NORTON SHORES - At least one Reeths-Puffer baseball player will take something memorable away from Thursday’s game against Mona Shores.
Freshman Bentley Kops was one of several pitchers used by the Rockets in the 9-1 loss to the Sailors.
During his time on the mound, he twice had to face Mona Shores standout Owen Tornga, a junior who has already committed to play Division 1 college baseball for the University of Louisville.
While Tornga was mainly recruited for his elite pitching skills, he is also, by several reports, a pretty talented hitter who can do some damage.
R-P pitcher Bentley Kops. Photo/Jeremy Clark
But the 6-foot-6, 220-pound Sailor didn’t do any damage against Kops.
The R-P freshman struck him out twice – once with the bases loaded and two out, and once with two runners on base and two out.
“If felt pretty good,” Kops said. “That was kind of my goal. I knew who he was. I wasn’t really nervous. I just had to stay calm and locate the fastball and the curveball.
“It was definitely one of my highlights.”
R-P's Connor McManus takes a cut at a pitch. Photo/Jeremy Clark
Unfortunately there weren't enough highlights for the Rockets in their three-game series with the Sailors this week.
They dropped both games of a doubleheader on Tuesday at Reeths-Puffer, before suffering the one-sided loss on Thursday at Mona Shores.
Most people familiar with the situation would not be surprised by the outcome.
The Sailors are always one of the better baseball teams in the area, while the Rockets are in the midst of a total youth movement, with four freshmen and seven sophomores on the varsity roster.
R-P's Paul Smith dives back into first base. Photo/Jeremy Clark
So dropping three games to Mona Shores would have to be viewed as growing pains, right?
R-P head coach Butch Attig wasn't buying that argument.
He watched his Rockets make a lot of mistakes in the game on Thursday, and was not happy about it.
An R-P runner was picked off first base on the third throw from the pitcher. An outfielder allowed a liner on the ground to roll under his glove and get behind him. 
Smith takes a throw at first base. Photo/Jeremy Clark
A catcher allowed two pop-ups that should have been outs to drop harmlessly in foul territory, and an infielder stepped on a base for a force out, despite the fact that there was no runner to be forced out.
Attig said the problem was the team’s mental approach, not its inexperience.
“We are being lazy, going through the motions,” said Attig, whose team is now 4-6 overall and 3-5 in O-K Green conference play. “I’m not saying we’re giving up, but we don’t grind it, we don't have that grit. I just had that conversation with them, how they have to do it for the seniors and for each other.
“We have four weeks left and four weeks only. We are a quality baseball team and we’re not showing it. We are worried about everything else but the game. That’s just the bottom line.
R-P coach Butch Attig demonstrates a pitching motion. Photo/Jeremy Clark
“One thing we did very well today is we barreled up the baseball. We started swinging the bats and hunting fastballs and making contact. We hit the ball hard today, better than what we have.
“We will get there – that’s our goal, and we have four weeks so to do so.”
Mona Shores scored one run in the first inning, three in the third, one in the fourth and four in the sixth.
R-P’s only run came in the top of the sixth when Ethan Frang walked, Brendan Guikema and Connor McManus singled to load the bases, and Landon Learn drew an RBI walk.
McManus led the Rocket offense with two hits.
The Rockets will compete in the Greater Muskegon Athletic Association tournament on Saturday.