MUSKEGON TWP. - It would have been great if the Reeths-Puffer softball team had won a third straight championship at Saturday's Greater Muskegon Athletic Association Tournament.
The fact that the Rockets fell short, however, was hardly a reflection on them.
It had a lot more to do with Ravenna, the very impressive team that R-P played in the tournament championship game.
The Bulldogs, undefeated and ranked No. 1 in the state in Division 3, were just as good as advertised in beating the Rockets 9-0 in the tournament title game at Reeths-Puffer High School.
Ravenna got a great pitching performance from standout Natalie Rosel, pounded out 11 hits against R-P ace Lainey McDaniel, displayed strong defense, and did everything great teams do to win big games.
Caydence Rettinhouse squares up on a pitch. Photo/Nick Fuller
It was the third straight year that R-P and Ravenna met in the GMAA finals, and while the previous versions of the Bulldogs were good, this year’s squad is even better, according to R-P head coach Sarah Bayle.
“I think they have really fine-tuned things,” said Bayle, whose team is now 18-4 on the season. “As one of my assistant coaches mentioned, they're a well-oiled machine. I think that we saw that, even after the few little errors they made, they were able to pick each other back up right away.
“They also had some really good hits. Obviously we have Lainey and she is a great pitcher, and they were able to hit her pretty solid.
"We didn't see that the last two times. They've really got it together. They’ve got a good thing going over there.”
It’s not as if the Rockets had a bad day at all.
Lorelei Herrygers battles the sun to make a catch. Photo/Nick Fuller
They opened the tournament with a decisive 12-2 victory over Fruitport.
R-P scored one run in each of the first two innings, then added five in the third and five in the fourth to invoke the game-ending 10-run rule.
McDaniel, Lorelei Herrygers, Tessa Ross, Kenzie Jacobs and Caydence Rettinhouse each had two hits for R-P. Jacobs and Olivia Ambler each had three RBIs.
Makayla Jewett was the winning pitcher for the Rockets.
R-P kept it going in the semifinal round, hanging on to beat rival Mona Shores 9-7.
Lainey McDaniel on the mound for the Rockets. Photo/Nick Fuller
The Rockets scored one run in both the second and third innings, then grabbed an 8-0 lead with six runs in the fifth.
The Sailors roared back with two runs in the fifth and five in the sixth to make the score 8-7. Then R-P regrouped and tacked on an insurance run in the seventh.
Ross had three hits and two RBIs. McDaniel, Herrygers and Madi Reichert each had two hits.
Reichert blasted her first career home run in the win.
McDaniel pitched the victory for R-P.
Kenzie Jacobs makes a throw across the infield. Photo/Nick Fuller
“Overall, I'm happy with where we're at,” Bayle said. “I think we had a little bit of a struggle last week, and I think we made some big strides today. We came out and did what we needed to do against Fruitport and Mona Shores.
“Our bats have been so much better. We're seeing the ball better. We're not striking out while looking as often. I think our offense is elevated. Our defense struggled a little more today than it usually does.”
The R-P bats went quiet in the championship game against Ravenna, however, while Ravenna’s heated up.
The Bulldogs broke through with four runs in the fourth inning, one in the third, three in the fifth and one in the sixth.
The closest the Rockets came to scoring was in the sixth inning, when McDaniel and Herrygers led off with singles and advanced to third on a sacrifice bunt, but got no further.
Makayla Jewett takes a cut at a pitch. Photo/Nick Fuller
Overall R-P batters struck out 12 times against Rosel.
McDaniel finished with two hits while Ross, Herrygers and Jacobs each had one.
The shutout loss was the first for the Rockets this season.
The Rockets have little time to worry about Saturday’s loss. They will play two very big games on Tuesday on the road against Byron Center. The Bulldogs are in first place in the O-K Green conference while the Rockets are one game behind.
“I just told the girls, go rest tonight and tomorrow, then be ready to lock in,” Bayle said. “If we can sweep them, we should win the conference.”