contenders, those last weeks of regular-season play could be exciting.
Returning second-place team Mona Shores should also be a factor in the conference race, although the loss of Michigan State signee Jaxon Huffman will create obstacles for the Sailors.
Beyond those conference series, another schedule standout is the annual GMAA tournament, which Attig said will be a great benchmark for the Rockets heading into the final month of the season. Last season, R-P reached the GMAA semifinals, and it would love to advance farther this year.
