Every once in awhile, the very young Reeths-Puffer baseball team rises up and reminds everyone how good it can be, and that happened again on Wednesday.
The underclassman-dominated team came from behind to beat a strong North Muskegon squad 6-4 in the first game of a non-conference doubleheader at R-P.
The Norse came in with 11 wins in their previous 15 games - including a victory over Mona Shores - but the Rockets did not back down.
They trailed 3-0 in the third inning, then started to claw back, scoring once in the bottom of the third, then adding three runs in the fourth to take a 4-3 lead.
Brendan Guikema
The big blow in the fourth came from Brendan Guikema, who hit a two-out, two run triple to put the Rockets on top.
North Muskegon made it 4-4 in the top of the fifth, then the Rockets regained the lead in the bottom of the inning when a runner reached third and scored on a balk.
R-P’s Jaxon Lee nailed an RBI double in the sixth inning, driving in Paul Smith and giving the Rockets their final margin of victory.
Guikema started on the mound for the Rockets, going 5 1/3 innings while striking out 10. Tyler Sykes pitched 1 2/3 innings of scoreless relief while striking out four to end the game.
Tyler Sykes
R-P had 14 hits in the game, led by Guikema and Hank Mitchelson with three apiece. Bentley Kops and Ethan Frang each added two.
“Guikema was really the guy on the mound and kept us in it,” said R-P head coach Butch Attig. “It was great to see him compete. Then freshman Tyler Sykes came in and closed it out, which was fun to see.
“That is a good North Muskegon team, and Slimko is one of the top pitchers in the area, and our approach at the plate was the best it’s been all season.
“If we can continue that approach these next couple weeks, all the frustration and trusting the process will be worth it, and could make district Saturday interesting!”
The second game of the doubleheader ended in a 5-5 tie after the regulation seven innings.
Ethan Frang
R-P led 4-1 after two innings, North Muskegon tied the score with three runs in the fourth, then each team plated one more run before the game was called.
Jack Yonkman was the starting pitcher for the Rockets and struck out six. Sykes finished the game on the mound and struck out five.
Reeths-Puffer had 12 hits in the game. Guikema had two hits and knocked in three runs, Frang had three hits and Brayden Meeuwenberg and Sykes each added two. Sykes also stole two bases.
R-P, now 9-14-1, will visit Kenowa Hills on Thursday.