North Muskegon Norsemen: Welcome

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NORTH MUSKEGON
NORSEMEN BASEBALL 

"All out, all the time"   

Two infielders were selected to the All-Conference first team while an outfielder and a pitcher were named honorable mention.

Senior shortstop Adrian Anderson and junior first baseman Ryan Compeau were selected by West Michigan Conference coaches as first team recipients. Anderson, the leading vote getter, has the conference's highest batting average at .514 (18-for-35) with eight runs and eight RBI. Compeau has a .405 average (15-for-37) with with the conference's second most RBI's with 12.

Senior Adam Edick (OF) and senior Rogan McEvoy (P) were named honorable mention. Edick has a .343 average (8-for-23) while McEvoy has posted a 5-1 record with a 1.43 ERA while striking out 28 and walking seven. 

North Muskegon is hosting the district on May 28 and June 1.

On May 28, the pre-District begins at 2 p.m. with Kent City Algoma Christian playing Wyoming West Michigan Lutheran. That game will be followed by Western Michigan Christian vs. Muskegon Catholic Central. (NOTE: The NM varsity will be at Fremont for a regular season doubleheader.)

On Saturday, June 1, Wyoming Potter's House will face the winner of the MCC-WMC game at 10 a.m. North Muskegon will play the winner of the KCAC-WWML games at 12:30 p.m. The winner of those two games will play for the district title at 2:30 p.m.

The district champ travels to MCC the following Saturday for regionals. 

New bleachers, which were purchased by the school district, were installed in the past few weeks.

Materials were purchased at wholesale through American Athletix, which is run by Mark Scott, the father of junior Brody Scott. Volunteer labor was used, which cut the $10,000 original cost to about $7,500.

Mark Scott said, "My understanding is the old bleachers were originally from the football field, probably circa 1950s or '60s. They were very old and tired and did not meet current safety codes. The new, all-aluminum bleachers will have fully closed decks, an aisle with handrail, and guardrails with chainlink on all three sides to meet today’s codes. They will be anchored to a new concrete pad and should last for decades."  

The volunteers used a day for excavating and setting forms and half a day to pour and finish concrete pads.

On Sunday, April 28, volunteers assemble most of the bleachers with at least one more day of assembly remaining. All together, Scott said they will have 4+ days of labor.

"The baseball dads have really come through for us on this project, volunteering whenever I’ve put out the call.," Scott said.   

Parents who helped were Adam Schofield, Mike Berge, Jon Anderson, Fred Bleakley, Mark Scott, Adam Gannon, Bob Gautraud, Steve Bickford, Joe Edick, Jeep Osborn, and Ann Bleakley. Freshmen Joe Osborn and Erick Bleakley also helped. 

Ryan Mieler, a 1998 graduate of Mona Shores, will be taking over as JV head coach replacing Mike Belmonte, who posted a 163-80 record over 10 years.

Mieler, who is production leader at Light Corporation, attended Muskegon Community College and graduated with a bachelors degree in public relations from Grand Valley State University.

He played four years of varsity baseball at Mona Shores High School. As a freshman, Mieler was brought up to pitch. During his next three years, he was either a starting pitcher or centerfielder. Mieler was an All-Area player as well as All-Conference.

At Muskegon Community College, Mieler played on the team for two years on a full-ride athletic scholarship.

His coaching career includes a stint at Muskegon Catholic Central, where he helped the JV program.

"I helped coach the fundamentals of pitching and helped the outfielders with their mechanics," Mieler said. "I have applied everything I know and learned in high school and college to the students I once coached. I am very familiar with the fundamentals for pitchers, infielders, and outfielders. I am aware of all the necessary drills to help kids not only defensively but offensively as well. Hitting drills off a tee, soft toss, weight distribution, and quick hands were many things I have learned and practiced throughout the years."

Now, Mieler currently plays in a 30-and-over baseball league to stay in the game.  

The inaugural alumni game saw 37 players put on the Blue and Gold one more time in a game of the even years vs. the odd years. 

While the Gold (odd years) jumped out to a 7-0 lead, it was the Blue (even years) that won the nine-inning game 11-9. Steve Preston (class of 1980) was selected MVP for the Blue team while Cody Liverance (class of 2011) was Gold team MVP.

The home run derby, which started before the alumni game and finished up after the game, saw Ryan Buter (class of 2008) edge Nick Marietti (class of 2001) in the finals.

Pictures from the event can be found on www.3079photography.com. 

The 2013 alumni game will take place Saturday, Aug. 10.

Warren Kent Jr., the assistant varsity coach at North Muskegon High School, has been selected as an Assistant Coach of the Year from the Michigan High School Baseball Coaches Association (MHSBCA).

The award was presented Jan. 14 at the annual MHSBCA Clinic at Soaring Eagle Casino and Resort.

Kent Jr. has been the assistant coach at NM, where his oldest son Warren III is the head coach, for the past seven years. Warren III is a 1986 graduate of Fulton High School.

“My father has helped me get to where I am today,” said Kent III about his dad who was a special education teacher at both Fulton and Greenville. “Growing up, I saw the dedication my father put into everything that he did. I saw how much joy he had when he was working with students, whether it be in the classroom or on the athletic field. He has been influential to me because I have followed in his footsteps. Having my father as an influential person has made me the person I am today.”

As the assistant coach, Kent Jr. is in charge of outfielders and coaches first base.

Kent Jr., who was also a varsity head football coach at two high schools (Vestaburg and Greenville), began his baseball-coaching career in 1966 at Hudsonville, where he coached JV for three years. Kent Jr. then had varsity head-coaching stints at Ashley (1 year), Fulton (14 years), Vestaburg (5 years) and Montabella (3 years). In those 23 years, Kent Jr. amassed exactly 200 wins.

For the past seven years, Kent Jr. has helped lead NM to a 158-75 record, which includes five 20+ win seasons, three County titles, and five district crowns. The 2008 team, which finished 34-4, made it to the state semifinals.