In a baseball game at Marsh Field, Fruitport faces. Whitehall.
MUSKEGON The 2022 high school baseball season is already underway, but we wanted to highlight some of the top returning players from last spring and a few new names to watch out for as we enter the early slate of contests.
The following is a list of some of the most important Muskegon-area baseball players to watch in 2022.
Alex Johnson, a Reeths-Puffer receiver, left the game after a conversation with Ryan Barmes during a game against Wyoming on Thursday, May 20, 2021. Ayden Willacker, who scored a walk-off RBI single, defeated Wyoming 4-3. (Scott DeCamp | MLive.com)(Scott DeCamp | MLive.com)
Reeths-Puffer, Alex Johnson
Last season, the senior catcher for the Rockets smashed a.388 batting average with 11 doubles, two triples, 21 RBI, and 35 runs scored.
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Cody Matuz, a junior pitcher and outfielder for the Fruitport High School varsity baseball team, is pictured on Thursday, May 13, 2021. (Photo by Nick Reed
Fruitport, Cody Matuz
Last spring, the senior for the Trojans earned all-regional honors with a.406 batting average, including six triples, two home runs, and a 36 RBI. He was also 3-2 from the mound with an ERA of 2.25 with 79 strikeouts.
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Aaron Piasecki of Mona Shores has (6) bats in Thursday's game against Jenison at Mona Shores High School in Muskegon, according to MLive.com.
Aaron Piasecki and Mona Shores are all on the run.
Last spring, the senior for the Sailors recorded a.416 batting average with five doubles, five triples, and two home runs with 29 RBI, 34 runs scored, 22 stolen bases and 16 walks.
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Aidan Buchberger of Montague stumbles into third base as North Muskegon's third baseman Shamus Corbett, right, watches the home plate and second baseman Matt Colbert watch on during the first game of a baseball doubleheader on Saturday, May 29, 2021, at Marsh Field in Muskegon, Mich. Montague won the first game, 10-6 in 14 innings, and North Muskegon won the second game, 12-3 in five innings. (Photo by Letisha Mikkelsen)
Montague, Aidan Buchberger
Last spring, the senior for the Wildcats registered a.369 batting average, with 48 hits, 10 doubles, 25 RBI, and 33 runs scored. From the start, he went 4-2 with an ERA of 2.31.
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Kaden Edwards, who plays to his first on a flyout during a game against Wyoming, went 4-3 on a walk-off RBI single by Ayden Willacker. (Scott DeCamp | MLive.com)
Reeths-Puffer, Kaden Edwards
Last spring, the senior infielder for the Rockets dominated for a.417 average with six doubles, three triples, and one home run, including 23 RBI and 32 runs.
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Troy McManus of North Muskegon advances to the field after scoring his team's second run during a "Friday Night Lights" game on Friday, April 16, 2021, in a "Friday Night Lights," against Muskegon Catholic Central. (Scott DeCamp | MLive.com) (Scott DeCamp | MLive.com)
North Muskegon, Troy McManus
Last spring, the Norsemen's junior scored a.361 batting average, including 12 doubles, 33 RBI, and 27 stolen bases. From the mound, he came 4-2 as a starter with an ERA of 1.74.
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Montague, Colton Blankstrom
The Wildcats senior scored a team-best batting average of.431 last spring, with 56 hits, 18 doubles, one home run, 39 RBI, and 27 runs scored, adding a 7-3 record from the mound with an ERA of 2.09.
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Corey Vanderputte, an Oakridge junior, won a state-tournament award he gave the Eagles victory during the 2021 season. (Photo by Stephenie Vanderputte)
Oakridge and Corey Vanderputte
Last spring, the senior for the Eagles scored a.432 batting average, and will be a major hitter again this season in the Oakridge lineup.
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Thomas McCullough of the Ravenna meets to his first session in the Division 3 baseball regional semifinal on Wednesday at Kent City High School in Kent City on June 5, 2019.Kayla Renie | MLive.com
Ravenna, Thomas McCullough
Last spring, the senior for the Bulldogs received honorable mention All-State awards, including batting average of.406 with two home runs, 41 hits, and 39 runs scored, along with a school-record 44 stolen bases.
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Denny Belmonte (13) from North Muskegon wins the division 3 regional championship against Ravenna on Wednesday, June 9, 2021. (Scott DeCamp | MLive.com)(Scott DeCamp | MLive.com)
North Muskegon, Denny Belmonte
Last spring, the Norsemen's junior scored two home runs, 27 RBI, 41 runs scored, and 31 stolen bases, and was hit by a pitch 16 times.
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Shelby, Lalo Garcia
In his first varsity season, a sophomore for the Tigers recorded a.267 batting average from the plate, and scored 33 strikeouts from the mound in 30 innings of work.
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White Cloud, Taylor Bode
After batting for a.400 batting average, Bode scored 23 steal attempts by the opposing team, putting him in a bigger role this spring as a catcher. This year, Mason Ruether was injured in the injury.
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Logan Nelson and Fremont
The senior for the Packers is coming off an All-State season last spring, when he set school records with 62 runs scored and 32 stolen bases to go with a team-best.524 batting average and 65 hits, three home runs, and 34 RBI.
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Tommy Kartes (3) of Muskegon Catholic Central scores his first run in the first innings of a Division 4 regional semifinal against Beal City on Wednesday, June 9, 2021, behind Max Price's two-hitter. (Scott DeCamp | MLive.com)(Scott DeCamp | MLive.com)
Muskegon Catholic Central, Sam Convertini
The senior standout will be tasked with developing a fresh-look lineup for the Crusaders this spring. He has already demonstrated his impact earlier this week by gaining a win from Tri-Unity Christian with three runs allowed and four strikeouts over four innings. He also added two hits and three runs scored in a victory against West Michigan Aviation Academy.
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Ludington, Stephen Weinert
Last spring, the Orioles' senior earned a.459 batting average from the plate, scoring 36 runs, 18 RBI, two doubles, five triples, and 13 walks.
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Kent City, Kyler Larson
Last season, the junior for the Eagles won All-State honors after hitting.441 from the plate, adding a 7-2 lead as a starting pitcher with an ERA of 1.529, with 121 strikeouts over 52.2 innings.
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OTHER PLAYERS TO WATCH
Mona Shores, Jaxon Huffman
Mona Shores, Mason Brunworth
Mona Shores, Mark Konecny, and Mark Konecny
Grand Haven, Jared Tithof
Western Michigan Christian Sam Liggett
Ravenna, Travis May
Montague, Nick Moss
Montague, Tugg Nichols
Fruitport, Gavin Reames
Fruitport, Aiden Vela
Fruitport, Mayson Whitlow
Spring Lake, Jackson Core
Spring Lake, Derrick Paggeot
Spring Lake, Zach Schlepp
North Muskegon, Ben Meyers
Travis May and Oakridge are all from the horizon.
Joseph Hayes and Shelby are married.
Whitehall, Jaden Brinkert
Reeths-Puffer, Jaxson Whitaker
Gabe Hogenson and Ludington are married.
White Cloud, Alex Cruzan
White Cloud, Troy Atwood
White Cloud, Webb Longcore
Hesperia, Travis Kurtz
Hunter Billman, Hesperia
Austin Fowler and Holton are both well-known.
Holton, Chase Albright
Muskegon Catholic Central, Sam Kartes
Muskegon Catholic Central, Dewey Modaff
Central of Will Chye, Mason County
Glenn Toth, Newaygo
Newaygo, Josiah Long
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MORE MUSKEGON-AREA SPORTS COVERAGE
