North Muskegon Norsemen: 2. History: 1935-2008 Season Recaps
1935 to 2008
NOTE: Conference games marked with *
1935 – coach Lyle McNitt (5-1 overall; no conference)
In its first year as a four-year high school, North Muskegon coach Lyle McNitt fielded the first-ever Norseman baseball team comprised of 13 eager candidates. The first game ever played by the Norse would be one for the ages. The Norse scored 19 runs vs. Montague – yet lost 23 -19. The combined 42 runs scored between the two teams has only been equaled, but never broken, in school history. The Norse did regroup to win their next five games in an abbreviated six-game schedule. The winning pitcher in at least four of those wins was ace Norse hurler, freshman Walt Bergren. In addition to Bergren, the 13 original Norsemen included Albert Schmidt (second base), Bob Raddatz (first base), Fred Schmid (catcher), Lewis Frost (third base), Charles Buys (right field), Clarence Rogers (shortstop), John Eckman (pitcher), Herbert Munson (pitcher), Marvin Andree (center field), Orlo Huntoon (catcher), Bud Wiley (third base), and Joe Witham (center field), who was the long-time proprietor of the Canary Inn. The school’s first baseball win came against New Era, 14-8. NOTE: Local papers mention a 1934 game between Montague and NM, but no report could be found. However, a junior high game between Bunker and NM was reported with Bunker winning 9-1.
Record Score Interesting Fact
0-1 Montague 23, NM 19 School’s 1st game
1-1 NM 14, New Era 8 School’s 1st win; Walt Bergren & Fred Schmid the winning battery
2-1 NM 13, Montague 4 Bergren 5-hitter
3-1 NM 11, Holton 7 Bergren 6-hitter
4-1 NM 16, Whitehall 6 Bergren wins; Whitehall commits 10 errors
5-1 NM 5, Holton 3
1936 – No team (reason unknown)
1937 – coach Lyle McNitt (6-4 overall; 3-1 in WMC; co-Champs w/ Hart)
The highlight of the season had to be their first victory of this campaign. The 8-0 victory over the Muskegon Big Reds was not only the first win of the season but was the first baseball game ever played by tradition rich Muskegon High School. Breaking out their new blue and gold uniforms, Walt Bergren tossed a two-hitter and received some lusty hitting support from first baseman Bob Raddatz. The future career Naval Officer knocked in four runs with a pair of doubles to spearhead the Norse offense. Bergren would be the winning pitcher in five of the six Norse victories, including a one-hit shutout of Whitehall in the season ending 19-0 rout. In an earlier 18-3 romp over the Vikings, Oliver Eyestone rapped out a pair of triples as well as two doubles. Only a tight 2-0 loss to eventual co-WMC champion Hart prevented the Norse from posting a perfect season in conference action.
Record Score Interesting Fact
0-1 Montague 2, NM 1 Walt Bergren 14 K’s; Bob Raddatz 2 hits
0-2 Grand Haven 15, NM 1 NM commits 7 errors; GH would finish with undefeated season
1-2 NM 8, Muskegon 0 Bergren 2-hitter; Raddatz 4 RBI, 2 doubles; MHS 1st game ever
1-3 *Hart 2, NM 0 Bergren 3-hitter; Bergren 2 hits
2-3 *NM 8, Scottville 7 Harvey Speed wins3-3 NM 7, Holton 5 Speed 2 doubles
4-3 NM 18, Whitehall 3 Oliver Eyestone 2 triples, 2 doubles; NM 10 runs in 1st inning
5-3 *NM 2, Montague 1
5-4 Holton 5, NM 2
6-4 *NM 19, Whitehall 0 Bergren 1-hitter to finish season with five wins
1938 – coach Lyle McNitt (10-2 overall; 4-0 in WMC; WMC Champs)
In just their third year of active competition, the Norse picked up their first Western Michigan Conference championship by posting a perfect 4-0 WMC record. After dropping consecutive games to Grand Haven and Muskegon Junior College, coach Lyle McNitt’s Norsemen would finish the season with nine straight wins to post a 10-2 record. The nine straight victories would stand nearly 70 years as the longest winning streak in Norse history, not broken until Warren Kent III’s 2007 squad put together a string of 15 consecutive wins. (The 2008 squad would raise that bar even farther with a 21-game win streak.) The Bergren brothers, senior Walt and sophomore Lawrence (Lunk), formed a very formidable battery that would rank among the best in NM history. Walt received a triple from brother Lunk while twirling a one-hit shutout over Holton in the Norse season opener. Walt Bergren’s 2-0 shut-out victory over Montague on May 20 was another sparkling one-hitter that saw Walt fan 17 Wildcats, a performance that still has not been surpassed in NM annals.
Record Score Interesting Fact
1-0 NM 7, Holton 0 Walt Bergren 1-hitter; Lunk Bergren triple1-1 Grand Haven 7, NM 5 L. Bergren 2 hits, including HR
1-2 Musk. Jr. College 9, NM 3
2-2 NM 3, Montague 2 Harvey Speed 3-hitter3-2 *NM 10, Hart 2 W. Bergen 3-hitter
4-2 NM 11, Holton 6 Oliver Eyestone, Al Johnson triple
5-2 *NM 5, Scottville 2
6-2 *NM 2, Montague 0 W. Bergren 1-hitter, 17 K’s; Eyestone HR
7-2 *NM 13, Whitehall 2 W. Bergen 2-hitter; W. Bergren 2 hits
8-2 NM 10, Musk. St. Joseph 1 Speed wins; Speed HR
9-2 NM 8, Musk. Jr. College 1 W. Bergren 2-hitter, 16 K’s
10-2 NM 8, Musk. St. Joseph 5
1939 – coach Lyle McNitt (4-6 overall; 2-2 in WMC; xx place in WMC; Montague Champs)
The Norsemen baseball team slipped below .500, a disappointment for many of the NM players who boasted of their first perfect 8-0 record earlier in the year in football. The Norse were hindered when catcher Lunk Bergren, a regular since his freshman season in 1937, was injured and missed the second half of the season. The departure via graduation of Walt Bergren left the Norse drastically short of an experienced mound staff. The highlight of the season perhaps was NM’s 15-10 win over Whitehall on May 2, a date best remembered in baseball history as the day Lou Gehrig ended his consecutive game-playing streak at Tiger Stadium. Poor hitting doomed the Norse from posting a better season as third baseman Al Johnson posted the lone home run garnered by an NM player during the season.
Record Score Interesting Fact
0-1 Holton 4, NM 3
0-2 Grand Haven 10, NM 2 NM only 3 hits
1-2 NM 15, Whitehall 10 Lou Gehrig ends playing streak in Detroit1-3 *Hart 16, NM 2
2-3 NM 14, Holton 23-3 *NM 8, Scottville 0
3-4 Montague 11, NM 1 NM only 1 hit
3-5 *Montague 5, NM 3 NM 5 errors; NM strikes out 11 times
3-6 Grand Haven 6, NM 1
4-6 *NM 7, Whitehall 6 Al Johnson triple1940 – coach Lyle McNitt (5-4 overall; 1-3 in WMC; xx place in WMC; XXXX Champs)
The Norsemen started strong and ended the season with a bang but could only muster two more wins between the bookend start and finish. Lunk Bergren blasted a game-winning home run in the eighth inning to give the Norse a dramatic 7-6 season opening win over Muskegon St. Joseph. Dan Thompson spearheaded the Norse pitching staff by winning NM's only official WMC victory over Hart and then posted a complete-game shutout over neighboring Muskegon St. Jean's in the season finale. Among the Norse regulars during the campaign was Pete Sodini, whose work over the years in promoting baseball at Reeths-Puffer, culminated with the R-P baseball field being named in Sodini’s honor.
Record Score Interesting Fact
1-0 NM 7, Musk. St. Joe 6 8 innings; Lunk Bergren GW HR in 8th
1-1 *Whitehall 7, NM 2
1-2 Musk. St. Jean’s 5, NM 1 Dan Thompson & Bob Frost combine for win
1-3 *Scottville 10, NM 9
2-3 *NM 4, Hart 3 Thompson 2-hitter; Frost double
3-3 NM 7, Montague 4
3-4 *Montague 6, NM 5 Arnie Stafford HR, triple; Bill Sikkenga HR
4-4 NM 15, Musk. St. Joe 6 NM 18 hits; St. Joe commits 10 errors
5-4 NM 15, Musk. St. Jean’s 0 Thompson wins; Art Kaule, Sikkinga triples
1941 – coach Lyle McNitt (8-1 overall; 3-1 in WMC; 2nd place in WMC; Hart Champs)
The Norse posted a dazzling 8-1 record but had to settle for second place behind an outstanding Hart team that was led by future Western Michigan University All-American Fred Stevens. Only a 10-0 pasting at the hands of the Pirates denied the Norsemen from posting a perfect season. Coach Lyle McNitt found some long sought after live arms to send to the mound during the season in Don Gunn and Bob Frost. The campaign also marked the arrival of hard-hitting shortstop Bill Meiner, along with future NM gridiron greats Bill Goldberg and Frank Sodini. Meiner came up just short in becoming the first Norse to hit for the cycle when he knocked out a home run, double and a single in NM’s 8-6 victory over Muskegon St. Joseph. The Norse capped their season with an impressive doubleheader sweep of Muskegon St. Mary’s. Ted Gates and Meiner belted out triples in the DH on the same day that the baseball world mourned the passing of baseball great Lou Gehrig. In only nine games, Meiner hit four home runs, six triples and 12 singles.
Record Score Interesting Fact
1-0 NM 8, Musk. St. Joe 2 Don Gunn wins
2-0 NM 9, Whitehall 6 NM scores all 9 runs in 1st inn.; Bill Goldberg, Frank Sodini 2 hits
2-1 *Hart 10, NM 0 NM commits 5 errors
3-1 *NM 15, Scottville 7 Bill Meiner HR, triple; Sodini triple4-1 *NM 9, Montague 7 Meiner 3 hits
5-1 *NM 8, Whitehall 6
6-1 NM 8, Musk. St. Joe 6 Meiner HR, double, single
7-1 NM 8, Musk. St. Mary’s 4 Ted Gates, Meiner triple, single
8-1 NM 18, Musk. St. Mary’s 0 Bob Frost, Gunn combine on 1-hitter; MSM single with 2 outs in 7th
1942 – coach Lyle McNitt (5-4 overall; 2-1 in WMC; co-Champs w/ Hart)
Lyle McNitt completed his coaching career at North Muskegon by earning a share of the West Michigan Conference championship with the Hart Pirates. McNitt would leave NM to take over the football coaching reigns at Grand Rapids College, succeeding a man who, after just taking over the head coaching duties, was called to duty in World War II. The man McNitt replaced was the 38th president of the United States, Gerald R. Ford. The high-water mark for the season was NM’s exciting 2-1 triumph over Montague. Don Gunn hurled a two-hitter with Bill Meiner’s home run the difference in the outcome. It was a school year to be long remembered by Norse fans as the NM football team ran through the 1941 season undefeated, untied and unscored upon.
Record Score Interesting Fact
0-1 Musk. St. Joe 3, NM 0 Don Gunn loses 5-hitter as Bill Kruzona allows NM just 2 hits
1-1 NM 14, Whitehall 21-2 *Hart 12, NM 7
1-3 Musk. St. Mary’s 4, NM 3 at Marsh Field; Gunn 4-hitter in loss
2-3 NM 3, Montague 03-3 *NM 2, Montague 1 Gunn 2-hitter; Bill Meiner HR wins game
3-4 Musk. St. Mary’s 5, NM 4
4-4 *NM 7, Whitehall 65-4 NM 6, Musk. St. Joe 1
1943 – coach Paul Moyes (5-2 overall; 3-0 in WMC; WMC Champs)
North Muskegon welcomed a new coach to the community when Paul Moyes took over the reigns from Lyle McNitt. Moyes earlier coached the 1942 football team to another undefeated season as the Norse extended their still-standing state record of 15 games where they were undefeated, untied, and unscored upon. Many of those great gridiron icons, which became only the third team ever inducted into the Muskegon Area Sports Hall of Fame, continued their success in baseball and led the Norse to a perfect record in winning the West Michigan Conference. This team was also stingy with runs allowed – in more than 70 years of Norsemen baseball, the 1943 team allowed the fewest runs per game (2.33). The Norse certainly got out of the blocks in a hurry when they blasted Whitehall 20-0 with Frank Sodini lashing out four hits. On May 12, Virgil Wilks posted not only the first no-hitter in NM history but also the first no-hitter in conference history with a 4-0 shutout over the defending WMC champs, the Hart Pirates. The Norse tallied all their runs in a four-run third with Wayne Dulyea, Ken Tyler, Wilks, and Don Jacobson stroking base hits. Each team committed just one error, and the game was completed in a very swift one hour and 15 minutes. Only losses to Class A powers Muskegon Heights and Muskegon put a blemish on a war-torn abbreviated 5-2 season. Future Rose Bowl hero Jack Weisenberger, the spinning fullback on the University of Michigan national championship football team of 1947, three-hit the Norse in Muskegon Heights’ 4-1 win. Weisenberger wasn't too shabby of a baseball player either, as he made it all the way to AAA level in the Boston Braves farm system.
Record Score Interesting Fact
1-0 NM 20, Whitehall 0 Don Gunn, Virgil Willks combine on shutout; Frank Sodini 4 hits
1-1 Musk. Heights 4, NM 1 Sodini triple & scores only run
2-1 NM win, Montague loss3-1 *NM 13, Montague 1 Gunn wins; Paul Duell HR; Wilks 3 hits; Ken Dulyea & Ken Tyler triples
4-1 *NM 4, Hart 0 Wilks (1 walk, 6 K's) 1st no-hitter in school & WMC history
4-2 Muskegon 7, NM 1 31st straight win for Muskegon; Duell double
5-2 *NM 9, Whitehall 2
1944 – coach Paul Moyes (5-3 overall; 4-0 in WMC; WMC Champs)
The Norse made it back-to-back WMC championships while again sweeping through the WMC portion of their schedule. Jack Weisenberger again was a thorn in the side of the Blue & Gold, as he one-hit the Northsiders for the second straight year. Tom Pinder proved to be the ace of the Norse pitching staff. After posting an earlier 5-0 shutout over Shelby, Pinder struck out 15 Hart batsman en route to a 10-1 NM triumph. The Norse clinched the conference championship in a most exciting fashion on May 18 vs. Whitehall. Dick Salmonson slid home with the winning run late in the game after Marshall Strayer had earlier belted a pair of home runs, the first NM slugger to mash multi-homers in a single game. Following the May 5 encounter with the Pirates, Norse head coach Paul Moyes packed his bags and drove his 1936 Ford Model A car to Detroit where he enlisted in the Navy. The following day Moyes would return to Muskegon where he would be present for the birth of his second son, future four-year starting Norse shortstop Tommy Moyes. Ten days after the Norse ended their season with a WMC-clinching victory over Whitehall, Moyes would join many of his former athletes in fighting the perilous battles of World War II.
Record Score Interesting Fact
1-0 NM 12, Whitehall 3 George Felt 3 hits; Bob Pyle, Marshall Strayer, Dick Salmonson 2 hits
2-0 *NM 5, Shelby 0 Tom Pinder wins; Strayer triple, single
2-1 Musk. Heights 9, NM 0 Tigers' Jack Weisenberger tosses a one-hitter; Strayer has lone hit
3-1 *NM 10, Hart 1 Pinder 1-hitter, 15 K’s; Strayer GS
3-2 Montague 7, NM 2 Non-conference loss
3-3 Muskegon 12, NM 0
4-3 *NM 4, Montague 3 Strayer 3 hits; Salmonson HR; NM no errors
5-3 *NM 6, Whitehall 5 Strayer 2 HR's1945 – coach Earl Meyers (6-4 overall; 3-1 in WMC; co-Champs in WMC w/ Whitehall)
While coach Paul Moyes was serving as a gunnery officer aboard a Naval ship in the Pacific Theater, Earl Meyers pinch hit for Moyes for the next two seasons. The Norse grabbed a share of the crown in the WMC. Only a tough, season-ending 4-3 defeat at the hands of Whitehall denied the Norse from grabbing the entire trophy. Junior right-hander Norm David became the top Norse pitcher during the season. Aided by the lusty slugging from Marshall Strayer, who tattooed the Shelby staff for a home run and pair of doubles, David whiffed a dozen Tiger batters in a 13-5 Norse blowout win. Although the Norse fared well against competition in the WMC, it was dealt a dose of reality when facing the big boys. Muskegon Heights’ pitcher Earl Beam threw a no-hitter at the Norse while Muskegon High showed the Northsiders why they could lay claim as one of the all-time best teams in Michigan prep history. The Bob Ludwig-led Big Reds put a real hurt on the Norse with a 21-0 trouncing, Muskegon’s 52nd straight win in a row.
Record Score Interesting Fact
1-0 NM 7, Holton 2 Marshall Strayer wins; Strayer 2 hits
2-0 NM 6, Holton 0 Bud Anderegg 2-hitter
2-1 Montague 5, NM 1
3-1 NM 4, Whitehall 3 NM wins on back-to-back 2B by Tom Jackson & Don Jacobson
4-1 *NM 13, Shelby 5 Norm David 12 K’s; Strayer HR, 2 doubles
4-2 Musk. Heights 6, NM 1 NM no-hit by Earl Beam
5-2 *NM 7, Hart 5 David wins; David 3 hits
5-3 Muskegon 21, NM 0 Muskegon’s 52nd straight win6-3 *NM 16, Montague 15 Strayer 3 hits
6-4 *Whitehall 4, NM 3
1946 – coach Earl Meyers (6-5 overall; 6-4 in WMC; 2nd place in WMC; Montague Champs)
An extremely young team that used as many as five freshmen (Tom Mitchelson, Bob Chaffee, Bill Graham, Bill Jackson, Ken Douglas) in its lineup, the Norse continued their winning ways in coach Earl Meyers’ last season as the Norse baseball coach. Meyers would remain as the NM basketball coach through the 1947-48 school year. Senior pitcher Norm David had a busy spring for the Norsemen. Not only was David the ace of the pitching staff, but he was also a valuable member of the NM track squad. His best time of 2:04.0 in the 880-yard dash would serve as the school record for the next 15 years. David began and ended the season in stylish fashion, striking out 12 in the season-opening 8-5 win over Scottville and striking out 17, a school record, in a season-ending 8-7 loss to Montague. Against the Wildcats, the Norse had a golden opportunity to garner a share of the WMC title, but NM errors led to two unearned runs in the seventh inning while another Norse miscue led to the winning run in the 10th inning.
1-0 *NM 8, Scottville 5 Norm David 12 K’s; Ken Kueny 3-for-4
2-0 *NM 9, Scottville 7 Kueny 3-for-4 (6-for-8 in the DH)
2-1 *Hart 14, NM 11 NM loses on Grand Slam in 7th; Kueny, David 2 hits
3-1 *NM 16, Shelby 0 Bob Anderegg wins; Marshall Strayer 4 hits, including triple3-2 *Whitehall 6, NM 3 David 12 K's; Strayer 2 hits; David triple
3-3 *Montague 8, NM 7 David 8 K's
3-4 Musk. Heights 9, NM 2 NFL great Sonny Grandelius catcher for Heights
4-4 *NM 12, Hart 6 NM scores 6 runs in 7th; David 11 K's; Al Meerzo 2 hits5-4 *NM 8, Shelby 5 Anderegg wins; Meerzo, Strayer 2 hits
6-4 *NM 5, Whitehall 4 David wins; Strayer bases-loaded triple; Ken Baars triple
6-5 *Montague 8, NM 7 10 innings; David 17 K’s; Al Meerzo 2 hits, including double, 4 RBI
1947 – coach Paul Moyes (3-6 overall; 3-6 in WMC; xx place in WMC; Shelby, Scottville co-Champs)
Paul Moyes returned from the service to once again take over the reins for the Norsemen. The season was marred by an abnormal amount of inclement weather that resulted in numerous cancellations. This would be a rebuilding year for coach Moyes as 1947 would be the only year NM would not have a winning season under Moyes' leadership. The tempo was set when the season opener with Hart was postponed due to snow. One bright note during the Norsemen season was the execution of the first triple play in the school’s history; however, the Norse dropped the game to Montague 11-3. Another highlight for the Norsemen had to be their come-from-behind win over Whitehall. The Norse got a game-winning hit from Jack Kroelczyk as NM rallied for five runs in the bottom of the seventh inning to defeat the Vikings, 10-9. Getting credit for the win was freshman hurler John Biddle.
0-1 *Shelby 10, NM 3
1-1 *NM 13, Whitehall 10 NM scores four in 7th inning for win1-2 *Montague 11, NM 3 NM executes triple play (Tom Mitchelson-LaVern Nicholson-Al Meerzo)
2-2 *NM 8, Hart 6 Ken Baars 2 hits (bases-loaded double); Dick Salmonson, Mitchelson 2 hits2-3 *Shelby 15, NM 7 Shelby has seven two-out hits in 3rd inning
3-3 *NM 10, Whitehall 9 Jack Kroelczyk GW hit; NM scores five runs in 7th
3-4 *Montague 14, NM 7 Bob Chafee 3 hits, including triple
3-5 *Scottville 8, NM 1
3-6 *Scottville 10, NM 0 Scottville's sweep of Norse earns share of WMC title
1948 – coach Paul Moyes (5-3 overall; 5-2 in WMC; 2nd place in WMC; Scottville Champs)
The season went down to the wire to determine the WMC conference champ. The Norse took the long jaunt up old highway US-31 in the final WMC game of the season to play Scottville in a winner-take-all battle. A young and jittery NM pitching staff walked an uncharacteristic 11 Spartan batters in losing the championship clash 12-7. Earlier in the season, the Norse dropped a heartbreaker to Shelby, 10-9, despite a Tom Mitchelson home run. It was in 1948 that coach Moyes unveiled a battery that would propel the Norse to their most productive WMC years in NM baseball history. Freshman pitcher John Arntz paired up with freshman catcher Bill Duplissis to win the first of many games these two would win for the Norsemen over the next four years when they defeated Montague, 7-6, in a nine-inning thriller. Jack Anderegg sent the game into extra innings by bagging a clutch homer in the seventh inning. The Wildcats plated a run in the top of the ninth, but the Norse came back with Mitchelson kncking in Monty Hand with a walk-off double. Sophomore John Biddle would prove to be another mainstay on the mound for the next three years by hurling a three-hit 9-2 victory over Whitehall and later allowed the Vikings only a single base hit in an abbreviated 12-1 romp.
Record Score Interesting Fact
1-0 *NM 13, Hart 10 Ken Douglas 3 hits
1-1 *Shelby 10, NM 9 Tom Mitchelson HR; Douglas triple; Jack Anderegg double
2-1 *NM 9, Whitehall 2 John Biddle 3-hitter; Bob Chafee 2 hits, 3 RBI
3-1 *NM 7, Montague 6 9 inn.; John Arntz wins; Anderegg HR; Monty Hand 2 hits, Mitchelson double
4-1 *NM 12, Whitehall 1 Biddle 1-hitter (4 inn.)
5-1 *NM 12, Montague 7 Mitchelson 3 hits, including double
5-2 *Scottville 12, NM 7 Norse pitchers walk 11
5-3 Musk. Heights 15, NM 8 NM loses 7-1 lead; Mitchelson 2 hits, including double
1949 – coach Paul Moyes (8-5 overall; 8-2 in WMC; WMC Champs)
The Norse would begin their most successful WMC run in the school’s history beginning with the 1949 season. NM would win the first of their five consecutive conference championships. The Norse pitching staff of sophomore John Arntz, junior John Biddle and senior Ron Kolkman would team up to shutout the opposition in five of the team’s 13 games. Three of those shutouts would be two-hit gems from the flame-throwing Arntz. Not even during the current era, when a 30-game schedule is the norm, would a Norse pitching staff match this extraordinary achievement – until 2007 when the pitching staff tossed seven shutouts. Norse moundsmen got plenty of hitting support during their 8-5 season from Ron Commons, Bill Woller, Monty Hand, Bill Duplissis and Don Schuiteman. Woller delivered a pair of triples in Biddle’s one-hit shutout of Montague. The last defeat in an 8-2 conference record would be at the hands of Scottville in the second game of a doubleheader. It would be the last time the Norse would taste defeat in the conference over the next 20 games.
Record Score Interesting Fact
1-0 *NM 8, Hart 6 Bud Matych, Tom Mitchelson 2 hits
2-0 *NM 5, Shelby 0 John Arntz 2-hitter, 12 K’s; Ron Commons 4 hits, HR; Arntz double
3-0 *NM 11, Whitehall 0 Arntz 2-hitter; Monty Hand 3 hits, including a triple
4-0 *NM 7, Montague 0 John Biddle 1-hitter; Bill Woller 2 triples; Bill Duplissis triple
4-1 Musk. Heights 13, NM 2 Woller 3 hits, including 2 doubles
5-1 *NM 5, Hart 0 Ron Kolkman 3-hitter; Woller, Matych 2 hits
6-1 *NM 9, Shelby 2 Arntz 9 K’s; Commons, Don Schuiteman triple; Ken Douglas double
6-2 Muskegon 6, NM 2 Biddle losing pitcher as NM commits 3 errors
7-2 *NM 10, Whitehall 0 Arntz 2-hitter; Duplissis triple; Woller, Commons two hits
7-3 *Montague 5, NM 4 Jack Kroelczyk double
8-3 *NM 7, Scottville 4
8-4 *Scottville 7, NM 5
8-5 Musk. Heights 8, NM 1
1950 – coach Paul Moyes (9-4 overall; 9-0 in WMC; WMC Champs)
Although a 9-4 season record may not look that impressive on paper, the 1950 Norsemen baseball team would rank with some of the best ever NM squads. Coach Paul Moyes’ nine dropped a pair of hard-fought games to Muskegon and Muskegon Heights after sweeping all comers in the WMC. John Arntz fanned 10 Heights hitters in a 3-1 loss and dropped a three-hitter in a 5-2 loss to Muskegon in the first game of the season between the two schools. Game No. 2 vs. the Big Reds was lost by the narrowest of margins, 8-7. The Norse could not protect a 7-6 lead going into the seventh as the Big Reds scored once to send the game into extra innings. The Norse were unable to score off Big Red reliever Jim Mitchell during his four innings of work. The undefeated Big Reds won the game with one out in the ninth on a squeeze bunt by Big Red shortstop and Greater Muskegon legend Earl Morrall, who would have an incredible NFL career, including an MVP season in 1969 while with the Baltimore Colts. Senior hurler John Biddle posted two shutouts while allowing opponents only two hits in three of his wins. Only Muskegon Heights was able to touch up an outstanding NM pitching staff for more than eight runs in a game. Bill Duplissis was the big NM hitter throughout the season, capping the season-ending 6-1 Norse win over Montague by stroking four hits.
Record Score Interesting Fact
1-0 *NM 10, Shelby 1 John Biddle 2-hitter; Ron Commons double
1-1 Musk. Heights 3, NM 1 John Arntz 10 K’s; NM scored on a Charley Whiteman bases-loaded walk
2-1 *NM 7, Whitehall 0 Biddle 4-hitter, 11 K’s; Claude Easterling 2 hits
2-2 Muskegon 5, NM 2 Arntz & Biddle combine on 4-hitter; 3 NM errors costly
3-2 *NM 9, Hart 3 Arntz 3-hitter; Bill Woller, Claude Easterling triple; Monty Hand 2 hits
4-2 *NM 5, Montague 1 Biddle 4-hitter; Bill Duplissis triple; Woller, Commons 2 hits
5-2 *NM 7, Shelby 4 Bob England winning pitcher; Duplissis key RBI
5-3 Muskegon 8, NM 7 9 innings; Muskegon ties games in 7th; wins on squeeze by Earl Morrall
6-3 *NM 8, Hart 5 Arntz winning pitcher; Commons, Hand & Easterling 2 hits
7-3 *NM 10, Scottville 0 Biddle 2-hitter; Woller HR; Gordy Munn 2 hits; Duplissis 2 RBI
8-3 *NM 13, Whitehall 7 Duplissis 2 hits, including HR; each team walks 12
8-4 Musk. Heights 10, NM 3 Duplissis 2 of 4 NM hits; John Dykhouse, Munn each 1 hit
9-4 *NM 6, Montague 1 Biddle 2-hitter; Duplissis 4 hits, including triple; Biddle double
1951 – coach Paul Moyes (10-2 overall; 9-0 in WMC; WMC Champs)
Coach Paul Moyes, unable to continue his labor of love after the 1951 season due to a serious illness, would lead the Norse to another undefeated WMC season and an overall mark of 10-2. The opening game blow out (15-2) of Whitehall gave a quick glimpse of this team’s abilities. The Norse demonstrated power at the plate (two triples and two doubles), strong pitching (a one-hitter by John Arntz) and flawless defense (no errors). Both losses were very competitive and came at the hands of a Muskegon powerhouse that would end the season undefeated and rated as the top team in the state. In the first encounter with Muskegon, the Norse gave freshman Tom Arntz, a future Norse multi-sport star, his first start behind the plate, as two NM regulars were unable to suit up. In the next match-up between the two local powers, the Norse had an early comfortable lead vs. the Earl Morrall-led Big Reds before falling short. According to Jim Moyes, North Muskegon baseball historian, the 1951 team would rank as one of the best in Norsemen history. Only one team in NM history can boast of a wider margin of victory (10.66-4.25), an average of almost 6 ½ more runs than their opponents. The 2008 team outscored its opponents 10.71 to 4.02. The 10.66 run average is the second highest in school history (in a season with 10 or more games), and what is amazing about this number is that it came during the period of high-school baseball when wooden bats were used. In his all-too-short coaching career at North Muskegon, coach Moyes’ clubs would win the WMC crown five times in his seven-year stint, posting half of the conference titles earned in the more than 70 years of NM baseball. Two of NM’s all-time greats would end their four-year careers on a historical note. Bill Duplissis came on in relief of John Arntz to save the season-ending 8-6 victory over powerful Muskegon Heights, the first NM victory over Oakie Johnson’s Tigers in school history. Earlier, against Scottville in a double header, Duplissis had a day for the ages. In game one, Duplissis blasted five hits, including three doubles and a triple in a 22-3 rout of the Spartans. So confident were WMC officials that NM would take care of the Spartans that they presented NM the WMC championship trophy at the official conference banquet the night before the doubleheader. In the nightcap, Duplissis took to the mound and threw a one-hitter in shutting out the Spartans 8-0. With stalwarts such as Tom Arntz, John Dykhouse and Jack Dewall returning, 1952 looked promising as well.
Record Score Interesting Fact
1-1 Muskegon 10, NM 4 J. Arntz 3 hits; T. Arntz, Harvey Fohlbrook 2 hits
2-1 *NM 8, Montague 7 T. Arntz 2 hits, including HR; J. Arntz GW RBI; Upman 2 hits
3-1 *NM 14, Hart 3 J. Arntz 2-hitter; Jack Dewald, Munn, Upman, J. Arntz & Duplissis 2 hits
4-1 *NM 13, Shelby 2 Duplissis 5-hitter; Jack Dewall HR, triple, 5 RBI; Don Vento HR
5-1 *NM 12, Shelby 2 J. Arntz 5-hitter; John Dykhouse 3 hits, including triple,
5-2 Muskegon 10, NM 4 Muskegon would be state champs; NFL MVP Earl Morrall 2 hits for MHS
6-2 *NM 13, Whitehall 5 J. Arntz winning pitcher; NM scores 9 runs in fifth inning
7-2 *NM 7, Montague 1 Duplissis 2-hitter; J. Arntz (triple), Don Schuiteman, Munn, Upman 2 hits
8-2 *NM 22, Scottville 3 Duplissis 5 hits, including triple and 3 doubles
9-2 *NM 8, Scottville 0 Duplissis 1-hitter; NM WMC win streak at 18
10-2 NM 8, Musk. Heights 6 J. Arntz 3-run HR in 6th inning; Duplissis save; 1st win vs. Heights
1952 – coach Arnold Wilson (10-2 overall; 9-1 in WMC; WMC Champs)
Arnold Wilson, in his only season as the North Muskegon baseball coach, inherited a veteran team as well as some talented freshmen. Seven letterman from the 1951 powerhouse team would insure another very successful season. Outfielders John Dykhouse, Curtis Jones, and Harvey Fohlbrook; infielders Don Schuiteman, Art Turner and Gordy Munn; sophomore catcher Tom Arntz, along with pitcher Scott Moore, all saw action in 1951. On their way to a fourth consecutive WMC title, the Norse extended their undefeated streak in the conference to 20 straight wins before falling 4-3 to Montague in the third game of the season. The one-run loss to the Wildcats would be the lone conference defeat tasted by the Norse over a three-year period. A new pitching star emerged for the Norse in freshman Dick Schuiteman. Schuiteman, whose son David possesses the NM school record in the two-mile run, posted a pair of two-hit shutouts during the season, including an impressive shutout over Muskegon Heights in the campaign’s final game. The 15-year-old posted the finest season ever posted by a freshman pitcher by winning five of the Norsemen’s 10 wins and posting an ERA of 1.51. First baseman Dave Bliss and outfielder Gordy O’Dell would also crack the starting lineup as freshmen.
Record Score Interesting Fact
1-0 *NM 8, Shelby 1 Don Schuiteman (HR), John Dykhouse (double) 2 hits
2-0 *NM 12, Whitehall 9 WMC win streak hits 20, Curtis Jones 3 hits (HR, 3B, 1B)
2-1 *Montague 4, NM 3 Charlie Mikkelson, longtime Montague coach, beats NM
3-1 *NM 6, Scottville 5
4-1 *NM 6, Hart 5 Hart SS throws DP ball into Bear Lake; Tom Arntz 3 hits (3B, 2B, 1B)
5-1 *NM 11, Shelby 0 Dick Schuiteman 2-hitter; Gordy Munn lead-off HR
6-1 *NM 5, Hart 2 Dick Schuiteman 4-hitter; Art Turner, Jones RBI singles
6-2 Muskegon 16, NM 3 Future minor leaguer Chuck Dobberstein limits NM to 3 hits
7-2 *NM 11, Whitehall 3 Scott Moore 4-hitter; Harvey Fohlbrook 4 hits
8-2 *NM 10, Montague 4 Dick Schuiteman 5-hitter; NM scores 5 runs in 1st
9-2 *NM 10, Scottville 4 Moore 3-hitter; clinch WMC title; NM scores first nine runs of game
10-2 NM 3, Musk. Heights 0 Dick Schuiteman 2-hitter; Arntz key RBI double
1953 – coach Dunc Lectka (6-1 overall; 6-1 in WMC; WMC Champs)
Although North Muskegon administrators perhaps hired new head baseball coach Dunc Lectka as a football coach first and baseball second, it was the sport of baseball that Lectka clearly had his most passion. The former all-around star athlete from Cadillac High School spent one year in the Detroit Tigers minor league system with Fulton of the Kitty League in 1941. As with most athletes from this generation, World War II cut his dreams for a major-league career short. The 1953 baseball season easily qualifies has the most abysmal as far as weather conditions are concerned. The inclement weather forced the Norsemen to cancel their entire slate of games scheduled for the month of April. It was not until the first week of May when the Norse were able to begin play for the year. Coach Lectka’s nine got out of the gates quickly by winning their first four games, as the Norse would capture the WMC conference championship for the fifth straight year. For the next 55 years, NM would only win the WMC title three more times (1955, 1972 & 2008). Only a 7-5 loss to Whitehall would put a blemish on the abbreviated seven-game schedule. The usually sure-handed Norsemen committed six errors as sophomore pitching ace Dick Schuiteman would lose his only game in his first two years on the hill. The Norse featured the lively young arms of juniors Leonard Green and Scott Moore and sophomore Schuiteman on the hill. Junior catcher Tom Arntz was joined by a flock of four sophomores that would provide the core for NM baseball over the next three seasons. Sophomores Gordy O’Dell, Dave Bliss, and Jack Mavis, along with freshman Ron Simonelli, would join Schuiteman in the starting lineup through 1955.
Record Score Interesting Fact
1-0 *NM 9, Hart 2
2-0 *NM win, Scottville loss
3-0 *NM 6, Whitehall 2 Dick Schuiteman 5-hitter, Leonard Green 2 hits, including triple
4-0 *NM 17, Hart 0 Scott Moore & Dave Bliss combine for shutout; Bliss, Tom Arntz 2 hits
4-1 *Whitehall 7, NM 5 Schuiteman 5-hitter; NM commits 6 errors in night game @ Whitehall
5-1 *NM 4, Montague 3 NM scores 4 in top of 7th after 2 outs; winning run scores on a balk
6-1 *NM 2, Montague 1 Schuiteman gives up 1 un-earned run; Green triple, double
1954 – coach Dunc Lectka (7-3 overall; 5-3 in WMC; 2nd place in WMC; Scottville Champs)
The Norse relinquished their stranglehold on taking the West Michigan Conference Championships as they placed second to WMC champ Scottville. Leonard Green (5-1) was the ace of the staff by winning five of the seven NM wins on the season. Two of Green’s victories were shutouts, including a 16-strikeout performance in an 8-0 Norse victory over Montague. Pitching certainly was a strongpoint for Dunc Lectka’s nine as no opponent was able to score in double digits. All three of NM’s losses came against WMC foes as the Norse struggled with their hitting. The non-conference victories in the season were against Lectka’s previous coaching post, Sparta, and a rare 10-9 decision over perennial power Grand Haven. The season-ending victory over Montague marked the end of a great all-around career for catcher Tom Arntz. Arntz earned four letters in baseball, three in football and basketball and an additional two in track. Arntz won 12 letters over his career, the most letters earned by any single athlete in NM history. So versatile was the 6-foot-3 Arntz that he captured the conference championship in the high jump in his senior year.
Record Score Interesting Fact
1-0 *NM 2, Montague 0 Green 3-hitter
1-1 *Whitehall 3, NM 0 Leonard Green 4-hitter in loss
1-2 *Scottville 6, NM 1
1-3 *Hart 7, NM 2 NM has only 2 hits
2-3 NM 10, Sparta 13-3 NM 10, Grand Haven 9 Chuck Houts 2 doubles
4-3 *NM 6, Whitehall 2 Green 6-hitter; Tom Arntz double
5-3 *NM 9, Scottville 4 Green win in relief; Gordy O’Dell 3 hits
6-3 *NM 6, Hart 2 Green 4-hitter
7-3 *NM 7, Montague 0 Green 2-hitter, 16 K’s; Dick Schuiteman, Dave Bliss, Arntz triple1955 – coach Dunc Lectka (8-2 overall; 7-1 in WMC; WMC Champs)
The Norse returned to the top of the ladder in the WMC for the sixth time in the past seven years by posting a 7-1 record in conference action. Only defending champion Scottville was able to move into the winner’s circle vs. the Norse, but the Norsemen redeemed themselves by taking the nightcap of a doubleheader with the Spartans. The Norse received some lusty hitting from all-time NM great Gordy O’Dell. O’Dell, who was an All-State selection in basketball, set the table for a great season for the Blue & Gold by belting a grand slam home run in the season opening 7-6 win over Whitehall. O’Dell also blasted a school record three doubles in NM’s win over Scottville and again flexed his muscles with a home run and a triple in NM’s first win over Hart. Future long-time Orchard View baseball coach Tom Stribley closed the door on the WMC championship by belting a game-winning double in the pennant clinching 2-0 victory over Hart. Dick Schuiteman then capped his sterling career by notching a school record-equaling 17 strikeouts in the season ending 5-0 shutout of Grand Haven.
1-0 *NM 7, Whitehall 6 Gordy O’Dell GS; Pete Sheldon 3 hits
2-0 *NM 4, Montague 3 Dick Schuiteman wins, GW 2-run triple; Ron Simonelli, Chuck Houts 2 hits
2-1 *Scottville 7, NM 0 Schuiteman’s only loss on season, has only both NM hits
3-1 *NM 6, Scottville 4 Dave Bliss winning pitcher; O’Dell 3 doubles
4-1 *NM 6, Hart 1 Schuiteman 3-hitter, 12 K’s; O’Dell HR, triple
5-1 *NM 3, Whitehall 1 Schuiteman 3-hitter, 9 K’s; NM scores all 3 runs in 3rd; O’Dell 2-run single
5-2 Musk. Heights 21, NM 8 Simonelli triple, double; Jack Mavis, Tom Stribley 2 hits
6-2 *NM 6, Montague 4 Schuiteman 4-hitter; O’Dell 3 hits, 2 RBI; Dave Bliss RBI
7-2 *NM 2, Hart 0 O’Dell wins; Stribley GW double drives home O’Dell & Simonelli
8-2 NM 5, Grand Haven 0 Schuiteman 17 K’s; Stribley 3 hits; Mickey Hinkin 2-run single
1956 – coach Dunc Lectka (4-5 overall; 4-3 in WMC; xx place in WMC; Hart Champs)
The Norse failed to reach the .500 mark for only the second time in 20 years; however, the Norse were able to stay above the .500 mark in the WMC. It was a season that would have plenty of upsides for the Norse with a few truly unique performances. Third baseman Pete Sheldon pulled off a feat that will likely stand for the ages. On May 17, the future starting third sacker for the Dartmouth Indians of the Ivy League blasted two home runs against Scottville – in the same inning. One of Sheldon’s shots was a grand slam and the other a two-run dinger. In the next game, the Norse defense helped Norse pitching ace Ron Simonelli by turning three double plays in a 15-1 trouncing of Whitehall. The Norse pulled off a remarkable 11 double plays after just seven games were played. Simonelli pitched another gem in a Norse defeat suffered at the hands of Grand Haven. Simonelli, who would go on to play football at the University of Wyoming, gave up but two hits to the Bucs in a 2-1 losing cause.
Record Score Interesting Fact
0-1 *Hart 12, NM 8 Jim Damm 2 hits, including triple; Jerry Johnson 2 RBI; NM commits 8 errors
0-2 *Whitehall 6, NM 3 Pete Sheldon, Joe Sienkiewicz triple
1-2 *NM 8, Montague 0 Ron Farmer 2-hitter; Damm 3 hits; Mickey Hinkin 2 hits, including double
2-2 *NM 4, Scottville 0 Ron Simonelli 3-hitter, Sheldon 2 hits
2-3 *Hart 7, NM 6 Sheldon 2 hits, including triple
3-3 *NM 17, Scottville 6 Sheldon becomes first state high schooler to hit 2 HR in 1 inning (GS, 2-run)
4-3 *NM 15, Whitehall 1 Simonelli 1-hitter; NM turns 3 double plays; Hinkin 2 hits
4-4 Grand Haven 2, NM 1 Simonelli 2-hitter; Simonelli 2 hits, including double
4-5 Musk. Heights 6, NM 1 Sienkiewicz 2 hits
The next two seasons would not be good ones for a Norse program that had experienced so much success in the first two decades at NMHS. NM would compile only a 4-7 record with two victories each over Montague and the Scottville Spartans. Much of the success earned in the spring at North Muskegon came on the golf course as the Norse linksters set a school record with a new low of 333 strokes. Righthander Ron Farmer, a 6-6 fireballer, accounted for two of the Norse victories. Farmer struck out 15 in wins over Scottville and Montague. It would only get worse in 1958.
Record Score Interesting Fact
0-1 *Hart 5, NM 2 NM only 3 hits off Jin Gwinnup & Turk Griffin
0-2 Fremont 10, NM 5 Packers break up 4-4 tie with a 4-run 6th inning as NM walks 6
1-2 *NM 8, Scottville 1 Ron Farmer 1-hitter, 15 K’s; Pete Sheldon HR
1-3 *Hart 10, NM 8 NM commits 10 errors; Sheldon double
2-3 *NM 6, Montague 4
2-4 *Whitehall 3, NM 2 Mike Hinklin loses;NM loses 2-1 lead as Whitehall score 2 runs in 7th inning
2-5 Fremont 5, NM 0 Norse 4 hits: Sheldon, Jim Damm, Al Beauchamp & Jim McNiff
3-5 *NM 4, Montague 2 Farmer 15 K’s, 2 hits
4-5 *NM 10, Scottville 8 Damm 3 hits
4-6 Grand Haven 9, NM 3 Hinklin, Joe Sienkiewicz double
4-7 Musk. Heights 14, NM 4 Heights legend Osie McCarty 2 hits, including triple
About the only bright note for North Muskegon during the spring of 1958 came on the track – not on the baseball diamond. Sam Hughes, whose son Mark would captain the University of Michigan basketball team to the 1989 NCAA championship, would win the Class B State Championship in the high jump. The Norse would win only one game vs. Hart during the entire season en route to a mysteriously low record of 1-7. It was obvious that departing head coach Dunc Lectka was frustrated with his Norse diamond getters during the campaign as there were a number of unreported scores to the local paper. The pace of the campaign was quickly set in the season opener vs. Fremont as future Detroit Tiger signee Wayne Somers threw a no-hitter against the Norse. Somers had an additional no-hitter against Whitehall, the WMC champs, and posted a shutout over powerful Muskegon. One bright note for Norse fans: Somers played for the North Muskegon entry in the summer city league before departing for his minor league assignment. Baseball historians had to know this was a bad season for the Norse when the season ended with an embarrassing loss to Muskegon Heights with Gene Young getting credit for the win for the Tigers.
Record Score Interesting Fact
0-1 Fremont 16, NM 0 NM no-hit by Wayne Somers, who had 17 K's
1-1 *NM 11, Hart 8 Dale Swanson, Al Beauchamp & Larry Powell 2 hits
1-2 *Scottville 11, NM 2
1-3 Fremont 15, NM 2 Beauchamp 2-run HR
1-4 *Hart 9, NM 7
1-5 Whitehall 13, NM 5 Bill Shackelford complete-game loss
1-6 *Whitehall 17, NM 4 Merv Mitchell 3 hits for the Vikings
1-7 Musk. Heights 10, NM 6 Swanson 2 of 3 NM hits
1959 – coach Bruce Benson (7-10 overall; 1-3 in WMC; xx place in WMC; Whitehall Champs)
Bruce Benson, who played a couple years in the Baltimore Orioles minor league system, became the manager, and the Norse survived an opening-day shaky outing against Muskegon Catholic Central to post a respectable record. The Norse ended the season with an invite to the White Lake Invitational. The Norse gave undefeated Grand Rapids Lee a scare behind the five-hit pitching of Bill Shackelford before falling 3-0. The hitting woes continued the following day, as the Norse were again shutout 2-0 by Fremont in the consolation round. Tommy Moyes began his four-year career as a Norse mainstay by posting the only Norse hit against the Crusaders. The highlight of Benson’s initial year at the helm had to be NM’s 23-5 romp over Reeths-Puffer. It would be the first-ever meeting between these two schools, as 1959 would produce the first graduating class for the Rockets. The lowlight of the campaign had to be the 31-8 thumping from Muskegon Catholic. The 31 runs scored by the Crusaders is the most runs allowed by the Norsemen in school history. NM all-star selection Jerry Johnson had a day to remember in the thrashing of the Rockets. Johnson became the first Norseman to hit for the cycle and had five hits in all to become one of only two Norse (Justin Visconti is the other) to hit for the elusive cycle. Johnson teamed with his brother Dave on May 6 for another NM first. Each of the Johnson brothers belted a home run in a 7-5 loss to Holton, a feat matched in 2003 by the Dean brothers.
Record Score Interesting Fact
0-1 Musk. Catholic 8, NM 1 Freshman Tommy Moyes only NM hit
1-1 NM 12, Fremont 11
1-2 *Scottville 3, NM 1 Moyes has 2 of NM’s 3 hits; Scottville scores 2 runs in 7th for the win
2-2 NM 12, Holton 7 Bill Shackelford, Dave Johnson 2 hits
3-2 NM 5, Whitehall 2 Jerry Johnson wins in relief; Jay Conover 2 hits
4-2 NM 3, WM Christian 2 Shackelford 4-hitter; 1st meeting between two schools
4-3 Musk. Catholic 31, NM 8 Pat White 2 HR for MCC; Conover HR for NM
5-3 *NM 7, Shelby 3 NM only 4 hits; NM has 6-run 6th inning; 1st Shelby team in 5 years
5-4 *Hart 7, NM 0 Hart’s Turk Griffin no hits NM
5-5 Holton 7, NM 5 Brothers Dave & Jerry Johnson each hit HR
5-6 *Whitehall 16, NM 8 Moyes, J. Johnson 2 hit; Bill Bisson HR
5-7 Grand Haven 9, NM 2
6-7 NM 5, WM Christian 4 J. Johnson wins in relief & has 2 hits, inclduing double7-7 NM 23, Reeths-Puffer 5 J. Johnson hits for cycle (5-for-6), 7 RBI
7-8 Musk. Heights 7, NM 2 NM has 5 hits7-9 GR Lee 3, NM 0 Shackelford 5-hitter; GR Lee has undefeated season
7-10 Fremont 2, NM 0 Consolation game of White Lake tournament
1960 – coach Bruce Benson (7-8 overall; 2-3 in Seaway; xx place in Seaway; Whitehall Champs)
This would be the first of six years that the Norsemen would play in the Seaway Conference. The period from 1960 through 1966 would be the only years since the Norse became a complete high school in 1935 that NM wouldn’t compete in the West Michigan Conference. The Norse would play only a partial Seaway schedule in 1960 but would have a full load for the 1961 season. Oddly enough, reports from the Muskegon Chronicle list NM as being in both the WMC and the Seaway conference. Coach Bruce Benson’s nine would slip just below the .500 level. Junior Southpaw hurler Bill Shackelford pitched the first of his two-career no-hitters for the Norse. Shackelford’s no-no was not without its quirks. He would surrender eight walks to the Western Michigan Christian Warriors but would strike out 13 in a narrow 3-2 Norse victory. The Norsemen also had a remarkable turnaround vs. Reeths-Puffer. After being soundly thrashed 14-0 by their nearby rival early in the season, the improved Norse had a huge turnaround and defeated the Rockets in a late-season contest.
Record Score Interesting Fact
0-1 Musk. Catholic 10, NM 7 NM commits 5 errors in six-run 3rd inning for MCC
1-1 NM 4, Montague 1 Bill Cribbs 2-hitter
2-1 NM 3, WM Christian 2 Bill Shackelford no-hitter, 8 BB, 13 K’s
2-2 *Reeths-Puffer 14, NM 0 Joe Fodrocy shuts out Norse
3-2 NM 15, Shelby 7 Shackelford bases-loaded triple; Charlie Langeland 3 hits
4-2 NM 16, WM Christian 11 Oscar Manning GS; Jerry Porter HR
4-3 Hart 8, NM 3
4-4 Musk. Heights 7, NM 2 Bill Bissen, Langeland, Manning double
5-4 *NM 7, Whitehall 3 Cribbs winning pitcher; Cribbs, Langeland 2 hits
6-4 NM 12, Montague 7 Shackelford, Porter 2 doubles; Bissen 2 hits
6-5 Scottville 13, NM 3 Cribbs HR; Manning 2 hits
6-6 *Whitehall 12, NM 6 Bissen double
6-7 Grand Haven 13, NM 0 Roger Wheeler throws a perfect game for Grand Haven
7-7 *NM 8, Reeths-Puffer 7
7-8 *Whitehall 5, NM 4 Seaway tournament; Manning 2 hits
1961 – coach Bruce Benson (9-7 overall; 6-4 in Seaway; co-Champs in Seaway w/ Fremont & Ravenna)
The Norse were able to get a share of the Seaway conference title even with four losses. NM got its season off on the wrong foot as they dropped a 10-1 decision to Muskegon Catholic. Future Weber State baseball star Ron Janczyk allowed the Norse just three hits, two of those from shortstop Tommy Moyes. Later in the season, the Norse lost back-to-back games against a pair of the best teams in any class, dropping a game to Muskegon, 5-3, and becoming the 42nd straight victim of Grand Haven’s Hall of Fame team, 11-6. Spearheading the Norse co-champs was lefty Bill Shackelford. Shackelford equaled John Arntz’s 1949 all-time mark for shutouts in a single season with three goose eggs. Oddly enough, Shackelford’s second no-hitter of his career was not a shutout. Shackelford also equaled the all-time strikeout record (17) in his no-hitter against Fremont but inexplicably gave up three runs in the Norse 6-3 victory. Earlier in the season, Shackelford nearly had his third no-hitter, but Ravenna was able to get one hit off the Norse southpaw. Shackelford ended his career with a two-hit shutout over Coopersville to give the Norse a share of the title.
Record Score Interesting Fact
0-1 Musk. Catholic 10, NM 1 Tommy Moyes 2 of NM’s 3 hits
1-1 NM 3, Montague 2 Bill Shackelford 6-hitter; Chuck Langeland, Oscar Manning double
2-1 *NM 18, Whitehall 6 Shackelford winner with 2 hits (3B), Bill Bissen 2 doubles. Manning 2 hits
2-2 *Ravenna 5, NM 3 NM commits 5 errors as Arlyn Zach wins for Ravenna
2-3 *Fremont 6, NM 5 Bissen 2 hits
3-3 NM 18, WM Christian 7 Bissen 3 hits
4-3 NM 7, Coopersville 0 Bill Shackelford 3-hitter, 13 K’s; Shackelford also 3-for-4 with 2 RBI
5-3 *NM 11, Whitehall 2 Shackelford 2-hitter; Bob Porter 2 hits
6-3 NM 13, Musk. Heights 11 Shackelford 5 RBI; Cribbs, Manning HR; Bissen 3 hits
7-3 *NM 16, Ravenna 0 Shackelford 3-hitter; Manning 4 hits, including double, triple; Moyes 2 hits
7-4 *Reeths-Puffer 4, NM 3 Manning 3 RBI triple; NM five errors
7-5 *Reeths-Puffer 5, NM 1 Porter, Langeland 2 hits
8-5 *NM 6, Fremont 3 Shackelford no-hitter, 17 K’s
8-6 Muskegon 5, NM 3 Larry Maxwell throws 5-hitter at Norse
8-7 Grand Haven 22, NM 6 GH’s 42nd straight win; Bissen HR; Shackelford 3 hits
9-7 *NM 9, Coopersville 0 Shackelford 2-hitter; Bissen 3 hits; Langeland 2 hits, including double
1962 – coach Bruce Benson (13-5 overall; 10-2 in Seaway; 2nd place in Seaway; Whitehall Champs)
After earlier winning the Seaway conference in football and basketball, the Class of 1962 wanted to complete a clean sweep of championships as they headed to Whitehall on the last date of the regular season. The Norse and Vikings each had impressive 10-1 conference records leading up to the big game. Back on April 13, the Norse dealt Whitehall its only conference loss, 5-4. The Norse could have won the Seaway outright if they could somehow have mustered up one little run against Fremont. Gary Frens out-dueled Norse lefty Ron Matthews in 11 innings in a classic 1-0 pitchers’ duel. The winning run for the Packers was tallied on a bunt hit, an error on a pick-off attempt at first base that sent the runner to third base, followed by a wild pitch that sent Dallen Gillen home with the winning run that would doom NM to a second-place finish in the Seaway. In the season finale, future Muskegon sheriff Bob Carter & Company were too much for the Norse and took the championship game with a convincing 8-2 victory. In the second game of the 1962 season, the Norse were on the wrong end of high-school history. Grand Haven took advantage of a charitable Norse pitching staff that gave up 20 walks in setting a state record of 56 wins in a row, a record that would last for more than 40 years. The Norse even out-hit the Bucs, 13-6, in this memorable game. The two other defeats suffered by the Norse came against some of the best competition around. NM lost to a Muskegon Heights team that would have an undefeated season and dropped a 6-3 decision to Muskegon. Against the Big Reds, the Norse were able to muster six hits off future major-league hurler Ray Newman with Tommy Moyes and Charlie Langeland both chipping in doubles in a losing cause. Piece of trivia: Newman would team up with Jim Johnson for a combined no-hitter for the Big Reds, as each pitcher tossed three innings of no-hit ball against Western Michigan Christian. Newman and Johnson would each pitch in the major leagues. The Norse were able to notch a win over long-time nemesis Muskegon Catholic, and they did it in resounding fashion with a 14-0 shutout victory.
Record Score Interesting Fact
1-0 NM 6, Montague 5 Bill Cribbs 2 hits, including HR; Bob Merkle, Charlie Langeland 2 hits
1-1 Grand Haven 13, NM 10 GH state record 56th straight win; NM walks 20
2-1 *NM 5, Whitehall 4 Langeland scores winning run in 7th inning
3-1 NM 14, Musk. Catholic 0 Tracy Hickman 1-hitter; Vince Markie triple
4-1 *NM 11, Ravenna 3 Bennie Manning 2 triples; Langeland triple
4-2 Muskegon 6, NM 3 Tommy Moyes, Charlie Langeland double
5-2 *NM 7, Fremont 5 Bob Hasper 2-run HR for the win
6-2 NM 12, WM Christian 3 Ray Schuiteman wins; Tom Johnson 2 hits
7-2 *NM 8, Coopersville 2 Cribbs 2-hitter and 2 hits, including double
8-2 *NM 9, Orchard View 1 NM scores 8 runs in 5th; Paul Engstrom HR; Hickman double, triple
9-2 *NM 8, Ravenna 4 NM scores 5 runs in 4th; Cribbs, Langeland 2 RBI
10-2 *NM 6, Orchard View 4 NM scores 5 runs in 5th on doubles by Moyes, Langeland & Cribbs
10-3 *Fremont 1, NM 0 Ron Matthews pitches all 11 innings in loss; Fremont scores on WP
10-4 Musk. Heights 16, NM 4 Heights undefeated season; Langeland 2 hits
11-4 *NM 6, Reeths-Puffer 4 Hasper triple; Hickman, Cribbs & Markie doubles
12-4 *NM 18, Coopersville 5 Cribbs 2 triples; Hasper 3 hits
13-4 *NM 3, Reeths-Puffer 0 Hickman wins; Cribbs 2 hits
13-5 *Whitehall 8, NM 2 Whitehall wins Seaway
1963 – coach Lee David (13-5 overall; 10-2 in Seaway; Seaway Champs)
The Norsemen posted another fine season as new head coach Lee David’s first baseball team won the Seaway conference championship. The pitching of Ron Matthews and the slugging of third baseman Charlie Langeland were pivotal to the success. Matthews posted a pair of sterling one-hit shutouts over Seaway conference foes Ravenna and Reeths-Puffer to lead the pitching corps. Langeland’s home run was the winning blow in a 5-4 nailbiter with Coopersville and led the Norse to a big win over Orchard View with a triple and a double. He also had four hits in a losing cause against the Muskegon Reds in an early season contest, two more than posted by Muskegon star and future major leaguer Jim Johnson. As any avid Norse fan can tell you, this is the same Jim Johnson who would become Superintendent of Schools at North Muskegon in the 1980s. Shortly after Johnson passed away in 1987, the current baseball field that dates back to 1920 was named in Johnson’s honor.
Record Score Interesting Fact
0-1 *Fremont 3, NM 1 NM only 3 hits, including 2 by Tom Johnson
1-1 *NM 8, Whitehall 3 Ron Matthews 2-hitter
1-2 Grand Haven 7, NM 0 Tracey Hickman 2 hits
2-2 *NM 9, Orchard View 5 Charlie Langeland triple, double
2-3 Muskegon 12, NM 4 Langeland 4 hits
3-3 NM 7, Montague 6
4-3 NM 6, Musk. Catholic 3
4-4 *Coopersville 8, NM 6
5-4 *NM 5, Ravenna 0 Ron Matthews 1-hitter; Johnson 4 hits; Langeland HR
6-4 *NM 4, Reeths-Puffer 0 Matthews 1-hitter
7-4 *NM 12, Fremont 2
7-5 Musk. Heights 10, NM 1
8-5 *NM 10, Whitehall 3 Hickman 3 hits
9-5 *NM 5, Orchard View 2 8 innings; Langeland GW triple
10-5 *NM 5, Coopersville 4 Langeland HR
11-5 *NM 7, Ravenna 3 Ron Coverly 3-run HR; Bob Walters 2 hits
12-5 *NM 10, Reeths-Puffer 0
13-5 NM 3, Montague 2 NM wins on double steal in 7th inning
1964 – coach Lee David (14-8 overall; 9-5 in Seaway; xx place in Seaway; XXXX Champs)
The Norse added one more win in 1964 to set a new mark for most wins in a season. It should be pointed out, that in fairness to the outstanding teams before them, the 1964 schedule was made up of 22 games. The Norse had a talented three-man rotation throughout the season in Jerry Ray, John Pattenger and Rick DeBruyn. Ray posted two shutouts in his eight-victory season during the campaign while Pattenger chipped in with another whitewash. DeBruyn came on strong and posted an ERA of 2.63. The trio posted a collective ERA of 1.99 with Ray the workhorse of the staff by posting a 1.65 ERA. Ironically, Pattenger, as did Bill Shackelford in 1961, pitched a no-hitter, but did not get a shutout in an 11-1 pasting of Fruitport. Coach Lee David’s squad posted a 9-5 record in the Seaway but was not able to duplicate their championship effort from 1963. Among their five losses in the Seaway was a 3-0 loss to Coopersville that featured a no-hit effort by Bronco hurler Larry Troutwine. The Norse received some timely hitting throughout their excellent season from catcher Bob Walters, DeBruyn, Mike Senecal, Bob Rea and Skippy Spier.
Record Score Interesting Fact
1-0 *NM 5, Reeths-Puffer 1 Jerry Ray 10 K’s; Bob Walters bases-loaded triple
1-1 *Ravenna 3, NM 0 John Pattenger 12 K’s in 5 innings
2-1 NM 6, Musk. Catholic 0 Ray 11 K’s; Mike Senecal HR
2-2 *Coopersville 3, NM 0 NM no-hit by Larry Troutwine; Pattenger gives up 3 hits
2-3 WM Christian 7, NM 3 NM scores 2 runs a double steals
2-4 *Whitehall 3, NM 0 Norse only have 2 hits as Ray gives up 1 earned run & 3 hits
3-4 NM 2, Grand Haven 1 Rick DeBruyn 4-hitter; NM wins with only 2 hits (Senecal & Tom Thiele)
3-5 Mona Shores 5, NM 3 Walters single, HR; MS scores go-ahead run in 7th on missed pop-up
4-5 *NM 5, Fremont 0 Ray wins; Bob Rea double, HR; Senecal, DeBruyn 2 hits
5-5 *NM 11, Fruitport 1 John Pattenger no-hitter; Skippy Spier 2 hits
6-5 *NM 5, Reeths-Puffer 3 Ray wins; Walters, Don Johnson, DeBruyn 2 hits
6-6 *Ravenna 11, NM 6 NM commits 7 errors; Senecal, Jim Schillaci 2 hits
7-6 *NM 4, Coopersville 2 Pattenger 1-hitter, 12 K’s
8-6 NM 7, Montague 2 Ray 2-hitter, 10 K’s; Tom Cribbs 2 hits, including HR, Thiele 2 hits
8-7 *Orchard View 3, NM 2 Thiele 2 hits
9-7 *NM 4, Whitehall 3 Ray 9 K’s; Cribbs double; Thiele 2-run single
10-7 *NM 14, Fruitport 2 DeBruyn winner; Cribbs, Walters 2 hits
10-8 Muskegon 6, NM 0 Ray loses
11-8 NM 3, Montague 0 Pattenger wins; DeBruyn 2 hits
12-8 *NM 4, Fremont 1 Ray wins; Spier HR, Walters 2 hits
13-8 *NM 5, Orchard View 2 DeBruyn winning pitcher & 4 hits, 4 RBI
14-8 NM 11, Spring Lake 6 Ray wins, finishes 8-1; DeBruyn HR; Spier, Walters, Don Johnson 2 hits
1965 – coach Lee David (3-8 overall; 3-7 in Seaway; xx place in Seaway; Orchard View Champs)
In coach Lee David’s final year as the NM skipper, this season would signal at least a temporary end of baseball prosperity on the Northside for the next few seasons. However, this final record is incomplete as some Seaway conference game reports are missing, including three of the last four scheduled games. It is likely that two of those missing games were Norse losses, according to Muskegon Chronicle reports for 1965. Only Bob Senecal, Bob Rea, and former Little-League home run-hitting phenom Tom Cribbs returned from the successful 1964 squad, and the Norse dropped the first seven games of the season. Cribbs produced perhaps NM’s most shining memory from 1965 when the stocky right-hander hurled a four-hitter in a 7-2 Norse victory over Fruitport. The low point for the Norse could well have been their failure to get any hits on April 27 vs. the offerings of Orchard View pitcher Tom Waggoner. Unfortunately for NM baseball fans, the immediate future wouldn’t get any better. NOTE: Muskegon Chronicle said NM was 3-9 in Seaway following win over Ravenna.
Record Score Interesting Fact
0-1 *Fruitport 9, NM 0 Mike Senecal, Bob Ray, Jim Middleton have only NM hits
0-2 *Fremont 17, NM 8 Ray 2 doubles; Andy Dagen, Jim Osborne 2 hits; Tom Cribbs HR
0-3 *Orchard View 8, NM 0 NM no-hit by Tom Waggoner
0-4 *Reeths-Puffer 7, NM 6 Roy Richardson 2 hits, 3 RBI
0-5 *Ravenna 7, NM 6 Cribbs 2 hits, including double
0-6 *Coopersville 13, NM 10 Ray 2 hits, including double; Wes Wegner triple
0-7 *Whitehall 9, NM 2 Roger Vanderlaan, Senecal only 2 hits off Vikings' Bob Mutthart
1-7 *NM 7, Fruitport 2 Cribbs 4-hitter, 12 K's; also, double and 3 RBI
1-8 Muskegon 8, NM 0 Dagen has only hit off Muskegon's Tom Klett
2-8 *NM 6, Fremont 5 NM wins on Richardson's 2-run HR in 6th inning
3-8 *NM 5, Ravenna 2 Pat Kersh wins; Osborne 4-for-4
1966 – coach Fritz Wagner (3-11 overall; 3-11 in Seaway; xx place in Seaway; Fruitport Champs)
North Muskegon’s last year in their six-year stint in the Seaway would prove be less than memorable for long-time followers of Norsemen baseball. The Norse, under first-year coach Fritz Wagner, would post a 3-11 record against an all-Seaway Conference lineup. The only non-conference games on the schedule vs. Muskegon and Muskegon Catholic were rained out and never rescheduled. Big sticks were missing from the NM offense throughout the season as the Norsemen were shut out five times (including the final three games), one of the lowest offensive outputs in NM history (only 40 runs scored in 14 games). The Norse did rebound from the poorest offensive output of the season after being no-hit in their season opener by Fruitport’s Ron Stroup by racking up a season-high nine runs in their next outing, a 9-7 win over Fremont.
Record Score Interesting Fact
0-1 *Fruitport 10, NM 0 NM no-hit by Ron Stroup
1-1 *NM 9, Fremont 7 Dave Marchido 3-run HR; Andy Dagen HR; Jim Osborne 3 hits
1-2 *Spring Lake 12, NM 4 Pat Kersh, Ray Richardson double
1-3 *Ravenna 6, NM 3
1-4 *Reeths-Puffer 5, NM 0
2-4 *NM 5, Fruitport 4 Marchido, Osborne 2 hits; NM ralllied with 4 hits after 2 outs in 7th inning
2-5 *Fremont 8, NM 4 Tom Cribbs HR; Wes Wegner 2 hits
2-6 *Spring Lake 14, NM 4 Larry Aldrige 4 hits for Lakers
2-7 *Coopersville 3, NM 2 8 innings; Cribbs 2 hits; Coopersville scores unearned run in 8th inning
2-8 *Ravenna 6, NM 3 Pete Spier 2 hits; Dagan double
3-8 *NM 6, Whitehall 5 8 innings; Richardson's double scores Larry Carter with winning run
3-9 *Whitehall 1, NM 0 Dave Arneburd loses five inning, 1-hitter
3-10 *Reeths-Puffer 13, NM 0 Marchido double
3-11 *Coopersville 17, NM 0 Osborne double
1967 – coach Fritz Wagner (1-13 overall; 1-9 in WMC; 6th place in WMC; Montague Champs)
The return to the familiar haunts of the West Michigan Conference didn’t meet with any more success for the baseballers, who were able to muster but one victory during the season, a 7-0 shut-out victory over Shelby. Pat Kersh picked up the victory with help from future Northern Michigan University quarterback Pete Spier, who chipped in with three hits to aid the winning cause. Again, it was a lack of hitting that doomed the Norse from posting a better season. Following a 1966 season that saw the Norse hit a career low with having five scoreless games, the 1967 batsmen fared even worse, only scoring 33 runs in 14 games. NM finally put some wood on the ball in it seventh game, a 7-6 loss to Oakridge. The Norse tallied 13 hits against the Eagles, more than they totaled in their first six games combined. Opponents’ hurlers blanked the Norse five times, capped by a season-ending 1-0 shutout tossed at NM by Shelby’s Gene Gifford. The future long-time basketball coach at Muskegon Community College won a tight pitching duel over Kersh to make amends for NM’s only victory. Kersh was certainly a hard-luck pitcher, losing two 1-0 games while compiling an ERA around the 2.00 mark. While the 1966 team averaged 2.86 runs per game, this squad managed to score just 2.36 runs per game. These two averages are easily the two lowest outputs in school history. The only reported home runs hit by the Norse came late in the season off the bats of Jim Osborne and Roger Vanderlaan.
Record Score Interesting Fact
0-1 WM Christian 4, NM 0 Dave Marchido has only hit off Steve DeWall
0-2 Fruitport 1, NM 0 Dave Arneberg loses; Pat Kersh, Pete Spier (double) only NM hits
0-3 Whitehall 8, NM 0 Hoby Thrasher wins for Whitehall; Kersh, Mike Hooper only NM hits
0-4 *Scottville 4, NM 1 Spier, Kurt Boyd, Andy Dagen only NM hits
0-5 *Montague 14, NM 1 Boyd, Spier, Roger Vanderlaan only NM hits
0-6 *Hart 1, NM 0 Hart scores winning run on throwing error off a bunt single
0-7 *Oakridge 7, NM 6 NM has 13 hits; Spier, Boyd 2 hits
1-7 *NM 7, Shelby 0 Kersh wins; Spier 3 hits
1-8 *Scottville 11, NM 2
1-9 *Montague 6, NM 3 Marchido, Kersh 2 hits
1-10 Ravenna 5, NM 4 Ravenna scores winning run in 7th inning
1-11 *Hart 6, NM 5 9 innings; Jim Osborne HR
1-12 *Oakridge 8, NM 4 Vanderlaan HR
1-13 *Shelby 1, NM 0 8 innings; Kersh loses to Shelby’s Gene Gifford
Friday, January 4
1968 – coach Fritz Wagner (3-10 overall; 2-8 in WMC; xx place in WMC; Montague Champs)
The struggles continued for the Norse, as coach Fritz Wagner’s crew was able to win just three games while suffering 10 defeats. It had become clearly apparent that many of the superior Norse athletes were running track for veteran track coach Wes Bunks. Bunks’ track teams were in the midst of putting together a winning streak in dual track meets that would surpass more than 30 consecutive meets. Dave Arneberg hurled a nifty three-hit shutout over Scottville for one of the three wins. Pete Spier homered and Tom Burmeister had three hits in the Norse’s best offensive production in 1968, a 13-11 slugfest win over Fruitport. What was shocking about this win was Fruitport would go onto a 14-3 record and win the Seaway Conference title. The Ravenna Bulldogs snatched a seemingly fourth victory away from the Norse, as it appeared the Norsemen were headed for an easy victory. Holding a comfortable 8-2 lead heading into the final stanza, Ravenna crushed the Norse spirit by rallying for a 9-8 victory. Junior catcher Richard Bailey led the Norse in hitting with a batting average of .389.
Record Score Interesting Fact
0-1 WM Christian 7, NM 3 Kurt Boyd 2 hits
1-1 *NM 2, Scottville 0 Dave Arneberg 3-hitter; NM scores on 3 walks & 2 errors
1-2 *Montague 3, NM 2 Boyd loses; Pete Spier's double in 6th inning was NM's first hit
1-3 Ravenna 9, NM 8 Ravenna scores 7 runs in 7th inning; Spier double, triple
1-4 *Hart win, NM loss
2-4 NM 13, Fruitport 11 Spier HR; Tom Burmeister 3 hits
2-5 *Oakridge 5, NM 1 Future Oakridge basketball coach Dick Stine tosses 2-hitter vs. NM
3-5 *NM 7, Shelby 4 Burmeister, Richard Bailey 2 hits
3-6 *Scottville 14, NM 2
3-7 *Montague 10, NM 5 Barry Gordon 2 hits, including grand slam
3-8 *Hart win, NM loss
3-9 *Oakridge 24, NM 0 Stine again shuts down Norse on 2 hits; Bailey, Boyd only hits
3-10 *Shelby win, NM loss
1969 – coach Fritz Wagner (1-12-1 overall; 1-10-1 in WMC; xx place in WMC; Hart Champs)
Coach Fritz Wagner was hopeful of an improved Norse team to man the diamond. Five regulars returned from the previous year, but unfortunately for Norse fans, it would be another dreadful season on the Northside. The Blue & Gold was able to win but one game, an early season 7-3 victory over Ravenna. An omen for 1969 was given in the opening game of the season. Kurt Boyd pitched a no-hitter, but his teammates gave him little support, committing 10 errors as the Norse defense allowed five unearned runs to cross the plate in a 5-2 loss to Montague. The Norse did settle for a tie in their rematch with the ‘Cats with rain stopping the game at 3-3. Long-time Norse followers were anxious for this carnage to come to an end.
Record Score Interesting Fact
0-1 *Montague 5, NM 2 Kurt Boyd loses no-hitter; NM commits 10 errors; Jim Vanderweele triple
1-1 *NM 7, Ravenna 3 Tom Burmeister 4-hitter; Mike Patton triple
1-2 *Hart 13, NM 10 NM pitchers walk 10; Greg Taylor HR
1-3 Orchard View 8, NM 4 NM only has 4 hits
1-4 Fremont 14, NM 1 Four NM pitchers walk 15
1-5 *Shelby 8, NM 2
1-6 *Oakridge 9, NM 1 Oakridge's Dick Stine tosses 1-hitter; Boyd triple
1-7 *Ravenna 7, NM 1 NM only 3 hits; Vanderweele, Richard Bailey, Patton
1-7-1 *NM 3, Montague 3 Burmeister pitches all 9 innings; Mike Barry, Bailey, Vanderweele 2 hits
1-8-1 *Mason CC 7, NM 1 NM's only run scores on an RBI single by Bailey, scoring Barry, who doubled
1-9-1 *Mason CC 9, NM 3 Barry HR; Vanderweele double
1-10-1 *Hart 10, NM 0
1-11-1 *Shelby 3, NM 2 Shelby wins on WP in 8th inning; Taylor 2 hits; Jim Dagen, Burmeister triple
1-12-1 *Oakridge 9, NM 6 Vanderweele 3 hits, including double; Burmeister 2 hits; Dagen 2 RBI
1970 – coach Larry Blackmer (4-9 overall; 4-6 in WMC; xx place in WMC; Shelby & Montague co-Champs)
Departing coach Fritz Wagner was only too glad to hand over the coaching reins to new head coach Larry Blackmer. Wagner had suffered through a four-year period where his teams were only able to muster eight wins against a painful 46 defeats and one tie. Norse football coach Tom Seroczynski’s gridders were in the midst of winning their third of five straight WMC conference championships while Wes Bunks boasted of a track team that took its dual meet consecutive winning streak of 33 in a row into the 1970 season. Coach Blackmer was enthused in early season tryouts when 28 players reported for early season workouts, including 15 freshmen and sophomores. The Norse got off to a woeful start, dropping their first six games of the season, which made it 18 games in a row without a win (there was one tie in that stretch), before getting into the win column with a 14-3 pasting of Oakridge. The 17-game losing streak is the longest in school history. Although the Norsemen were unable to mount a winning season, the future certainly looked more promising as they finished the season with three straight conference wins. NOTE: Potentially missing three games.
Record Score Interesting Fact
0-1 *Montague 13, NM 3 Jim Dagen 2 hits
0-2 *Ravenna 9, NM 1 Apollo 13 lands safely; Jim Ray lone NM RBI
0-3 *Mason CC win, NM loss
0-4 WM Christian 18, NM 3 NM only 4 hits
0-5 *Hart 7, NM 3 Hart has 6 unearned runs; Mike Patton 2 hits
0-6 Shelby win, NM loss
1-6 *NM 14, Oakridge 3 Greg Taylor HR, double; Tom Kesteloot HR
1-7 Orchard View 6, NM 4 OV scores 2 unearned runs in 7th inning; Patton 2 hits, including triple
1-8 *Montague 8, NM 4 Patton, Kurt Boyd 2 hits; Taylor triple
1-9 *Scottville 5, NM 4 NM loses when catchers drops ball on throw from outfield
2-9 *NM 13, Hart 8 Chris Hillman, Patton, Rick Anderegg 2 hits
3-9 *NM 5, Shelby 4 Anderegg GW RBI in 8th inning; Taylor 2 hits
4-9 *NM 10, Oakridge 9 Brad Carlson GW single in 7th inning; Patton 3 hits; Mark Anderson HR
1971 – coach Larry Blackmer (6-10 overall; 5-7 in WMC; 3rd place in WMC; Ravenna Champs)
The Norse improved slightly during the 1971 season by moving into the winner’s circle six times. Again, the Norsemen got out of the blocks slowly by dropping their first four games before rebounding against newly renamed Mason County Central (formerly Scottville). Rick Anderegg mowed the Spartans down by fanning 15 batters in a 5-3 NM victory. Rick Jones, NM’s all-time No. 1 quarterback who directed NM to a perfect 8-0 record during the football season, had three hits in NM’s 9-6 triumph over Montague. In the final contest of the season, an 8-5 win over Hart, the Norse defense pulled off a triple play, one of only three reported triple plays in school history (1947 and 2004 the others). NOTE: Missing final game with Oakridge. Also, state tournament began in 1971, but NM did not enter for some reason.
Record Score Interesting Fact
0-1 Fruitport 12, NM 5 Chris Hilllman 2 hits, including double
0-2 *Montague 4, NM 1 Rick Jones only NM hit
0-3 WM Christian 5, NM 1 Tom Kesteloot's single drives in only NM run
0-4 *Ravenna 6, NM 3 Art Hirsh HR
1-4 *NM 5, Mason CC 3 Rick Anderegg 2-hitter, 15 K’s; Jim Dagen 2 hits
1-5 *Hart 16, NM 12 Hart rallies for 6 runs in 6th inning; Anderegg HR
2-5 NM 12, Whitehall 11 NM rallies for 4 runs in 7th inning; Ken Anderson 2 hits
3-5 *NM win, Shelby loss
3-6 *Oakridge 8, NM 3 Dagen 2 hits, including HR
3-7 Orchard View 7, NM 1 Merles Swanson 2 hits, including double; Mike Schalk RBI single
4-7 *NM 9, Montague 6 Jones 3 hits, 5 RBI; Anderson 2 hits, including double
4-8 *Ravenna 8, NM 3 Dagen 3-run HR
5-8 *NM 7, Mason CC 1 Anderegg 3-hitter, 10 K's; Anderson 2 hits
6-8 *NM 8, Hart 5 NM turns triple play; Mark Anderson HR; Swanson 2 hits
6-9 *Shelby 6, NM 1 M. Anderson's sacrifice fly knocks in only run
6-10 *Oakridge 4, NM 3
1972 – coach Larry Blackmer (12-7 overall; 11-1 in WMC; WMC Champs)
After seven straight losing seasons, the Norse put it all together by capturing the West Michigan Conference championship. The season began with back-to-back losses, including a 12-9 loss to Whitehall when the Vikings scored seven runs in the bottom of the sixth inning to erase an 8-5 Norse lead. Six of those runs came after two were already out; however, the Norse would not let those early setbacks get in the way. Spearheading the 12-7 season were the Norse foursome of Rick Jones, Rick Anderegg, Greg Dean and Larry Williams. Jones, who quarterbacked the Norse football team to a No. 1 state ranking in the Class C football polls, was the leading home-run hitter for the Blue & Gold with five. Dean, who hit at a .481 clip, is the father of future Norse power hitters Geoff and Mike Dean in the 2000s. Greg would be the first Dean to clear the friendly left-field fence on the Northside during an 11-8 victory over Hart. Anderegg showed a lively arm once again in 1971 with a 12-strikeout performance against WMC while 1972 would mark the arrival of reed-thin freshman Larry Williams. Although Williams would be best remembered as one of NM’s all-time best pitchers, he hit a robust .400 in 1972. This season would mark several milestones in North Muskegon baseball history. It would signal the first appearance for the Norse in the Muskegon County tournament and their first in a recently created state play-off format. Sadly for Norse fans, they would drop their first-ever appearances in both, dropping a County tourney game to Mona Shores (4-0) and losing their first pre-District game to Western Michigan Christian (11-4). The other milestone accomplished by the 1972 club is one that is hard to believe: it would be the final West Michigan Conference championship won by the Norse until the 2008 squad took home the title.
Record Score Interesting Fact
0-1 Fruitport win, NM loss
0-2 Whitehall 12, NM 9 Rick Jones loses; Jones HR, 3 RBI; Tom Achterhof 2 hits
1-2 *NM 4, Montague 3 Rick Anderegg wins; Mike Schalk, Larry Williams 2 hits
1-3 WM Christian 11, NM 1 Jeff Kersch loses; NM pitchers allowed 14 hits
2-3 *NM 4, Ravenna 1 Jones wins; Jones 3-run HR; Schalk 3-for-3
3-3 *NM 2, Mason CC 1 Jones 7 K’s; 2 hits (Greg Dean, Ken Anderson)
4-3 *NM 11, Hart 8 Mark Anderson wins; Dean 3-run HR; Schalk, Williams 2 hits
4-4 Orchard View 3, NM 1 Reid Raymor loses; Jones HR
5-4 *NM 10, Shelby 0 M. Anderson wins; Jones 3-run triple; Dean single, double, 3 RBI
6-4 *NM 4, Oakridge 2 Jones wins; Jerry Brevick 3 hits, including a double
7-4 *NM 12, Montague 4 Anderegg 8 K’s; Jones 2 doubles
8-4 *NM 5, Ravenna 3 M. Anderson wins; Jones, Anderegg 2 hits
9-4 *NM 9, Mason CC 1 Jones wins; M. Anderson HR; Jones, Anderegg single, double
10-4 NM 6, WM Christian 4 Anderegg 12 K’s; Jones, M. Anderson 3 hits
11-4 *NM 5, Hart 3 M. Anderson wins; Dean 3 hits; Schalk, Jones 2 hits
11-5 *Shelby 6, NM 3 Kersch loses; Jones HR; K. Anderson 2 hits
12-5 *NM 11, Oakridge 10 10 innings; Jones wins; NM 5 runs in 7th; K. Anderson 5 singles
12-6 Mona Shores 4, NM 0 1st County tournament game for NM; M. Anderson loses
12-7 WM Christian 11, NM 6 1st pre-District game; Anderegg loses; Dean single, 2-run triple
1973 – coach Larry Blackmer (10-5 overall; 7-3 in WMC; 2nd place in WMC; Hart Champs)
The Norse put together another successful season and moved into a tie for first with Hart following an extra-inning win over the Pirates on May 17. The Norse needed a WMC season-ending doubleheader sweep over Oakridge to earn a share of the crown but had to settle for a split against the Eagles. Current NM principal Jim VanBergen, a regular on the Hart Pirate nine can boast about his conference championship, but Norse fans will be quick to point out who handed the Pirates both of the losses. A bit of history took place prior to the Norse nine-inning battle with the title-winning Pirates. On May 14, sophomore Larry Williams, who batted .360 for the season, knocked in two runs in the 15th inning to give the Norsemen a 7-6 win over Mason County Central, the longest game in NM history. Half of the Norse victories were decided by one run, including a pair of thrillers over Western Michigan Christian. The Norse took the first win versus their cross-town rival, 7-6, with the big blow being a three-run home run by Reid Raymour. The second win took place in the pre-districts with Mark Anderson hurling a one-hitter over the Warriors. The game-winning blow was Williams' two-run single in the seventh that sent the Norse fans home happy. The successful season came to an end, but not before the Norse put up a good fight, against Kent City, the top-ranked team in Class C, according to the latest AP poll. If not for a wild streak where NM pitchers allowed 14 walks, the Norse could very well have pulled off the upset. NOTE: North Muskegon did not play in the County tournament.
Record Score Interesting Fact
0-1 *Ravenna win, NM loss
1-1 *NM 8, Mason CC 7 Larry Williams 2 hits, including a double
2-1 *NM 6, Montague 3 Reid Raymour wins; Raymour 2 hits
3-1 *NM 10, Hart 4 Raymour 3-run HR; Jeff Kersh 2 doubles, including GW RBI
4-1 NM 7, WM Christian 6 8 innings; Raymour 3-run HR
5-1 *NM 4, Shelby 1 Raymour 4-hitter; Raymour 2 hits
5-2 *Ravenna 4, NM 2 Brent Holcomb, Mark Anderson 2 hits; Williams double
6-2 *NM 7, Mason CC 6 15 innings; Williams 2-run double in 15th for win
7-2 *NM 2, Hart 1 9 innings vs. WMC champs; Greg Dean GW double in 9th
7-3 WM Christian 10, NM 0 Mark Riekels no-hits NM
8-3 *NM win, Shelby loss
9-3 *NM 8, Oakridge 7 Williams bloop single sins game; Anderson, Raymour HR
9-4 *Oakridge 3, NM 1 Williams loses; Eagles score 2 unearned runs in 1st inning
10-4 NM 3, WM Christian 2 Pre-District; Anderson 1-hitter; Williams 2-run single in 7th; Dean 2 RBI
10-5 Kent City 7, NM 4 District; NM allows 14 walks to No. 1 Class C team; Raymour 3-run HR
1974 – coach Larry Blackmer (5-10 overall; 4-8 in WMC; xx place in WMC; Hart Champs)
If only Larry Williams could have pitched every game for the Norsemen! Final stats reported to the Muskegon Chronicle revealed an outstanding season for the junior right-hander. Williams fanned 92 batters while compiling an earned run average of 0.78, picking up all five of NM’s wins, including a six-inning no-hitter in a pre-district win over Pentwater. Coach Blackmer's decision to save Williams for the district championship game proved disastrous as Holton scored six runs early in the 8-3 semi-final loss for the Norse. Speedy outfielder Jeff Guy, whose father Stan was a legendary football star and NM’s only All-Dream team honoree in 1954, swiped 22 bases during the 1974 season. NOTE: North Muskegon did not participate in County tournament.
Record Score Interesting Fact
0-1 *Mason CC 11, NM 9 Game played in rain & snow
0-2 *Ravenna 1, NM 0 Reid Raymour loses 2-hitter
1-2 *NM 4, Shelby 3 10 innings; Larry Williams wins in relief, 11 K's; Tom Achterhoff GW single
1-3 *Oakridge 3, NM 1 Williams 3-hitter, 10 K's
1-4 *Montague 3, NM 2 Raymour loses; NM loses on 2 errors in 6th inning; Jeff Guy, Raymour 2 hits
1-5 Orchard View 10, NM 0 Don Beattie 5-inning no-hitter
1-6 *Hart 4, NM 2
1-7 *Hart 10, NM 6 Achterhoff 2 hits
2-7 *NM 2, Mason CC 1 Williams 2-hitter; NM wins on walk-off balk call
2-8 *Oakridge 7, NM 2
3-8 *NM 4, Montague 1
4-8 *NM 5, Ravenna 2
4-9 *Shelby 2, NM 1 Shelby's Rick Zoulek 1-hitter; Bruce Bos only NM hit
5-9 NM 10, Pentwater 0 Pre-district; Williams 6-inning no-hitter, 15 K's; Williams 2 hits; Guy 3 SB
5-10 Holton 8, NM 3 Districts
1975 – coach Dave Warmack (11-7 overall; 7-5 in WMC; xx place in WMC; Oakridge/Ravenna Champs)
Dave Warmack served as the head coach of the Norse for the 1975 season and piloted the Northsiders to a successful campaign. Larry Williams had a spectacular season for the Norsemen winning 10 of the 11 games where NM finished on top. With an ERA of .071, Williams still possesses the top two seasons, ERA-wise, in NM history. Williams also fanned 154 opponents in 1975, a mark that hurlers are still trying to match. Williams set the tempo for the season by tossing a four-hitter in a 3-1 early April victory over Fruitport. Williams pitched a pair of shutouts in 1975 and in five other outings gave up only a single tally. One of those one-run outings came against Ravenna when Williams lost a 1-0 pitchers’ duel to current Shelby head coach Brian Wright. The Bulldogs' only run was unearned when Wright scored on a catcher's overthrow of third base. Williams, a tall, slender and bespectacled hurler, came back in the County tournament to fan 15 Bulldogs in a 4-0 whitewash of Ravenna. The win over the Bulldogs was the Norsemen’s first win in the four-year history of the County tournament. Supplying the big hit in the contest played at historic Marsh Field was a three-run home run by Terry Warmack, the younger brother of the Norse head coach. Williams, who would have a marvelous career at Central Michigan University, before embarking on a career in the Kansas City farm system where he would make it to the Double A level, was no slouch at the plate either. Williams lashed out five hits in NM’s 13-12 slugfest victory over Montague. NOTE: This season marked the first season of JV baseball with Ben Quick serving as head coach.
Record Score Interesting Fact
1-0 NM 3, Fruitport 1 Larry Williams 4-hitter; Williams triple
1-1 *Ravenna 3, NM 2 Williams triple; Jeff Guy 2 hits
2-1 *NM 6, Mason CC 3 Williams 2-hitter, 12 K's; Ed McPherson, Guy double
3-1 *NM 1, Hart 0 Williams 1-hitter, 15 K’s; Guy 2 hits, including triple
4-1 *NM 8, Shelby 6 Williams 14 K’s; Guy 3 hits; Shelby scores 6 unearned runs
4-2 *Oakridge 3, NM 0 Terry Warmack, the coach's brother, has only 2 NM hits
5-2 *NM 6, Montague 1 Williams 2-hitter, 14 K’s; Warmack 2 doubles
5-3 *Ravenna 1, NM 0 Williams loses; Williams 2 hits, including triple
6-3 *NM 6, Mason CC 1 Reid Raymour wins; Bruce Bos 2 HR; Guy 2 hits
7-3 *NM 9, Hart 2 Williams wins; Warmack 2 HR, double, 6 RBI
8-3 NM 10, Hesperia 1 Pre-District; Williams 3-hitter, 15 K's
8-4 *Shelby win, NM loss
8-5 *Oakridge 9, NM 8 Oakridge scores 4 unearned runs in 7th; Williams HR; Randy Breen 2 hits
9-5 *NM 13, Montague 12 Williams 5 hits
9-6 Ravenna 12, NM 1 District; Williams HR
10-6 NM 4, Ravenna 0 County; Williams 15 K’s; Warmack 3-run HR
11-6 NM 6, Fruitport 5 County; Breen, Warmack (GW RBI), Williams (double) 2 hits
11-7 Musk. Catholic 7, NM 0 County finals; Williams 11 K's; Guy 2 hits; MCC scores 6 unearned runs
1976 – coach Ben Quick (3-12 overall; 2-9 in WMC; xx place in WMC; Ravenna Champs)
The next four years would see the Norse suffer through some lean seasons. Former Mason County Central alumnus Ben Quick would take over the baseball program from his good friend Dave Warmack for the 1976 and ‘77 seasons. Quick's alma mater didn't treat his Norsemen kindly in his first game as NM coach as the Spartans pummeld NM, 13-2, in teh season opener. In the Norse’s lone non-conference victory, Roger Crawford blasted four hits in a 9-8 NM victory over cross-town rival Western Michigan Christian. One of the Norsemen’s two WMC victories came over Shelby when the Norse came out on top in a 6-3 victory. The second match-up between The Norsemen and the Tigers would be decidedly different. The Tigers ‘dimed’ the Norsemen 11-0 with long-time Shelby basketball coach Rick Zoulek throwing a five-inning, no-hitter against the Norse. Coach Quick’s squad couldn’t have been too disappointed in their final loss of the 1976 season when they lost to Ravenna. The Bulldogs not only won the WMC but also made it all the way to the state championship game before losing in the state finals to perennial power Blissfield. NOTE: Second game of DH with Hart rained out.
Record Score Interesting Fact
0-1 *Mason CC 13, NM 2 Terry Warmack HR
0-2 Fruitport 11, NM 1 NM has only two hits off Fruitport's Ken Jett
0-3 WM Christian 11, NM 1 Warmack triple, double in 5-inning game
1-3 *NM 6, Shelby 3 Warmack 3-hitter; Warmack (triple), Bert Jackson 2 hits
1-4 *Oakridge 6, NM 1 Kevin DeForest has only hit against Oakridge's Harry Whiteman
1-5 *Montague 7, NM 3 NM has only 4 hits
1-6 Muskegon 13, NM 3 County tournament; Big Reds score 12 runs in 1st inning
1-7 *Ravenna 6, NM 0 Jeff Stork has only hit against Ravenna's Joe Coletta
2-7 *NM 4, Hart 2 NM wins with only 1 hit, double by Roger Crawford; 2nd game of DH rained out
3-7 NM 9, WM Christian 8 Crawford 4 hits, inclduing game-winner; Dan Dekker 3 hits
3-8 *Shelby 11, NM 0 5 innings; future Shelby basketball coach Rick Zoulek no-hitter
3-9 *Mason CC 10, NM 2 Jackson loses; NM commits 8 errors; Jackson triple
3-10 *Montague 10, NM 9 Pre-District & WMC game; Warmack (triple), John Nedeau 2 hits
3-11 *Ravenna 12, NM 3 Brad Coon, Warmack RBI single
3-12 *Oakridge 12, NM 5 NM commits 9 errors; Warmack triple
1977 – coach Ben Quick (2-13 overall; 2-10 in WMC; 6th place in WMC; Mason County Central Champs)
The Blue and Gold were only able to win two games with both coming in West Michigan Conference competition, as Ben Quick’s final team was 2-10 in conference action (one of three games vs. Montague was non-conference). One of those wins came in exciting fashion as Roger Crawford belted a home run as NM edged Shelby 9-8 in early April. The other WMC victory was a most improbable victory for the Norse. Just two days after being shutout 10-0 by Oakridge, the Norse reversed the table and defeated the Eagles, 11-1. Crawford nearly helped NM win its third conference battle when he lashed a three-run round tripper against Hart, but the Norse fell one run shy of victory in an 8-7 loss to the Pirates. Mason County Central supplanted Ravenna as WMC champions, and the Spartans showed little mercy of a former Mason County Central alumnus when they pounded the Norse 15-0 in the final game of the 1977 season. Mason County posted a perfect 12-0 record in conference action but lost their important pre-district game to conference rival Ravenna.
Record Score Interesting Fact
0-1 *Hart 5, NM 2 Tim Breen, Joel Stefanitis 2 hits
0-2 *Montague 16, NM 5 John McNally HR
1-2 *NM 9, Shelby 8 9 innings; Roger Crawford HR, double
1-3 *Ravenna 14, NM 0 Bill Motambo no-hits the Norse
1-4 *Mason CC 16, NM 4 NM only 3 hits (Bert Jackson, Randy Breen, Randy Swanson)
1-5 *Hart 8, NM 7 Crawford 3-run HR
1-6 Fruitport 17, NM 3 County tournament
1-7 WM Christian 10, NM 6 Pat Bowen 3 hits
1-8 *Shelby 6, NM 3 Shelby wins first game of season; John Nedeau, Swanson RBI singles
1-9 *Oakridge 10, NM 0 Jackson loses, 8 K's
2-9 *NM 11, Oakridge 1 T. Breen double, triple; R. Breen, Bowen 2 RBI
2-10 *Montague 5, NM 2 R. Breen, Bowen 2 hits; Jackson double
2-11 Whitehall 15, NM 2 Pre-District; Swanson HR; current R-P principal Dan Beckman HR for Vikings
2-12 *Ravenna 9, NM 0 NM loses to Joe Coletta (1-hitter), future Oakridge off. coordinator
2-13 *Mason CC 15, NM 0
1978 – coach Randy Horn (2-13 overall; 2-10 in WMC; 7th place in WMC; Oakridge Champs)
The season would be one of those years that new Norse baseball coach Randy Horn would just as soon forget. The baseball team finished with a disappointing 2-13 record, but those two wins were two more than Coach Horn’s basketball team was able to garner during the winter months. Baseball at North Muskegon did have its upside for coach Horn. Horn would marry the sister of NM baseball legend Larry Williams. If it was any consolation for NM baseball followers, it was that this team was competitive. Only in an 11-1 loss to Oakridge did the Norsemen suffer a double-digit defeat. The highlight of the season was the Norse’s 6-5 victory over Hart when sophomore Steve Preston knocked in the winning run. Roger Crawford blasted at least two home runs.
Record Score Interesting Fact
0-1 *Hart 3, NM 1 Bert Jackson 2-hitter, 14 K's; 3 errors in 7th doom NM; Scott Preston 2 hits
0-2 Musk. Heights 9, NM 3 Pat Bowen 2 hits, including double; Greg Botbyl, Roger Crawford 2 hits
1-2 *NM 5, Shelby 4 8 innings; Botbyl 2-run single ties game; Dave Williams GW double
1-3 *Oakridge 7, NM 0 NM only 3 hits (Jackson, Crawford, Ron Matthews)
1-4 *Montague 11, NM 7 Botbyl 2-run single
1-5 *Ravenna 12, NM 2 Ravenna scores 9 runs in 1st inning; Botbyl 2 hits
1-6 Oakridge 11, NM 1 County tournament; NM 1 hit in 5 inning game
1-7 *Mason CC 11, NM 8 Crawford 2 hits, including triple; Doug Laurin 2 hits
2-7 *NM 6, Hart 5 Steve Preston GW RBI; Botbyl 3 hits
2-8 *Shelby 8, NM 6 Matthews 2-run single; Andy Shirley RBI single
2-9 *Oakridge 10, NM 3 Oakridge wins 9th straight WMC game
2-10 *Montague 5, NM 4 Pre-District too; Wildcats score on 3 passed balls and error; Preston 2 hits
2-11 *Ravenna 12, NM 6 Crawford 3-run HR
2-12 WM Christian 9, NM 6 Jackson 3 hits, including 2 triples; Crawford HR
2-13 *Mason CC 6, NM 5 9 innings; Spartans' Dale Swanson ends game with walk-off HR
1979 – coach Randy Horn (1-14 overall; 1-11 in WMC; 7th place in WMC; Ravenna/Hart/MCC co-Champs)
The Norse battled hard again during the 1979 but suffered through another dismal won-loss season. NM was able to win one game during a 15-game season, a 9-7 victory over Montague. Freshman Sam Parker hit a pair of home runs during the campaign, both against Montague. Parker’s home run in the second Montague game, to go along with a couple of other hits, was the difference in the lone Norse victory on the season. Submariner Kevin Ware picked up the only win by a Norse pitcher. Symbolic of the Norse season was a 3-2 loss to Oakridge when the defense committed eight errors in a tight defeat. The loss to Oakridge was the 11th loss in a row for the Norsemen before they snapped their losing streak against Montague. Steve Preston, who would later lead Northern Michigan University to a Division 2 runner-up trophy in football as their starting quarterback, had a fine offensive season for the Norsemen with a .439 batting average for the season.
Record Score Interesting Fact
0-1 *Hart 10, NM 0 NM only 3 hits (Sam Parker, Steve Preston, Ron Matthews)
0-2 Orchard View 8, NM 4 John Nedeau 2-run double
0-3 *Shelby 10, NM 8 Preston 4 hits (HR, triple, 2 singles)
0-4 *Oakridge 3, NM 2 Brad Billinghurst 4-hitter in loss; Preston 2 RBI singles
0-5 *Montague 11, NM 4 Parker 3-run HR
0-6 *Ravenna 4, NM 1 NM only 4 hits
0-7 *Mason CC 9, NM 1 John Arntz 2 hits, including double; Dave Williams triple
0-8 Ravenna 7, NM 1 County tournament; Doug Laurin 2 hits
0-9 WM Christian 8, NM 6 Scott Preston, Steve Preston, Matthews, Nedeau 2 hits
0-10 *Shelby 14, NM 3 Parker HR; Scott Preston 2 hits
0-11 *Oakridge 3, NM 2 NM commits 8 errors; Parker, Williams 2 hits
1-11 *NM 9, Montague 7 Parker 3 hits, including HR; Steve Preston 3 hits
1-12 *Ravenna 9, NM 4 Matthews triple
1-13 *Mason CC 13, NM 3 NM only 4 hits
1-14 *Hart 9, NM 7 WMC & District game; Mike Hanson 2 hits, 4 RBI
1980 – coach John Gwatkin (10-8 overall; 8-4 in WMC; 4th place in WMC; MCC/Oakridge Champs)
The Norse made a monstrous turnaround from the 1979 debacle by compiling a winning record and came a single game from winning the West Michigan Conference championship. Mason County Central and Oakridge, who split their season series with the Norsemen, shared the WMC crown with 9-3 records. The Norse received a timely combination of good pitching from Brad Billinghurst (4-0, 1.57 ERA) Dave Williams (2-2, 1.77 ERA) and Ron Matthews (2-3, 3.42 ERA) along with some lusty hitting from sophomore Sam Parker (.447), Matthews (.394) and Greg Cooke (.377). John Gwatkin who volunteered for the job as a non-staff coach guided the Norsemen. Gwatkin’s one-year tenure was a memorable one as it would be another 15 frustrating years before a North Muskegon baseball team would post a winning record. A one for the books occurrence took place in the Norse’s 16-1 romp of Hart on May 6 when the Norsemen ran at will against the Hart Pirates in stealing 16 bases.
Record Score Interesting Fact
1-0 *NM 6, Oakridge 1
1-1 *Montague 12, NM 6 Greg Cooke, Dave Billinghurst, Jeff Botbyl 2 hits
2-1 *NM 6, Ravenna 3 Ron Matthews wins; Brian Hubbell 2 hits
3-1 *NM 4, Mason CC 3 John Arntz GW single
3-2 Orchard View 15, NM 3 OV plays errorless ball vs. NM
4-2 *NM 5, Hart 1 Matthews, Bill Banner, Doug Laurin 2 hits; Botbyl 3 RBI
5-2 NM won, Holton loss County Tournament
5-3 WM Christian 8, NM 7 County Tournament; current Chronicle sportswriter Ron Rop has GW hit
5-4 WM Christian 13, NM 9 Bill Banner 3 hits, including triple; Matthews, Sam Parker, Laurin 2 hits
6-4 *NM 16, Hart 1 Greg Cooke HR; Billinghurst 2 hits, including triple; NM stole 16 bases
6-5 *Shelby 3, NM 1 Dave Williams loses; 2-run throwing error dooms Norse
7-5 NM 13, Whitehall 6 Banner wins; Arntz 2 hits, including triple; Laurin 2 hits
7-6 *Oakridge 8, NM 4 Laurin 2 hits, Steve Preston triple
8-6 *NM 10, Shelby 0 Billinghurst wins
9-6 *NM 6, Montague 5 Cooke 3 hits (HR, double); Parker 3 hits and throws runner out at plate
10-6 *NM 1, Ravenna 0 Kevin Ware wins
10-7 *Mason CC 11, NM 0 MCC scores 9 runs in 1st inning; NM only 1 hit (Cooke double)
10-8 Whitehall 13, NM 3 Pre-District; Parker triple; Cooke double
1981 – coach Terry Babbitt (7-11 overall; 5-7 in WMC; xx place in WMC; Ravenna Champs)
If the 1981 season were put on a graph, it would possibly resemble a seismograph chart from the San Francisco Earthquake of 1906. There were plenty of peaks and valleys throughout the season under coach Terry Babbitt. The Norse started off strong with early non-conference wins over Kent City and Western Michigan Christian, before dropping nine of their next 10 games. Ravenna, the West Michigan Conference Champion, may have had their way with other WMC foes, but certainly struggled against the Norse. Two of the Norsemen’s five conference wins came against the Bulldogs. Ravenna did have their day in the sun against the Norse by bouncing back to soundly defeat the Norse in the pre-District game. Current NM athletic director Jeff Cooke, who battled a rash of knee injuries during his high school career, can fondly look back and recall his pair of hits and three RBI performance in a 12-6 NM win over Hart. It should be pointed out that ace Oakridge pitcher Bob Cavanaugh had a not-to-be-forgotten moment at the County tournament. The future Central Michigan University ace was the winning pitcher in three games in one day. He went four innings in wins over Montague and North Muskegon and then went the route in the 1-0 championship game, tossing a no-hitter against Ravenna. Just two days before the County tournament, he hurled a five-inning no-hitter. In all, Cavanaugh pitched 22 scoreless innings in three days. Now, high school pitchers cannot throw more than 10 innings without a two-day rest. All conference games in 1981 were doubleheaders, much to the chagrin of many players and coaches. Due to a rainout, the Norse were forced to play back-to-back doubleheaders against Mason County Central and Hart on May 13-14.
Record Score Interesting Fact
1-0 NM 9, Kent City 5 Kent City pitchers walk 15; Sam Parker, Kevin Ware 2 hits
2-0 NM 3, WM Christian 2 Parker drives in Brad Billinghurst for winning run
2-1 *Montague 7, NM 0 NM only 4 hits
2-2 *Montague 8, NM 5 Parker, Billinghurst, Mario Ferratti 2 hits
2-3 *Shelby 8, NM 7 NM loses 7-run lead on 5 errors, 6 walks and 3 passed balls
3-3 *NM 14, Shelby 13 Greg Cooke, Ken Postema 3 hits; Billinghurst 2 hits
3-4 *Oakridge 3, NM 0 Bob Cavanaugh shuts out Norse
3-5 *Oakridge 2, NM 1 Cavanaugh wins in relief for Eagles; Dan Brondyk RBI
3-6 Orchard View 13, NM 3 Billinghurst 2 hits; Cooke double
3-7 Oakridge 4, NM 1 County Tournament; Cliff Jackson 2 hits
3-8 *Mason CC 7, NM 6 Cooke 2 hits; Ware HR
3-9 *Mason CC 11, NM 1 NM only 2 hits off MCC's Rick Tyndall
4-9 *NM 17, Hart 1 NM scores 15 runs in 1st 2 innings; Parker 3 hits (triple); Cooke HR
5-9 *NM 12, Hart 6 Jeff Cooke 2 hits, 3 RBI
6-9 *NM 3, Ravenna 2 Parker HR; NM wins on Postema's sacrifice fly
7-9 *NM 5, Ravenna 2 Ron Matthews 1-hitter
7-10 Reeths-Puffer 3, NM 0 Lance Lowder tosses 3-hitter against NM
7-11 Ravenna 10, NM 0 Pre-District; Matthews has 2 of NM's 3 hits, including double
1982 – coach Terry Babbitt (2-17-1 overall; 1-10-1 in WMC; 7th in WMC; Ravenna Champs)
The success the Norsemen enjoyed during the football season didn’t carry over into the baseball campaign as NM had a dreary 2-17-1 record. The tennis program at NM was rock solid as never before as the Norse netters won 84 matches before dropping a match in May to Grand Rapids Forest Hills Central. A pair of All-State football players, Greg Cooke and Sam Parker, who led the football team to the state finals in the fall, paired up to lead the Norse in their lone tie in the WMC. Cooke blasted a grand slam and Parker notched a solo shot during an 11-11 slugfest that was called on account of darkness. The lone WMC win was a 9-8 trimming of Mason County Central with Cliff Johnson supplying much of the offense with four hits. After turning in their uniforms in late May, the Norse were forced to make up and earlier game with Montague that was called due to darkness. The game was replayed on June 2, and the Norse were more than cooperative as they were trounced 15-0. The Norse nearly salvaged their season by winning their District game with Shelby, but the Tigers' Dave Hoffman spoiled the fun by delivering a two-out, two-run triple in the bottom of the seventh inning. The poor showing for the Norse might have hastened head coach Terry Babbitt’s decision to give up coaching to become a school administrator. Certainly the pay is now much more lucrative for Babbitt, who would become the Superintendent of Schools at Mona Shores.
Record Score Interesting Fact
0-1 Newaygo 14, NM 0 Greg Cooke 2 hits, including double
0-2 *Montague 13, NM 1 Cliff Jackson 2 of NM's 3 hits
0-3 Fruitport 12, NM 2 Jackson 3 hits, including double; Cooke 2 hits
1-3 NM 10, WM Christian 4 Sam Parker, Rich South, Jackson single & double
1-4 *Shelby 15, NM 7 Jeff Cordo 2 hits
1-5 *Shelby 8, NM 5 Jackson 2 hits
1-6 *Oakridge 6, NM 2 Parker RBI single
1-7 *Oakridge 14, NM 0 Bob Cavanaugh K's 16 and wins both ends of DH for Eagles
1-8 Orchard View 14, NM 4 NM commits 8 errors; Parker 2 doubles
1-9 Montague 18, NM 6 County Tournament; Tom Serocynski 2 hits
1-10 Whitehall 13, NM 1 Kyle Segar only NM RBI
2-10 *NM 9, Mason CC 8 Cliff Johnson 4 hits; Serocynski, Bob Versaw 2 hits
2-11 *Mason CC 10, NM 9 8 innings; NM loses on 2 wild pitches
2-11-1 *NM 11, Hart 11 Cooke GS; Parker HR
2-12-1 *Hart 8, NM 2 Cooke 2 hits, including double
2-13-1 Kent City 21, NM 1 NM only 2 hits
2-14-1 *Ravenna 4, NM 2 Ravenna freshman Dennis Moeller 4-hits NM
2-15-1 *Ravenna 7, NM 3 Jackson 2 hits; Parker triple
2-16-1 *Shelby 8, NM 7 District; Cooke 2 hits, 3 RBI; Versaw. Parker, Jackson 2 hits
2-17-1 *Montague 15, NM 0 Make-up game gives Wildcats tie for WMC title
1983 – coach Denny Emmons (3-11 overall; 2-7 in WMC; 6th place in WMC; Montague Champs)
North Muskegon band director Denny Emmons added the baseball coaching position to his list of duties when the former Muskegon High School teammate of Jim Johnson took over for Terry Babbitt. However, the Norsemen struggles continued. Following the Norse season opener, a 23-0 whipping by Newaygo, Emmons might have had some second thoughts about leading the Norse. Many of the top athletes on the Northside campus for the past few years had begun trading in their Little League gloves for tennis racquets. After Emmons watched his Norse get no-hit in the first two games, the Northsiders punched together 11 hits in an nconceivable 20-0 walloping of Kent City. Perhaps many of the Kent City players were on Spring Break as the Eagles shut out the Norsemen during the May 11 rematch. Greg Zack had a solid season at the plate by posting a batting average of .452. Roger South and Mark Cooke also had a few productive games for coach Emmons’ squad. Without question, the shining moment for NM was the season sweep of Shelby. Cooke had three hits in the first encounter with the Tigers in the 7-6 NM victory while South had four hits in the second meeting with Shelby, an 11-1 pounding of their WMC foe.
Record Score Interesting Fact
0-1 Newaygo 23, NM 0 3 pitchers (Rick Perkins, Scott Bonk, Troy Molton) no-hit NM
0-2 *Ravenna 12, NM 4 Dennis Moeller, relieved by Mike Gilliard, no-hit NM
1-2 NM 20, Kent City 0 Roger South wins; South 2 doubles; current NM fire chief Steve Lague 2 hits
1-3 *Montague 21, NM 2 Wildcats score 18 runs in 1st; Todd Losee, Tom Serocynski only NM hits
2-3 *NM 7, Shelby 6 Mark Cooke 3 hits; Seroncynski, Greg Zack, Losee, John McCollough 2 hits
2-4 *Ravenna 8, NM 5 Zack 3 hits, Cooke 2 hits
3-4 *NM 11, Shelby 1 South 4 hits (triple, double, 2 singles)
3-5 *Oakridge 11, NM 1 NM commits 10 errors
3-6 Kent City 10, NM 0 NM only 2 hits
3-7 Whitehall 16, NM 3 County Tournament; Zack 2 hits, including double
3-8 *Mason CC 15, NM 2 MCC wins its first WMC game of season
3-9 *Hart 13, NM 2 NM commits 12 errors; Mark Flynn, Zack only NM hits
3-10 *Hart 5, NM 2 Zack 2 hits, including HR
3-11 Hesperia 10, NM 0 Pre-District; NM only 2 hits
1984 – coach Denny Emmons (6-11 overall; 4-8 in WMC; xx place in WMC; Montague Champs)
The Norse doubled their win total over 1983 but still were a long way from getting back to the .500 plateau. The Norse continued their mastery over Shelby and their youthful head coach Brian Wright by again sweeping the Tigers in the season series. Wright would quickly resurrect the Shelby program and become one of the most respected baseball coaches in the area in the future. Veteran hurler Roger South posted the lone shutout for the Norse when he blanked the Pirates, 3-0, on May 11. The victory over the Pirates capped the Blue & Gold’s best streak of the season by notching their fourth victory in five games. The only loss during the span was a respectable 6-3 defeat at the hands of Montague. The Wildcats pitching ace Link Mikkelson, who would have a great minor league career over a number of years, struck out 15 NM batters for Montague on its way to an undefeated WMC season. Earlier in the season, Mikkelson posted back-to-back no-hitters vs. Ravenna and Whitehall.
Record Score Interesting Fact
0-1 Newaygo 10, NM 0 Scott Smith 9 K's in loss
0-2 *Montague 15, NM 0 Bob Trevino 1-hits NM
0-3 *Oakridge 12, NM 6
0-4 *Ravenna 9, NM 8 Greg Zack HR, double; Jeff Diller double
0-5 *Mason CC 9, NM 2 NM only 4 hits
1-5 *NM 14, Shelby 4 Mark Cooke triple, single; John McCollough triple
2-5 NM 5, Kent City 4 8 innings; Cooke triple; Zack 2 hits, including double
3-5 *NM 6, Oakridge 3 Cooke 2 hits, including double; Zack, Diller 2 hits
3-6 *Montague 6, NM 3 NM batters strike out 15 times; Smith 2-run single
4-6 *NM 3, Hart 0 Roger South wins
4-7 *Hart 6, NM 5 Diller 2 hits; NM leaves runners on 2nd and 3rd in 7th inning
4-8 Whitehall 24, NM 2 County Tournament
4-9 *Ravenna win, NM loss
5-9 NM 7, WM Christian 6 Diller picks up win in relief
5-10 *Mason CC 11 win, NM 3
6-10 *NM 14, Shelby 1 Diller 3 hits; Cooke triple
6-11 WM Christian 15, NM 0 Pre-District; Todd Lossee's double only NM hit
1985 – coach Denny Emmons (10-11 overall; 6-8 in WMC; xx place in WMC; Whitehall Champs)
The Norsemen managed to reach to .500 mark at the end of the regular season; however, a first-round playoff loss to Western Michigan Christian left NM south of their break-even goal when the Warriors, who would go on to capture the state Class D title, shut out the Norse, 3-0. NM did defeat the Warriors, 15-6, earlier in the season. Whitehall made its re-entry into the West Michigan Conference a memorable one as they ran the table en route to a perfect 14-0 league mark. Supplying some power for the Norsemen were Scott Smith, John Morrall and Jeff Diller. Smith had a career game in a May 14, 8-3 win over Ravenna, chipping in with his arm and his bat. Smith was the winning pitcher and aided his own cause by blasting a home run and a triple. It appeared the Norsemen established some signs of having a better future when they won five of their last six regular season contests.
Record Score Interesting Fact
1-0 NM 6, Kent City 3 Roger South wins; Scott Smith 2 hits, including double
1-1 *Montague 9, NM 4 Todd Losee 3 hits
2-1 *NM 8, Hart 4 John McCollough 2 doubles; Steve Hoffman RBI double
2-2 *Oakridge 3, NM 1 NM only 2 hits (Jeff Diller, Smith)
3-2 *NM 10, Ravenna 4 Losee 3 hits; Mark Flynn, McCollough 2 hits
3-3 *Whitehall 8, NM 3 Losee 3 hits; Smith HR
3-4 *Whitehall 8, NM 7 Diller 3 hits, including HR; Losee 2 hits, including HR
4-4 *NM 16, Mason CC 11 John Morrall GS, double
4-5 Hesperia 11, NM 1 NM has 6 hits and 4 errors
5-5 *NM 5, Shelby 4 Hoffman 2-run single was the big hit
5-6 *Oakridge 5, NM 3 Kyle Stevens, Diller RBI single
5-7 *Montague 10, NM 0 Montague's Tim Peterson strikes out 11 in 5-inning game
5-8 *Hart 11, NM 5 NM loses 4-run lead when Hart scores 8 in 4th inning
6-8 NM 6, Oakridge 5 County Tournament; after Hoffman's triple, Stevens drives in winning run in 7th
6-9 Whitehall 22, NM 3 County Tournament; Whitehall 18 hits; Stevens RBI single
7-9 *NM 8, Ravenna 3 Smith HR, triple; Flynn 2 hits; Hoffman triple
8-9 NM 15, WM Christian 6 Diller, Flynn 5 RBI; South 4 hits
9-9 NM 17, Musk. Heights 4 Diller HR, 4 RBI; South 3-run triple
10-9 *NM 7, Shelby 5 Stevens HR
10-10 *Mason CC 19, NM 9 MCC scores 14 in first 2 innings
10-11 WM Christian 3, NM 0 Pre-District; Steve Dolislager 3 hits
1986 – coach Denny Emmons (5-15 overall; 5-9 in WMC; xx in WMC; Montague Champs)
One had to truly love baseball to play for the Norsemen in 1986. The Norse played the entire 20-game season on the road as major renovations were being implemented on North Muskegon’s baseball field. Underground sprinkling and a complete reseeding of the outfield were among the improvements made on the old diamond, first used by North Muskegon baseball in 1920. A very young team answered the early season call from head coach Denny Emmons and was able to come out on top in only five of the games. Practice sessions for the Norse were held on the rocky grounds at Pioneer Park, and coupled with the limited facilities, the Northsiders had to do without a JV team. The Norse had to wait until April 22 before beginning the 1986 season. Despite an early morning record low temperature of 19 degrees, the team began their road trip to Whitehall to face the defending WMC champs. All five of NM’s wins came in WMC action, including a doubleheader sweep over the Shelby Tigers. In the first game against Shelby, sophomore Kyle Stevens tossed a two-hitter while fanning five. In the nightcap, John Morrall had three hits as the Norsemen again reached double figures in a 10-1 win. The season ended with North Muskegon still looking for that elusive first-ever District win. Again, NM took an early exit while dropping the tournament opener to Western Michigan Christian, 10-1. Notching a pair of hits for the victorious Warriors was hard-hitting Dan Bylsma, who would become the first and, to this date, the only Greater Muskegon hockey player to make it all the way to the National Hockley League.
Record Score Interesting Fact
0-1 *Whitehall 10, NM 2 NM pitchers walk 8; Mark Flynn RBI single
0-2 Orchard View 8, NM 2 Wes Phillips HR, single
1-2 *NM 13, Mason CC 4 Kyle Stevens HR; Matt Steketee, Steve Hoffman 2 hits
1-3 Reeths-Puffer 4, NM 2 Tim Rop double; Phillips, Hoffman 2 hits
1-4 *Oakridge 15, NM 8 Matt Kolbe 3 hits
2-4 *NM 9, Oakridge 5 Hoffman, Mark Maynard 3 hits
2-5 *Montague 22, NM 4 Maynard 3-for-3; Kyle Stevens 2 hits
2-6 *Montague 12, NM 4 Maynard 3-for-3 (6-for-6 in DH)
2-7 Kent City 10, NM 7 NM commits 6 errors
2-8 *Hart 9, NM 3 Ken Stevens loses
3-8 *NM 9, Hart 4 John Morrall HR; Kolbe, Phillips 2 hits
3-9 Montague 16, NM 6 County Tournament; Stevens 2 hits, including double
3-10 *Ravenna 15, NM 7 Phillips 2 hits, including double
3-11 *Ravenna 12, NM 6 NM uses 4 pitchers in loss
3-12 *Whitehall 11, NM 1
3-13 *Mason CC 7, NM 3 Phillips HR
3-14 WM Christian 8, NM 7 WMC wins in bottom of 7th inning to raise record to 14-5
4-14 *NM 10, Shelby 2 Stevens 2-hitter, 9 K’s; Morrall 2 hits, including triple
5-14 *NM 10, Shelby 1 Morrall 3 hits, including double; Stevens 2 hits
5-15 WM Christian 10, NM 1 District; future NHLer Dan Blysma 2 hits for WMC
1987 – coach Walt Gawkowski (6-12-1 overall; 5-7-1 in WMC; xx place in WMC; Whitehall Champs)
Walt Gawkowski, a former standout outfielder for Central Michigan University, took over the head coaching duties, beginning the longest tenure by far in NM baseball history. Following the first four games (all losses) of the season, Gawkowski may have had second thoughts. The first of more than 180 wins Gawkowski would gain in his 17-year reign came in the fifth game of the season on April 24. The Norsemen won 11-1 over rival Whitehall and its Hall of Fame coach John Huizenga. Whitehall would bounce back from this upset to win the West Michigan Conference. Although the Norsemen were outscored by an average of two runs per game, the Norse lineup had a number of batters who would be able to knock balls over the friendly North Muskegon left-field fence. Steve Hoffman, Mark Maynard, Tim Rop, Wes Phillips, Greg Stepke, and Matt Kolbe were the NM power hitters while freshman Joe Mylenek, Tom Meyers, and Jim Johnson all had multiple hit games. The Norse weakness was on the mound as the Blue & Gold hitters gave up nearly seven runs per outing.
Record Score Interesting Fact
0-1 *Hart 11, NM 1 Freshman Joe Mylenek 2 hits
0-2 *Oakridge 6, NM 5 Tom Meyers 2 hits, inclduing double; Matt Kolbe 2 hits
0-3 *Ravenna 6, NM 0 Jim Johnson, Mylenek 2 hits
0-4 Orchard View 8, NM 4 Mark Maynard 2 hits, inclduing HR; Meyers 2 hits
1-4 *NM 11, Whitehall 1 Meyers double, triple; Wes Phillips, Jim Johnson 2 RBI
2-4 NM 13, Hesperia 3 Tim Rop, Matt Kolbe, Wes Phillips HR
2-5 *Mason CC 14, NM 1 NM pitchers walk 11
3-5 *NM 5, Shelby 4 8 innings; Greg Stepke wins in relief; Matt Steketee scores winning run on WP
3-5-1 *NM 3, Shelby 3 Called after 6 innings due to darkness; Stepke pitched all 6 innings
4-5-1 *NM 6, Oakridge 3 Meyers wins; Maynard 2 hits, inclduing double; Mylenek 2 hits
4-6-1 Kent City 7, NM 5 Kolbe 3 hits; Johnson 2 RBI
4-7-1 Montague 7, NM 4 County tournament; Greg Stepke HR
4-8-1 WM Christian 10, NM 5 Stepke HR; Future NHLer Dan Blysma of WMC HR
5-8-1 *NM 10, Hart 7 Steve Hoffman, Mark Maynard HR
5-9-1 *Montague 6, NM 3 Maynard has only extra-base hit, a double
6-9-1 *NM 4, Montague 1 Meyers 2 hits, including triple; Mylenek 2 hits
6-10-1 *Ravenna 13, NM 3 Johnson 2-run double
6-11-1 *Mason CC 4, NM 1 Maynard 2 hits, including double
6-12-1 Allendale 9, NM 1 District; Maynard RBI singles for only NM run
1988 – coach Walt Gawkowski (8-13 overall; 7-7 in WMC; xx in WMC; Whitehall/Montague co-Champs)
A much-improved North Muskegon team took the field in 1988 on the newly named NM diamond. The long-time field, which was first used for baseball back in 1920, was named after North Muskegon Superintendent of Schools Jim Johnson. Johnson, who prepped at Muskegon High, became an All-American performer at Western Michigan University and made it to the major leagues as a pitcher for the San Francisco Giants. Johnson passed away from cancer in December of 1987. Appropriately, one of the main performers for the Norsemen was James C. Johnson, son of the late Superintendent. Johnson was the winning pitcher and chipped in with a home run in an early season 8-5 WMC victory over Mason County Central. Johnson credits teammate Matt Steketee as a reason for many of the Norse wins because of his defensive prowess from his outfield position. In the second year of many match-ups between Walt Gawkowski and his close friend, Brian Wright of Shelby, Gawkowski would claim the bragging rights for at least another year as the Norsemen swept a doubleheader from the Tigers. Joe Mylenek was the winning pitcher in each game. One of the infrequent happenstances in NM history came in the second game of the twin bill when Matt Kolbe and Johnson posted back-to-back home runs. Following the sweep of the Tigers, the Norse won its fourth game in a row on a game-winning hit by Ty McNabb, who would gain some notoriety after he graduated from NM by appearing on The Price is Right. Unfortunately, McNabb developed cancer shortly after that and passed away. The garden at the east end of the school grounds was built in his memory. It took 16 long years, but the Norsemen were able to finally break into the win column in the state playoffs. Kolbe blasted a grand slam in a 17-3 laugher over Grand Rapids Covenant Christian. The euphoria of winning didn’t last long, however, as tournament nemesis Wyoming Lee knocked the Norse out of the playoffs in the next game.
Record Score Interesting Fact
0-1 *Montague 12, NM 3 Tom Meyers triple
0-2 Kent City 7, NM 4 Matt Steketee, Meyers 2 hits
1-2 *NM 7, Oakridge 5 Meyers 2 hits; Jim Johnson RBI single
1-3 *Ravenna 11, NM 4
1-4 Orchard View 8, NM 6 9 inn.; Greg Stepke 2 hits (HR); current GRWC fb coach Dan Rohn wins
1-5 *Whitehall 10, NM 0 Chuck Hiltz 1-hits NM
2-5 *NM 8, Mason CC 5 Johnson wins; Johnson HR
3-5 *NM 14, Shelby 3 Joe Mylenek wins; Meyers 4 hits (double); Tim Rop 2 hits, 4 RBI
4-5 *NM 8, Shelby 5 Mylenek wins; Johnson & Matt Kolbe back-to-back HR
5-5 *NM 8, Oakridge 7 Ty McNabb GW RBI
6-5 *NM 3, Hart 1 Mylenek 10 K’s; Meyers HR
6-6 *Montague 7, NM 6 Montague scores 2 runs in 7th inning; Johnson 2-run triple
7-6 *NM 9, Hart 4 Johnson 9 K’s; Steketee 3 hits; Meyers double, triple
7-7 WM Christian 18, NM 7 Mylenek HR; NM loses 7-0 lead; Rop 3 RBI
7-8 *Ravenna 6, NM 5 9 innings; Johnson, Mylenek, Kolbe, Dan Ostrowski double
7-9 WM Christian 5, NM 3 County Tournament
7-10 *Whitehall 13, NM 3 Mylenek double
7-11 Hesperia 11, NM 9 Steketee 4 hits, including 2 doubles; Meyers, Kolbe 2 hits
7-12 *Mason CC 16, NM 4 Matt Kolbe HR
8-12 NM 17, GR Cov. Christian 3 Pre-District; Kolbe GS; Meyers 2 hits (triple); Rop, Stepke, Mylenek 2 hits
8-13 Wyoming Lee 11, NM 1 District; NM only 1 hit
1989 – coach Walt Gawkowski (9-10 overall; 6-8 in WMC; xx place in WMC; Whitehall Champs)
The Norsemen just missed the elusive .500 mark. NM got off to a quick start by winning four of their first five games, including a pair of non-conference games against Western Michigan Christian and Orchard View. April 14 marked not only a Norsemen win against Montague but marked an historical first in NM sports history – the first varsity high school game played by the North Muskegon girls’ softball team. Junior Joe Mylenek was the MVP of this squad, playing a solid shortstop, giving coach Walt Gawkowski some solid innings on the mound, and was the most potent hitter (.407). Among Mylenek’s highest-producing games included a home run and two doubles in an NM 6-3 victory over Montague and a late season 10-6 victory over Mason County Central in which Mylenek had four hits.
Record Score Interesting Fact
0-1 *Oakridge 5, NM 1 Joe Mylenek complete-game loss; Mylenek double
1-1 NM 10, WM Christian 6 Matt Kolbe GS; Tom Meyers 3 hits, including double
2-1 *NM 7, Montague 3 Steve Huff HR
3-1 *NM 5, Hart 2 Freshman Matt Benedict 2 hits
4-1 NM 8, Orchard View 6 Mylenek triple, double
4-2 *Ravenna 3, NM 0 Meyers loses as NM has only 3 hits
4-3 *Whitehall 10, NM 1 NM 1-hit by Tom Sheesley & Chris Andrews
5-3 NM 7, Holton 6 Ron Hillman's 2-out single is GW hit; Benedict, Meyers, Mylenek 2 hits
5-4 *Shelby 9, NM 6 Meyers, Ty McNabb 2 hits, including triple
6-4 *NM 7, Shelby 1 Benedict 2 hits, including double; Dan Ostrowski 2 hits
7-4 *NM 8, Mason CC 7 Ostrowski 3 hits, including double; McNabb 2 hits
7-5 *Oakridge 11, NM 2 Mylenek double
8-5 *NM 6, Montague 3 Mylenek HR, 2 doubles; Meyers 2 hits, including triple
8-6 *Hart 6, NM 4 Meyers HR; Matt Kolbe 2-run double
8-7 Whitehall 12, NM 1 County Tournament; NM only 3 hits
8-8 *Ravenna 13, NM 0 Erik Imbault & Scott DeCamp no-hit NM
8-9 *Whitehall 12, NM 4 Mylenek, Benedict double
9-9 *NM 10, Mason CC 6 Mylenek, Meyers 3 hits; Benedict 2 doubles, single
9-10 GR Baptist 4, NM 2 District
1990 – coach Walt Gawkowski (6-16 overall; 2-12 in WMC; xx place in WMC; Ravenna Champs)
Coach Walt Gawkowski fielded a young team during the 1990 season with as many as four freshmen listed in a typical NM starting lineup. One of those yearlings, catcher Chris Benedict, led the Norse in hitting. His brother Matt, a sophomore pitcher, delivered one of the best outings by a Norse hurler in a number of years by working 10 innings in a 3-2, 11-inning defeat of Hart. The Norsemen closed strong late in the season by punching out a pre-District and a District win, including making amends for the 1989 first round defeat at the hands of Grand Rapids Baptist by trouncing the furniture city crew, 15-4. Joe Mylenek was a steady veteran among a bunch of youthful rookies. Mylenek won his first tournament appearance against Grand Rapids Covenant Christian but got little hitting support from his mates in a season-ending 2-0 loss to Wyoming Lee in the District championship game.
Record Score Interesting Fact
0-1 WM Christian 7, NM 6 Matt Benedict 4 RBI
0-2 *Montague 7, NM 3 Ron Hillman 3-run triple; freshman Chris Benedict 2 hits
0-3 *Hart 17, NM 7 M. Benedict GS
0-4 Orchard View 4, NM 1 3 NM errors lead to OV win; Hillman 2 hits
0-5 *Whitehall 5, NM 2 NM gives up 3 unearned runs in 6th inning; Hillman double
0-6 *Mason CC 5, NM 1 NM only 3 hits (C. Benedict, M. Benedict, Steve Huff)
1-6 *NM 6, Mason CC 3 Huff HR; Joe Mylenek 2 hits, including double; C. Benedict 2 hits
1-7 *Shelby 12, NM 1 Huff HR
1-8 *Shelby 11, NM 4 NM has 6 hits, 5 errors
1-9 *Montague 12, NM 1 NM 1-hit by Doug Schlaff, Rob Smith
2-9 *NM 3, Hart 2 11 innings; M. Benedict 10 innings, 8 K’s; Eric Rop GW RBI
3-9 NM 9, Holton 0 County Tournament
3-10 *Ravenna 10, NM 2 County Tournament & WMC game; Huff triple
3-11 *Ravenna 10, NM 0 NM only 3 hits
3-12 Pentwater 10, NM 4 Joe Mylenek HR
3-13 *Whitehall 4, NM 0 NM only 2 hits off Chris Andrews
3-14 *Oakridge 6, NM 4 M. Benedict 3 hits
3-15 *Oakridge 12, NM 0 Scott Wall 2 hits
4-15 NM 9, Holton 5 8 innings; freshman Bob Walters 3 hits
5-15 NM 3, GR. Cov. Christian 2 Pre-District; Mylenek 9 K's; Huff HR
6-15 NM 15, GR Baptist 4 District; Hillman 2 hits, including double; Rop, Benedict brothers 2 hits
6-16 Wyoming Lee 2, NM 0 District finals; NM only 1 hit (C. Benedict)
1991 – coach Walt Gawkowski (7-18 overall; 1-13 in WMC; 8th place in WMC; Ravenna Champs)
The 1991 Norsemen nine certainly tested the patience of fifth-year head coach Walt Gawkowski. After splitting their first four games, including an upset 4-3 victory over Orchard View, the Norse went into a tailspin. With five sophomores in the starting lineup (Chris Benedict, Pat Kitchka, Paul Moyes, Bob Walters, and Cam Balash), the Norse would drop their next 15 straight games, the second longest losing streak in NM history. The never-give-up Norsemen finally put it all together late in the season by winning five straight games, providing some momentum for the immediate future. Highlighting the modest win streak was a come-from-behind District victory over rival Western Michigan Christian. Matt Benedict fanned 12 batters as the Norse came from five runs down to eliminate the Warriors, 7-6. An 8-4 win over Grand Rapids Baptist put the Norsemen into the District finals for the second straight year. However, the wheels fell off against powerful Allendale in the championship game as the defense committed 10 errors, and a depleted NM pitching staff gave up 14 walks.
Record Score Interesting Fact
0-1 *Oakridge 17, NM 1 Oakridge scores 9 runs in 1st inning
1-1 NM 18, WM Christian 5 Matt Benedict wins; Benedict, Pat Kitchka 2 hits
1-2 *Hart 12, NM 2 Hart pitchers have 11 K's in 5-inning game
2-2 NM 4, Orchard View 3 NM wins with bases loaded hit by pitch in 7th inning
2-3 *Mason CC 7, NM 3 Eric Rop 2 hits
2-4 *Mason CC 6, NM 3 Cam Balash throw complete-game in loss
2-5 *Montague 9, NM 6 Each team has 7 hits
2-6 *Whitehall 16, NM 7 Toby Schuler 3 hits
2-7 *Whitehall 11, NM 1 NM only 2 hits
2-8 White Cloud 14, NM 12 Shelby Invitational; NM has 11 hits
2-9 Shelby 7, NM 1 Shelby Invitational; NM has only 3 hits
2-10 *Ravenna 8, NM 1 Ravenna scores 6 runs in 6th inning to pull away
2-11 *Ravenna 13, NM 5 Chris Benedict 2 hits; Bob Walters double
2-12 Hesperia 10, NM 7 Walters HR
2-13 *Oakridge 7, NM 2 NM only 2 hits off Scott Wall
2-14 *Shelby 12, NM 2 NM has only 2 hits
2-15 *Shelby 12, NM 2 M. Benedict RBI single
2-16 *Hart 10, NM 9 M. Benedict 4 hits; Hart scores 5 unearned runs in 7th inning
2-17 Ravenna 10, NM 0 County Tournament; Ravenna's Jeff Porter allows just 2 hits
3-17 NM 8, Pentwater 1 M. Benedict 14 K’s; M. Benedict 3 hits
4-17 *NM 7, Montague 6 C. Benedict 3-run HR
5-17 NM 12, Holton 1 Balash 1-hitter
6-17 NM 7, WM Christian 6 M. Benedict 12 K’s; NM rallies from 5 down
7-17 NM 8, GR Baptist 4 District; M. Benedict 2 doubles
7-18 Allendale 20, NM 1 District finals; NM commits 10 errors; pitchers walk 14
1992 – coach Walt Gawkowksi (10-15-1 overall; 4-9-1 in WMC; xx in WMC; Ravenna/Oakridge co-Champs)
The Norsemen showed marginal improvement from the previous season by adding a few more victories to the win column. The Benedict brothers, Matt and Chris, had a day to remember in an NM victory over Western Michigan Christian, delivering seven hits between them in an 11-7 NM win at Marsh Field. Joining the junior-dominated team was promising freshman pitcher/outfielder Justin Visconti. The hard-throwing lefthander, who would end his brilliant career ranked near the top of the leader board in many batting and pitching categories, completed his first season in a forgettable manner. The young Visconti was at the plate in the bottom of the seventh inning in the District championship game vs. Wyoming Lee. The count moved to 3-0 with the bases loaded in a 3-3 tie. The Norse were one ball away from winning their first-ever District title. It was not to be as the Wyoming Lee pitcher battled back and delivered three straight strikes on the future NM All-Star. Wyoming Lee then plated three runs in the eighth to eliminate the Norse from tournament competition.
Record Score Interesting Fact
0-1 Musk. Catholic 10, NM 3 Cam Balash 2 RBI, double
0-2 *Oakridge 9, NM 0 Brian O'Neal tosses 4-hitter for Oakridge
0-2-1 *NM 9, Oakridge 9 Bob Walters, Paul Moyes 2 hits; NM scores 4 runs in 7th inning
0-3-1 *Hart 11, NM 10 Freshman Mike Boyle 2 hits
0-4-1 Orchard View 11, NM 1 Pat Kitchka double, scores only NM run on wild pitch
1-4-1 *NM 11, Mason CC 10 Mike Boyle HR; freshman Justin Visconti RBI double
2-4-1 *NM 10, Mason CC 5 Matt Benedict complete-game win; Chris Benedict 2 hits
2-5-1 *Montague 10, NM 5 C. Benedict 2-run single; NM commits 7 errors
3-5-1 NM 11, WM Christian 7 M. Benedict 4 hits, including HR; C. Benedict 3 hits, including double
3-6-1 *Whitehall 5, NM 3 Kitchka complete-game loss
4-6-1 *NM 9, Whitehall 1 M. Benedict 7 K’s; Walters HR
4-7-1 White Cloud 11, NM 2
5-7-1 NM won, Grant loss Visconti wins first of 26 games in NM career
5-8-1 *Ravenna 7, NM 1 Moyes singles in only NM run
5-9-1 *Ravenna 3, NM 1 M. Benedict complete-game loss; Walters double
6-9-1 NM 7, Holton 5 County Tournament; Visconti wins
6-10-1 Oakridge 6, NM 5 County Tournament
6-11-1 *Shelby 14, NM 4 Walters HR; Kitchka 2 hits
6-12-1 *Shelby 11, NM 1 Visconti RBI double
6-13-1 Hesperia 9, NM 3 NM commits 8 errors; C. Benedict 2 hits
7-13-1 *NM win, Hart loss
8-13-1 NM 16, Holton 3 Visconti wins; Boyle, Kitchka 3 hits
9-13-1 NM 7, GR Baptist 2 Pre-District; M. Benedict 3-hitter, 11 K’s; Chris Roberts 2 hits
9-14-1 *Montague 6, NM 3 Kitchka 2 hits
10-14-1 NM 8, Pentwater 2 District; C. Benedict 2 hits
10-15-1 Wyoming Lee 6, NM 3 District finals; 8 innings; M. Benedict forced extra innings with 2-run single
1993 – coach Walt Gawkowski (12-14 overall; 6-8 in WMC; xx place in WMC; Shelby Champs)
Expectations were high for the 1993 Norsemen with seven returning starters back in the fold. Unfortunately, the team didn’t live up to those high expectations. Sophomore southpaw Justin Visconti became the ace of the staff and tossed a one-hitter with 12 strikeouts in a 2-0 late May victory over Oakridge. It would be the first shutout thrown in conference competition by a Norse hurler since 1984. The Norsemen ended the season in a disappointing fashion. After posting a regular season 11-1 victory over rival Western Michigan Christian, the Warriors turned the tables on the Norse in the District championship game. The Blue & Gold left the bases loaded in the bottom of the seventh inning while trailing 6-4, ending their quest to finally win a District championship.
Record Score Interesting Fact
0-1 *Hart 12, NM 2 Justin Visconti has only NM hit; Cam Balash sac fly
0-2 *Mason CC 7, NM 6 Chris Benedict 2 hits, including triple; Bob Walters 2 hits
1-2 *NM 6, Mason CC 3 Visconti 3 hits, including double, Mike Boyle, Paul Moyes 2 hits
1-3 Orchard View 14, NM 2 Visconti 2 hits, including HR
2-3 NM 16, White Cloud 7 Benedict 3 hits, including HR; Dan Meyers 3 hits, 4 RBI
2-4 Shelby 14, NM 12 Walters, Benedict HR; Moyes, Meyers 2 hits
3-4 *NM 7, Ravenna 4 Visconti 10 K’s; Walters HR
3-5 *Oakridge 4, NM 2 Visconti 8 K’s, Visconti, Nick Bolema 2 hits
3-6 Musk. Catholic 9, NM 1 County Tournament; NM only 2 hits (Chris Roberts & Balash)
3-7 *Shelby 5, NM 4 Pat Kitchka 2 hits; Moyes 3 walks, 2 runs
3-8 *Shelby 9, NM 7 8 innings; Moyes, Bolema 2 hits
4-8 *NM 6, Hart 4 Moyes, Balash 2 hits
5-8 NM 11, WM Christian 1 Visconti 3 hits, including double; NM scores 7 runs in 5th inning
5-9 Musk. Catholic 3, NM 2 Bendict, Balash, Kitchka 2 hits; Visconti triple
5-10 Musk. Catholic 9, NM 1 Moyes, Balash 2 hits
6-10 *NM 5, Montague 3 Benedict, Balash, Moyes 2 hits
6-11 *Montague 7, NM 3 NM commits 5 errors
7-11 NM 12, Hesperia 6 Visconti, Balash HR; Kitchka 2 hits
7-12 *Ravenna 9, NM 5 Benedict HR; Moyes 2-run single
8-12 *NM 2, Oakridge 0 Visconti 1-hitter, 12 K’s
9-12 NM 18, Holton 4 Mike Farmer HR; Kitchka 3 hits
10-12 NM Win, Pentwater loss
10-13 *Whitehall 6, NM 0 Mike Boyle 3 hits; Kitchka 2 hits
11-13 *NM 13, Whitehall 7 Kitchka HR; Walters 2 hits, including triple; Farmer, Chris Roberts 3 hits
12-13 NM 11, Walkerville 0 District; Balash 5 inning shutout; Moyes, Kitchka, Roberts, Walters 2 hits
12-14 WM Christian 6, NM 4 District finals; NM left bases loaded in bottom of 7th inning
1994 – coach Walt Gawkowski (12-16 overall; 5-9 in WMC; xx place in WMC; Ravenna Champs)
A long dry spell finally came to an end for the Norse in 1994 when the North Muskegon baseball team ended 22 years of frustration by winning its first District championship. The 5-4 win over Western Michigan Christian helped soothe the wounds from the disheartening loss to the Warriors in 1993. With only three starters returning from the previous year’s club, it was an uphill climb for the young Norsemen. The Norsemen received a good boost from transfer student Mike Schreiber. Schrieber gave the Norsemen some solid play from his middle infield position as well has adding some timely hitting to the offense. Justin Visconti proved that his 1993 one-hitter against Oakridge was no fluke. Visconti again tossed another one-hitter at the Eagles as the Norse shutout Oakridge 6-0. When Visconti was not on the mound, the Norse pitching staff gave up a ton of runs. The Norse hurlers gave up 18 runs to Mason County Central in the first game of a doubleheader in Scottville. The good news for Norse fans was the Blue & Gold tallied 19 as Norse hitters found the short left field fence at the Scottville diamond enticing. Mike Boyle and Dan Wegner blasted a pair of home runs while Nick Bolema added another. The five home runs in that contest stand as the most home runs in a game in NM history.
Record Score Interesting Fact
1-0 NM 13, WM Christian 2 Justin Visconti HR
1-1 Hesperia 9, NM 7 Visconti 2 RBI
1-2 *Montague 7, NM 5 Mike Schrieber 4 hits
1-3 Orchard View 18, NM 11 Visconti 3 hits
1-4 *Ravenna 7, NM 4 Visconti HR, double; Schrieber 3 hits
1-5 Shelby 24, NM 15 Mike Boyle GS; Schrieber 4 hits; Shelby 12 runs in 1st inning
1-6 Grant 16, NM 6
2-6 *NM 6, Oakridge 0 Visconti 1-hitter, 12 K’s, 6 1/3 innings of no-hit ball
3-6 *NM 12, Shelby 7 Visconti wins
3-7 *Shelby 11, NM 10 Dan Wegner HR; Visconti HR
4-7 NM 14, Holton 4 County Tournament; Schrieber 1 hitter; Visconti HR
4-8 Kent City 9, NM 7 County Tournament
5-8 *NM 11, Hart 3 Visconti 3-hitter, 14 K's; Nick Bolema 3 hits; Wegner, Boyle 2 hits
6-8 *NM 19, Mason CC 18 NM 5 HR (Boyle – 2; Wegner – 2; Bolema – 1)
6-9 *Mason CC 17, NM 1 Spartans score 11 runs in 3rd inning; NM only 3 hits
6-10 *Montague 11, NM 6 Mike Kirlis 2 hits
6-11 *Whitehall 12, NM 0 NM pitchers walk 11
6-12 *Whitehall 18, NM 2 Kirlis has only NM hit
6-13 *Ravenna 10, NM 3
6-14 *Oakridge 14, NM 10 Visconti HR
7-14 NM 7, Holton 6 Visconti 13 K’s
8-14 NM 15, Pentwater 5 Boyle HR; Visconti 2 hits, including triple
9-14 NM 9, Pentwater 3 Boyle 3-hitter; Bolema 2 hits
10-14 *NM 5, Hart 3 Visconti 14 K’s
10-15 Musk. Catholic 11, NM 2 Visconti HR
11-15 NM 15, Walkerville 4 District; Boyle HR
12-15 NM 5, WM Christian 4 District Championship
12-16 Manton 4, NM 0 Regional; Visconti 3-hitter
1995 – coach Walt Gawkowski (19-7 overall; 11-3 in WMC; 2nd place in WMC; Ravenna Champs)
The 1995 season would be one of the most successful seasons the Norse would experience in a number of years, yet it left the Norsemen feeling a little empty. The team finished with the first winning season since a 11-10 record in 1985. Two of the Norse defeats suffered during the season bordered on the surreal. In the first game of the County tournament, the confident Norse took a 6-0 record into their first-round match-up against a Holton team looking for its first win. The Red Devils shocked the Norse 12-7 as the Blue & Gold offense had numerous rallies cut short with lazy fly ball outs. When one looks at the final score in NM’s 29-13 defeat handed them by Reeths-Puffer, no one could scarcely believe that NM actually led by one run going into the last inning. Before a shell-shocked NM pitching staff recorded the final out in the seventh and final inning, the Rockets had 17 runners cross the plate. Muskegon area Class C/D coach-of-the-year Walt Gawkowski’s nine seemingly were headed toward the school’s first West Michigan Conference championship in 22 years, boasting a WMC mark of 11-1 with two conference games remaining. Needing only one victory in the final two games, the Norse came up on the short end in both games. In the final contest, Oakridge finally got the better of Justin Visconti. After being one-hit twice in the past two years by the Norsemen ace, the Eagles dealt Visconti a 2-1 heartbreaking defeat. The hard-hitting Norse star also had an 18-game consecutive hitting streak game halted by the Eagles. The Norse did bounce back to easily capture their second District championship in as many years, and they did it in convincing style. Visconti struck out 12 batters and belted his eighth home run of the season as NM trounced Western Michigan Christian. Teddy “Ballgame” Cooper joined in the fun by also blasting a home run for the winners. A bleary-eyed group of seniors struggled in the following weekend’s Regional battle at James B. Johnson Field. Celebrating late into the night following the previous evening’s graduation ceremonies, the Norse struggled but did manage to pull out a 14-13 first-round Regional win over Baldwin, the first Regional win in school history. The Norse had little left in their tank and lost the Regional final to powerful Mount Pleasant Sacred Heart. Visconti concluded his career with his name at the top of the record books in a number of categories, both with his bat and his arm. The only NM selection to the East-West All-Star game ended his career as a Norsemen in a most memorable fashion. At historic Tiger Stadium, Visconti lashed a double off the left-centerfield wall against future major league All-Star J.J. Putz.
Record Score Interesting Fact
1-0 NM 19, WM Christian 10 Justin Visconti hits for cycle (2nd cycle in school history), 6 RBI
2-0 *NM 4, Hart 2 Visconti 1 hitter; Matt Wikandeer, Kevin Robertson 2 hits
3-0 NM 11, Orchard View 4 Mike Schrieber wins; Schrieber 3 hits; Visconti 2 hits, 4 RBI
4-0 *NM 6, Whitehall 4 Visconti 15 K’s; Mike Kirlis, Visconti, Schreiber 2 hits
5-0 *NM 8, Oakridge 4 Visconti, Dan Wegner HR
6-0 *NM 11, Shelby 2 Visconti HR, 2 triples, 6 RBI
6-1 Holton 12, NM 7 County; Visconti 3 hits; Wikander 2 hits, including double
7-1 *NM 6, Ravenna 1 Mike Farmer 2 hits, including HR; Visconti, Robertson 2 hits
7-2 Reeths-Puffer 29, NM 13 RP scores 17 runs in 7th inning; Schreiber 4 hits
8-2 *NM 8, Hart 5 Visconti, Ted Cooper HR
9-2 *NM 10, Mason CC 4 Visconti 12 K’s; Boyle & Visconti 2 hits; Wegner triple
10-2 *NM 4, Mason CC 3 8 innings; Visconti 2 hits, including GW double
10-3 Fremont 16, NM 13 Visconti 4 hits; Wegner, Kirlis 3 hits
11-3 NM 5, Hesperia 4 Schrieber 2 hits, comes on in 7th to earn save
12-3 *NM 14, Whitehall 4 Wegner 3 hits, including HR; Visconti 3-run HR
12-4 *Shelby 10, NM 3 Visconti 2 hits
13-4 NM 12, Holton 1 Kirlis, Visconti, Schreiber, Wegner 2 hits
14-4 *NM 5, Montague 4 Visconti, Wikander double
15-4 *NM 11, Montague 4 Visconti HR, 2 triples, school-record 7 RBI; Kurlis triple
15-5 *Ravenna 6, NM 1 Visconti gives up 6 unearned runs; Visconti HR
15-6 *Oakridge 2, NM 1 Visconti’s 18-game hit streak snapped; NM only 2 hits
16-6 NM 5, Musk. Catholic 3 Schrieber winning pitcher; Visconti 2 hits, including double; Cooper 2 RBI
17-6 NM 15, Walkerville 5 District; Kirlis, Schrieber, Visconti, Robertson 3 hits
18-6 NM 16, WM Christian 4 District Champs; Visconti 12 K’s; Ted Cooper, Visconti HR, Farmer 3 hits
19-6 NM 14, Baldwin 13 Regional; Mike Schrieber 4 hits; Wegner 2 hits, 4 RBI
19-7 MP Sacred Heart 9, NM 1 Regional finals; Wegner RBI double
1996 – coach Walt Gawkowski (3-19 overall; 1-13 in WMC; xx place in WMC; Shelby/Ravenna co-Champs)
From the Penthouse to the Outhouse – that was the direction the Norsemen took in 1996. After winning a school record 19 games in 1995, the Norsemen then turned around and lost 19, the most losses in school history. Ironically enough, one of NM’s wins came against perennial power Whitehall by the narrowest of margins, 10-9. Matt Wikander got the win and aided his own cause by capping a five-run rally in the bottom of the seventh inning as the Norse rallied for five runs. The Norse struggled in the pitching department as NM hurlers gave up an unhealthy 11.3 runs per game, the highest permitted per game in Norsemen history. Only tiny Pentwater High School would fall twice to the Norse. One of those losses came in the first round of Districts when the Norse won a 15-14 slugfest. Kevin Robertson delivered the highlight blow of the season when he delivered a two-run home run to send the game into extra innings. The Norse won in eight innings, but no such magic worked in the District championship game. Ending their season at an unceremonious 3-19, the Norse was nipped by perennial final foe Western Michigan Christian, 7-6, in another eight-inning battle.
Record Score Interesting Fact
0-1 WM Christian 14, NM 11 Matt Wikander 3 hits; Ted Cooper & Kevin Robertson 3 RBI
0-2 *Whitehall 19, NM 2 Jeremy Wegner 2 hits
0-3 *Shelby 13, NM 12
0-4 Buchanan 7, NM 6 J. Wegner, Dan Wegner (cousins) HR
0-5 Buchanan 15, NM 1 D. Wegner's HR accounts for only NM run
0-6 *Oakridge 15, NM 4 J. Wegner HR; Brian Ware triple
0-7 Oakridge 9, NM 8 County Tournament; Oakridge overcomes 6-1 deficit
0-8 *Ravenna 13, NM 3 Jason Bogue, D. Wegner double
0-9 *Hart 10, NM 8 Ted Cooper 3-run HR
0-10 *Montague 10, NM 2 Bogue 2 hits
0-11 *Montague 22, NM 2 Montague 12 hits, 17 runs in 1st inning; NM no hits in 3-inning game
1-11 *NM 10, Whitehall 9 Wikander’s 2-run double caps 5-run rally in the 7th; Ware 3 hits
1-12 *Mason CC 12, NM 0 Wikander 2 hits
1-13 *Mason CC 4, NM 2 Mike Kirlis 2 hits, including HR
1-14 *Shelby 7, NM 6 NM loses 5-0 lead
1-15 Musk. Catholic 16, NM 4 D. Wegner 2 doubles
1-16 *Oakridge 10, NM 0 NM only 3 hits; Wikander double
1-17 *Ravenna 10, NM 3 D. Wegner 3 hits
1-18 *Hart 16, NM 11 D. Wegner HR
2-18 NM 14, Pentwater 4 Marcus Norman wins; NM scores 7 runs in 1st inning
3-18 NM 15, Pentwater 14 8 innings; Kevin Robertson 2-run HR to send game into 8th
3-19 WM Christian 7, NM 6 District; WMC scores 2 runs after 2 outs for win; D. Wegner 2 hits
1997 – coach Walt Gawkowski (11-19 overall; 4-10 in WMC; xx place in WMC; Oakridge Champs)
One of the signature trademarks of a Walt Gawkowski coached team was improvement as the season progressed. That trait certainly applied once again in 1997 as the Norse captured yet another District title before succumbing to the defending Class D state champs, Mount Pleasant Sacred Heart in the Regional finals. The Norse received some timely pitching from Charlie Cihak as well as leadership and hitting from Matt Wikander Jason Bogue, Jeff Gowell and Jeremy Wegner throughout the season. Wegner finished the season right at the .400 mark to lead all hitters. Cihak’s best efforts were a 3-1, three-hitter vs. Mason County Central and a 4-0, 11-strikeout outing in the Regional opener against Mason County Eastern. Coming off a dismal 1996 season, the Norse pulled a major early season surprise by edging Whitehall, 6-5, and their sophomore shortstop Nate McLouth, the only game Whitehall would lose to the Norsemen during the future Pittsburgh Pirate’s stellar career with the Vikings. McLouth is one of three big leaguers to play vs. NM. (Jim Johnson and Ray Newman are the others.) However, it shold be noted that early in the 1920s, prior to North Muskegon becoming a high school, Montague's Ira Flagstead would play on the current northside diamond against the town's team.
0-1 Reeths-Puffer 12, NM 2 Jeremy Wegner, Matt Wickander only 2 NM hits
1-1 *NM 6, Whitehall 5 Wegner 2 hits, including HR; Wickander 2 hits, including double, 4 RBI
1-2 *Shelby 7, NM 3 Brian Ware HR; Adam Derrickson 2 hits
1-3 Mona Shores 8, NM 5 8 innings; Ware double, triple; Eric Klopp, Wegner, Derrickson 2 singles
1-4 *Oakridge 7, NM 2 Wegner 3 hits, Wikander double
2-4 NM 13, Pentwater 3 Jeff Gowell, Ware, Adam Vanberkum 2 hits
2-5 *Ravenna 7, NM 0 Wegner, Wickander only 2 NM hits
2-6 *Montague 8, NM 1 NM gets all 3 of its hits in 7th
2-7 *Hart 11, NM 7 Wegner, Charlie Cihak 3 hits; Derrickson, Wikander 2 hits
2-8 Kent City 12, NM 10 County Tournament; Adam Derrickson HR; Wegner 3 hits
3-8 *NM 7, Mason CC 1 Cihak 3-hitter; Gowell 3 hits, including double, 3 RBI
3-9 *Mason CC 11, NM 1 Gowell 2 hits, including double; Pleiness (Toronto Blue Jays) wins
3-10 Spring Lake 7, NM 6 Gowell 2 hits, including double; tying run thrown out at the plate in 7th
3-11 *Whitehall 4, NM 2 Future Pittsburgh Pirate Nate McLouth 2-for-2 for Whitehall
4-11 NM 15, Hesperia 5 Cihak HR; Wegner only Norse with 2 hits
5-11 *NM 9, Shelby 3 Jason Bogue, Cihak HR
5-12 WM Christian 9, NM 8 NM trailing 9-1 before scoring 7 runs in 7th; Wegner HR; Bogue 3 hits
5-13 *Oakridge 7, NM 4 Bogue, Wegner HR, Wegner 3 hits, Gowell 2 hits
6-13 NM 11, Holton 4 Wegner 4 hits; Wikander 3 hits; Derrickson 2 hits
7-13 *NM 9, Hart 6 Bogue 3 hits; Wikander 2 hits; Ware HR
8-13 NM 10, Orchard View 9 Cihak, Wegner 3 hits; Ware 2 hits, including triple; Gowell 2 hits
8-14 Fremont 6, NM 3 Wegner double
8-15 *Montague 13, NM 3 Wegner 2 hits, including double
8-16 *Ravenna 11, NM 9 Bogue, Cihak 2 hits; Wegner HR
8-17 Shelby 3, NM 2 @ Old Kent Park in GR; Wegner double
8-18 Shelby 7, NM 0 @ Old Kent Park in GR; Ware triple
9-18 NM 11, Pentwater 0 District; Gowell 5-inning shutout; Ware 3-for-3 with HR; Bogue 2 hits
10-18 NM 11, WM Christian 8 District Championship; Ware hits HR, Matt Campbell 2 doubles
11-18 NM 4, Mason CE 0 Regional; Cihak 4-hitter, 11 K’s; Derrickson 2 hits, including triple, 3 RBI
11-19 MP Sacred Heart 12, NM 4 Regional finals; Bogue 3 hits, including 2 doubles; Ware double, triple
1998 – coach Walt Gawkowski (14-19 overall; 5-9 in WMC; xx in WMC; Mason County Central Champs)
Although the weatherman cooperated in 1998 as the Norse were able to play a then school-record 33 games (since broken by the 2008 team with 38 games), it was an up-and-down season for the NM baseball team. In a rare display of good fortune, the Norse were able to get off to a good start in 1998, compiling a six-game winning streak before falling on some hard times. Much of this credit, however, should go to some strong opposition as NM dropped six of its next seven games to Mason County Central, Spring Lake and Whitehall before splitting a doubleheader with another tough opponent, the Montague Wildcats. The Norse again finished strong, and many of the Norsemen were able to pad their batting averages by piling up a combined 40 runs in a doubleheader blitz of Holton. Jeff Gowell batted a robust .423 for the season while Jeremy Wegner supplied much of the power by blasting five home runs. The Norsemen would face for the first time in the state playoffs a team they would now see a lot of over the next few years, the Crusaders of Muskegon Catholic. After competing in a higher classification for many years, declining enrollment moved Muskegon Catholic into Class D with the Norse. After defeating MCC 9-6 during the regular season, NM dropped the Class D District finals, 6-2. The Norse had earlier won the first game of the Saturday District twin bill in dramatic fashion. NM, not deterred after WM Christian took a three-run lead by scoring six runs in the sixth inning, rallied with four runs in the bottom of the seventh to earn a berth in the finals. Cihak laced a single for the game winning RBI.
Record Score Interesting Fact
0-1 Reeths-Puffer 9, NM 3 Future CMU ace Dave LeMieux wins for R-P; Joe Wingett 2-run single
1-1 *NM 11, Shelby 10 Jeremy Wegner 4 hits, including HR, 5 RBI
1-2 Mona Shores 10, NM 4 Charlie Cihak double
1-3 Mona Shores 16, NM 5 Anthony Visconti 2 hits; Jason Bogue, Ryan Campbell, Cihak double
2-3 *NM 6, Oakridge 5 Wegner 3 hits, including HR; Adam Derrickson HR
3-3 NM 23, Pentwater 8 Wingett 3 hits, including HR
4-3 *NM 8, Ravenna 2 Jeff Gowell wins; Cihak double, 3 RBI
5-3 *NM 7, Hart 4 Cihak wins; Cihak 3 hits
6-3 NM 5, WM Christian 3 County; Bogue, Campbell 2 hits
7-3 NM 7, Holton 6 County; Campbell 2 hits; Nick Abel double
7-4 Musk. Catholic 9, NM 1 County championship; Bogue's sacrifice fly only RBI; Derrickson 3-for-3
7-5 *Mason CC 1, NM 0 Cihak 3-hitter in losing cause
7-6 *Mason CC 13, NM 3 Bogue HR
7-7 Spring Lake 11, NM 4 Wegner 2 HR; Bogue HR
8-7 *NM 11, Montague 8 Derrickson 3 hits, including HR
8-8 *Montague 8, NM 6 Cihak, Derrickson, Wegner 2 hits
8-9 *Whitehall 14, NM 4 Wingett 2 hits,; Cihak double
8-10 *Whitehall 13, NM 3 Bogue triple
9-10 NM 8, Hesperia 7 Wegner 3 hits; Bogue 2 doubles
9-11 Orchard View 11, NM 10 Visconti triple, 2 doubles; Bogue 2 doubles
9-12 *Shelby 3, NM 2 Derrickson 2 hits, 2 RBI
9-13 *Oakridge 6, NM 1 Abel, the catcher, throws out 4 base runners
10-13 NM 9, Musk. Catholic 6 Abel HR; Gowell, Derrickson single, double
10-14 Shelby 10, NM 8 Campbell 2 hits
10-15 Shelby 15, NM 4 Bogue 2 hits, 3 RBI
10-16 *Ravenna 7, NM 3 Abel, Campbell, Wegner 2 hits
11-16 NM 23, Holton 8 Gowell 4 hits, including double, sac fly, 6 RBI; Wegner, Visconti 3 hits
12-16 NM 17, Holton 5 Abel 6 hits in DH; Jason Bogue 3 hits, including 2 doubles; Cihak 3 hits
12-17 *Hart 15, NM 3 NM only 3 hits (Derrickson, Wegner, Wingett)
13-17 NM 2, GR Baptist 1 Pre-District; Cihak 1-hitter; Visconti 2 hits, including GW double
13-18 Fremont 12, NM 1 Wegner HR; Gowell, Derrickson 2 hits
14-18 NM 9, WM Christian 8 District; Bogue 3 hits; Cihak 2 hits, GW RBI in 7th
14-19 Musk. Catholic 6, NM 2 District finals; NM only 3 hits
1999 – coach Walt Gawkowski (11-15 overall; 7-6 in WMC; xx place in WMC; Whitehall Champs)
After getting off to a more atypical slow start, the Norsemen bounced back to win 11 games. The battered Norse pitching staff gave up double-digit runs in five of their first six games before getting well in a doubleheader victory over Hart. The Norse needed only three innings to mercy the Pirates, 16-0, as Jason Bogue hit two of his team-high five home runs in the abbreviated contest. Other season highlights included Ryan Campbell’s six hits in a doubleheader victory over WMC rival Montague while J.J. Beckstrom traded his golf clubs for a baseball bat in 1999. The future golfing pro chipped in with three hits in a Norsemen 12-6 victory over Ravenna. The Norse were not so fortunate in a couple of other notable contests. After Jeff Gowell shut out the Shelby Tigers on a three-hitter, the very next outing was one for the books. The Norse scored 20 runs against Fremont yet lost! The Packers scored 21 in one of the wildest games in NM history. The Whitehall Vikings, in a visit to James B. Johnson Field, showed NM baseball followers why they would set a state record for the most home runs in a season. Rarely would a player ever blast a ball over the old fence in right field, but Whitehall did it twice in one game. The first rocket off the bat of David Miller was undoubtedly the longest ever hit at the venerable site that dates back to 1920. The future Michigan State University slugger hit a Ruthian clout that finally came down after landing atop a tree in a yard on the other side of Fowler Street. Not to be denied, Nate McLouth, who would sign a hefty signing bonus with the Pittsburgh Pirates during the summer, also deposited a Diamond Baseball outside the spacious right-field fence.
Record Score Interesting Fact
0-1 Muskegon 25, NM 13 First match-up since 1976; Justin Wikander bases-loaded triple
0-2 Mona Shores 13, NM 8 J.J. Beckstron, Wikander 2 hits
0-3 Mona Shores 10, NM 7 Jason Bogue double 4RBIs
1-3 *NM 12, Ravenna 10 Bogue HR; Erik Richardson 3 hits; Ryan Campbell 2 hits
2-3 NM 9, Pentwater 3 Beckstrom 2 hits, including HR; Gowell 2 hits
2-4 Reeths-Puffer 17, NM 6 Jeff Gowell 2 doubles; Nick Abel 2 hits
3-4 *NM 16, Hart 0 Jason Bogue 2 HR; 3-inning mercy game
4-4 *NM 6, Hart 5 Campbell GW RBI in 7th; Gowell 2 hits
4-5 *Whitehall 11, NM 0 5 innings as Whitehall’s David Miller throws shutout & hits HR
4-6 Musk. Catholic 9, NM 7 County; Bogue 2 doubles; Gowell 2 hits; Wikander HR
5-6 NM 7, Hesperia 2 Campbell winning pitcher; Richardson, Campbell 2 hits
5-7 *Mason CC 6, NM 1 NM only 3 hits (Campbell, Abel & Anthony Visconti)
5-8 *Mason CC 16, NM 2 NM only 2 hits in 5-inning game
5-9 Spring Lake 7, NM 6 Bogue 2 hits
6-9 *NM 12, Ravenna 8 Beckstrom 3 hits, 3 RBI; Richardson 2 hits, including double
7-9 *NM 14, Montague 4 Bogue winning pitcher; Gowell, Bogue, Campbell 3 hits
8-9 *NM 4, Montague 3 Gowell winner; Ryan Campbell 3 hits, GW RBI; Gowell 2 hits
8-10 Musk. Catholic 9, NM 4 Gowell 3 hits, including 2 doubles; Abel throws out 3 from catcher position
8-11 *Oakridge 8, NM 0 Nick Heethuis no-hits NM
8-12 *Whitehall 15, NM 3 Visconti HR
8-13 *Shelby 9, NM 3 Nick Marietti 2 doubles
9-13 *NM 5, Shelby 0 Jeff Gowell 3-hitter; Campbell 3 hits; Bogue, Richardson 2 hits
9-14 Fremont 21, NM 20 Abel 2 HR’s, 6 RBIs; Gowell 2 hits; Visconti HR
10-14 NM 14, Holton 6 Bogue HR; Campbell, Gowell, Visconti, Marietti 2 hits
11-14 NM 8, Holton 6 Beckstrom, Bogue HR
11-15 WM Christian 9, NM 8 District; Gowell, Campbell 2 hits
2000 – coach Walt Gawkowski (8-17 overall; 4-10 in WMC; xx place in WMC; Whitehall Champs)
A very young North Muskegon squad took their lumps in 2000. As many as four freshmen would see significant time for the Norse while the two leading pitchers on the staff were juniors. Sophomore Erik Richardson, grandson of former New York Yankee star Bobby Richardson, MVP of the 1960 World Series, would bring a big bat to the lineup. Infielders would see the inviting target of soon-to-be 6-foot-10 Drew Naymick, a future Michigan State University basketball player, as a first baseman for the next four years. The Norsemen pitching staff would be knocked around on occasion but the experience garnered in 2000 would pay huge dividends the following year. Junior right-hander Mike Waisura turned in the best pitching performance when he limited Western Michigan Christian to four hits while leading NM to a first-round District win over their perennial rival. The lone senior on the team, Justin Wikander, led the team in hitting with a .347 average with junior shortstop Nick Marietti not far behind at .343.
Record Score Interesting Fact
0-1 Muskegon 20, NM 10 Justin Wikander HR
0-2 Muskegon 11, NM 1
0-3 WM Christian 9, NM 8 Nick Marietti 2 doubles, 3 RBI
0-4 Reeths-Puffer 16, NM 2
1-4 *NM 5, Ravenna 4 Mike Waisura drives in winning run with 2 outs in 7th; Drew Naymick 2 hits
1-5 *Montague 9, NM 1 Mark Bilek 3-for-3, including 2 doubles
2-5 *NM 14, Hart 3 Waisura wins, no earned runs; Matt Geyer HR, 5 RBI
3-5 *NM 11, Hart 5 Nick Haines double, triple; Naymick triple; Marietti 2 hits
3-6 *Oakridge 8, NM 4 Erik Richardson 3 hits; Waisura 2 hits
3-7 *Whitehall 24, NM 0 Equals worse defeat in NM history
3-8 *Mason CC 13, NM 9 Richardson 3 hits, including HR, double; Waisura 2 hits, including double
3-9 *Mason CC 12, NM 1 NM only 2 hits; Haines triple; Richardson single
4-9 *NM 10, Ravenna 4 Future NFLer Todd Herremans 2-for-3 for Ravenna; Bilek, Haines 2 hits
4-10 *Montague 16, NM 6 Richardson double
4-11 Montague 7, NM 1 County; NM walks nine; Richardson, Haines 2 hits
5-11 NM 13, Musk. Catholic 8 Bilek 4 walks; Waisura 2 hits, including double
5-12 *Oakridge 13, NM 1 NM only 2 hits; Geyer triple
5-13 *Shelby 11, NM 2 Bilek HR for only NM hit
5-14 *Shelby 11, NM 1 5 innings; Wikander RBI single
5-15 *Whitehall 12, NM 2 Waisura 2 hits
6-15 NM 10, Holland Calvary 0 Sean Scott 5-inning shutout; Marietti, Wikander 3 hits
7-15 NM 19, Holland Calvary 4 Bilek, Haines HR
7-16 Hesperia 6, NM 2 Naymick 2 hits, including double
8-16 NM 3, WM Christian 2 District; Waisura 4-hitter
8-17 Musk. Catholic 9, NM 1 District finals
2001 – coach Walt Gawkowski (20-7 overall; 10-4 in WMC; xx place in WMC; Montague Champs)
The Norsemen team of 2001 became the first baseball club in NM history to win 20 games in a single season. Only in a doubleheader defeat at the hands of Montague would the Norse have a losing streak of more than one game. Certainly one of many highlights for this team was capturing the school’s first County C/D title since entering the tournament back in the mid 1970s. After trailing Ravenna in the County semifinals by 10 runs, Sean Scott took the mound and stopped the bleeding. NM hitters did the rest with Eric Richardson blasting a long home run over the distant left field fence at MCC’s Sikorski Field to pace the comeback. The 22-20 NM victory equaled the most runs scored by two teams in NM history, first set in 1936 and matched in 1995. A rested Mike Waisura, penciled in to start Monday’s first game of a doubleheader with Montague, took the mound and guided the Norse to a well-played 6-1 victory over Holton in the County title game. As if losing a 10-run lead wasn’t enough anguish suffered by Ravenna coach Paul Herremans in 2001, the next game between the Norse and the Bulldogs bordered on the impossible. The Norse trailed by four runs with two out and nobody on base with a two-strike count on the Norse hitter. Future NFL star Todd Herremans then struck out the Norse hitter, but in a scene reminiscent of Mickey Owens passed ball in the 1941 World Series, the Norse runner reached base safely and the never-say-die Norse rallied to take a 5-4 lead and hanged on for the win. Coach Walt Gawkowski’s team again ended the season with a flourish by winning eight games in a row. Drew Naymick blasted a pair of tape measure home runs in the District championship win over Western Michigan Christian. After taking a week off, a rusty Norse pitching staff had difficulty adjusting to the pitching mound at the all-skin infield surface in Pentwater. The heavily favored Norsemen fell in the first round of the Regional to Grand Rapids Tri-Unity Christian, walking an uncharacteristic 11 hitters while dropping the high scoring affair, 12-11.
Record Score Interesting Fact
1-0 NM 6, Holland Calvary 5 NM pitchers walk 16; Eric Richardson 2 hits; Matt Geyer GW RBI in 7th
2-0 *NM 9, Whitehall 5 Matt Geyer 4-for-4, including 2 HR; Drew Naymick, Nick Marietti 2 hits
3-0 NM 9, Spring Lake 8 8 innings; NM rallies from 8 down; Mark Bilek GW double in 8th
4-0 *NM 7, Oakridge 6 Mike Waisura 2 doubles; Richardson 2 hits
5-0 *NM 9, Shelby 4 Nick Haines, Geyer HR
6-0 *NM 6, Shelby 5 9 inn.; Naymick 2 hits (GW single in 9th); Richardson, Geyer 3 hits
6-1 Reeths-Puffer 12, NM 0 Marrietti 2 hits; Richardson double
7-1 *NM 13, Ravenna 6 Richardson 2 hits, 5 RBI; Marietti 4 walks; NM has 11 walks
7-2 *Mason CC 8, NM 6 Marietti 1-for-1 with 3 walks
8-2 *NM 10, Mason CC 3 Marrietti complete-game win; Naymick, Marrietti 3 hits
8-3 *Whitehall 8, NM 5 Richardson, Sean Scott 2 hits
9-3 NM 11, Musk. Catholic 7 County; Waisura, Geyer 3 hits, Marietti 3 more walks
10-3 NM 22, Ravenna 20<