North Muskegon Norsemen: 2009 Recaps

2009 RECAP

All-State
Ryan Hillman (infield)

All-Region
Ryan Hillman (infield)

All-District
Jory Meagher (pitcher)
Robin Wiggins (catcher)
Ryan Hillman (infield)
Patrick Rapson (infield)
Geoff Evans (outfield)
Jake Frein (outfield)
Warren Kent III (coach)

All-Conference
First Team
Ryan Hillman (infield)
Jake Frein (outfield)
Simon VanBergen (outfield)
Honorable Mention
Robin Wiggins (catcher)

All-Area
First Team
Ryan Hillman (infield)
Second Team
Robin Wiggins (catcher)
Jory Meagher (pitcher)
Patrick Rapson (infield)
Honorable Mention
Jake Frein (outfield)
Geoff Evans (outfield)
Simon VanBergen (outfield)
Drake Cooke (at-large)

Academic All-District
Simon VanBergen
Ryan Hillman
Sam Gautraud

Team Awards
MVP: Ryan Hillman
Gold Glove: Robin Wiggins
Most Improved: Drake Cooke
Coach's Award: Patrick Rapson 

Season Summary (17-15 overall; 6-8 in the West Michigan Conference): Two words can sum up the 2009 season: pitching and defense. While the offensive statistics would suggest a better than 17-15 record, it was pitching and defense that tell the true story. Offensively, the Norse scored 65 more runs and had 80 more hits (including 29 more doubles) than their opponents. They also out-hit opponents .327 to .270. However, NM pitchers allowed 161 walks and 32 hit batters for a total of 193 extra base runners (opponents had 197 hits). Of those 193 runners, 73 scored. Defensively, NM committed 84 errors (.908 average), which led to 83 unearned runs. However, with that said, the Norse did capture their fourth district title in the past five seasons and their sixth since 2001, which means every two-year player since 2001 has won a district title. For most of the season, the top five spots and the No. 9 position carried the offense, batting .363 (209-for-576). The Nos. 6-7-8 spots in the batting order struggled for a combined .259 average (70-for-270). NM outscored opponents in every inning. The best inning was the fourth with 46-26 edge. However, it was proven that the first inning was the key. The Norse had the lead at the end of the first inning 18 times and posted a 15-3 record in those games. When NM was losing or tied at the end of one inning, its record was 2-12. The Norse won five games in the sixth inning or later but also lost five games in the sixth inning or later.

The senior triumvirate of shortstop Ryan Hillman, catcher Robin Wiggins and second baseman Patrick Rapson, who were the only returners from the 2008 team with significant varsity playing experience, made the offense go. Ryan, batting in the No. 3 spot, was the go-to guy offensively for most of the season. Ryan led the team with a .510 average (49-for-96). His 49 hits were a team-high as were his 33 RBI. He tied for the team lead with 34 runs. Known for his plate discipline, Ryan struck out just four times in 116 plate appearances. On the mound, Ryan had the best strikeout-to-walk ratio (17:7) in 22.33 innings. He tossed a three-inning no-hitter against Muskegon Heights for his lone win. Robin, the No. 1 catcher and pitcher, was the hottest hitter down the stretch. Robin, the No. 4 hitter, finished with a team-high 13 doubles and 98 at bats. He was second on the team with a .367 average (36-for-98) and second with 29 RBI. On the mound, Robin posted a team-high six wins. He also led the team with 78 strikeouts and 66 walks. Opponents batted just .227 against him. From the No. 2 spot in the order, Patrick batted .360 (31-for-86) and led the team with 10 hit by pitches. He also tied for the team lead with 34 runs.

Game 7 ~ Oakridge 13, North Muskegon 6 (2-5, 0-3): At Oakridge, the Norse jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the first inning, but seven errors doomed NM as the Eagles scored a combined 10 runs in the third and fourth innings. Offensively, Ryan Hillman led the Norse, who struck out 10 times, with three hits, including a double, and two RBI. Robin Wiggins (1-2, 0-2) took the loss and added a double at the plate. Patrick Rapson and Jake Frein each scored twice. Again, it was the top of the batting order that paced the offense. The top four were 5-for-15 while the bottom five were 1-for-15. Excluding the WMC game, the top four are now 24-for-68 (.353) while the bottom five are 4-for-70 (.057).

Game 8 ~ North Muskegon 9, Oakridge 6 (3-5, 1-3): At Oakridge, North Muskegon avoided the sweep by scoring eight runs in the bottom of the sixth inning to wipe out a 6-1 deficit. The key to the game? The bottom of the order went 6-for-15, including four hits in the sixth. The tying and go-ahead runs scored on a bases-loaded single from Jake Frein (1-2, 1-0), who picked up the win after retiring just one batter. Drake Cooke pitched a shutout seventh inning to gain the save. Frein finished with two singles, two runs and two RBI. Robin Wiggins had a single, a double and two RBI. Ryan Hillman and Cooke each had two singles. Since 2005, the Norse hold a 10-2 record over Oakridge.

Game 9 ~ North Muskegon 6, GR Covenant Christian 5 in 8 innings (4-5): At North Muskegon, Geoff Evans’ two-out RBI double scored Erik Boczkaja in the bottom of the eighth inning to give the Norse the non-conference win. NM jumped out to a 3-0 first-inning lead with the help of Ryan Hillman’s solo home run. After taking a 4-0 lead, the Norse saw the Chargers eventually take a 5-4 lead. However, in the bottom of the seventh inning, Brian Kelly’s RBI double brought home Simon VanBergen, who also doubled, with the tying run. Hillman finished with a single, a double, a home run and two runs. Robin Wiggins (2-2), who picked up the win in relief, had a single and a triple. Evans had two doubles. The Norse are 8-0 in the all-time series, dating back to 1988.

Game 10 ~ Ravenna 10, North Muskegon 0 (4-6, 1-4): At North Muskegon, league-leading Ravenna used a five-run fourth inning to put the game away. The Bulldogs had eight hits and were helped by seven walks and a hit batter. The Norse only had four hits with Simon VanBergen getting a double. Robin Wiggins (2-3, 0-3) took the loss.

Game 11 ~ North Muskegon 10, Ravenna 7 (5-6, 2-4): At North Muskegon, the Norse avoided the sweep by jumping to a 4-0 lead in the top of the second and then holding on in the seventh. NM took a 10-4 lead into the final inning, but the Bulldogs scored three runs and loaded the bases with two outs. Erik Boczkaja then came into pitch and struck out the final batter for his first save of the season. Jory Meagher (2-1, 1-1), who pitched the first five innings, picked up the win. Offensively, Brian Kelly had the big stick with a two-run double and two-run home run. He also scored twice. Boczkaja added a single and a solo home run, Ryan Hillman had a single and double, Jake Frein had two singles, and Simon VanBergen had a double and scored two runs. Patrick Rapson scored twice. The win in the opener snapped a Norse 11-game win streak over Ravenna; however, NM has a 21-5 record versus the Bulldogs since 1999.

Game 12 ~ Muskegon Catholic Central 8, North Muskegon 7 (5-7): At Muskegon Catholic Central, the Norse raced to a 7-2 lead in the third inning, only to see the Crusaders rally to win the opener of the County Tournament. Seven of MCC’s runs were unearned as NM still struggles to maintain consistency. Robin Wiggins (2-4), who took the loss in relief, had a single and a double. Ryan Hillman and Patrick Rapson each had two singles while Brian Kelly added a double. Jake Frein had two RBI. Seven of the Norse’s 10 hits came from the top of the order. The loss meant that for the first time since 2002 the Norse would not have an opportunity to play in the championship game.

Game 13 ~ North Muskegon 16, Muskegon Heights 1 (6-7): At Oakridge, the Norse picked up a win in the County Tournament. The Norse had 13 hits and jumped out to a 10-0 first-inning lead. Geoff Evans paced the offense with three hits, including a double. Drake Cooke added two singles. Cooke, Robin Wiggins and Sam Gautraud each had two RBI while Jake Frein, Ryan Hillman, Curtis Taylor, Jory Meagher and Gautraud each scored twice. Simon VanBergen (1-0) tossed two innings of shutout ball for the win.

Game 14 ~ North Muskegon 14, Hart 2 (7-7, 3-4): At Hart, the Norse used a 15-hit barrage with all nine starters getting at least one hit to make Jory Meagher (3-1, 2-1) a winner. Meagher allowed just two hits while striking out eight and walking four. Offensively, Ryan Hillman led the way with three singles, four RBI and three runs. Simon VanBergen added three singles and four runs. Robin Wiggins had a double, three-run homer and four RBI, and Patrick Rapson had a single, a double, two RBI and two runs. Drake Cooke added a solo home run while Jake Frein and Geoff Evans each had a double. Frein also had two RBI.

Game 15 ~ Hart 8, North Muskegon 6 (7-8, 3-5): At Hart, NM again struggled to put together two complete games as the Pirates, who only had four hits, took advantage of 10walks. Five of those batters ended up scoring. Robin Wiggins (2-5, 0-4), who took the loss, and Jake Frein combined to strike out 12 batters. For the first time all year, the top of the batting order failed to deliver as the Nos. 1-4 hitters went 0-for-11. Frein and Geoff Evans each hit solo home runs while Simon VanBergen and Frein each scored two runs. Despite the loss, the Norse have posted a 19-7 record vs. Hart since 1997.

Game 16 ~ White Cloud 10, North Muskegon 8 in 9 innings (7-9): At North Muskegon, the two teams combined for 35 hits, but it was the Indians who gained the extra-inning win. After White Cloud took a 5-1 lead, the Norse scored five runs in the fourth inning to take a 6-5 lead. Eventually, NM took a 7-5 lead only to see the Indians score three runs, including two unearned runs, in the top of the sixth. The Norse tied the score at 8 in the bottom of the sixth. In the ninth inning, White Cloud scored two unearned runs to gain the win. NM, which had 19 hits, including seven doubles, was led by Ryan Hillman. Hillman, who pitched the first eight innings, had four hits, including a double. Robin Wiggins had a single, two doubles, two RBI and two runs; and Simon VanBergen had two singles, a double, two RBI and two runs. Drake Cooke, Patrick Rapson and Erik Boczkaja each had a single and a double. Cooke also had two RBI. Sam Gautraud added two singles. Boczkaja (0-1) took the loss in relief.

Game 17 ~ North Muskegon 9, White Cloud 1 (8-9): At North Muskegon, the Norse salvaged another split. NM has now split five doubleheaders. Simon VanBergen (2-0) tossed the four-inning win by allowing three hits while striking out five and walking one. Patrick Rapson and Erik Boczkaja each had two singles. Boczkaja, VanBergen and Geoff Evans each scored twice. Jory Meagher had two RBI. Ryan Hillman added a double and two RBI. Hillman is batting an astounding .708 (17-for-24) in non-conference games and .588 overall (30-for-51). This was the second straight year that the two teams split a doubleheader.

Game 18 ~ North Muskegon 7, Holton 3 (9-9): At Holton, Jory Meagher (4-1) threw his second consecutive complete game while allowing four hits. The Norse were again led by the top of the order, which went a combined 8-for-13. The bottom five in the order were 0-for-15. Each of the top four hitters had two hits. Simon VanBergen had a single, a double and two runs; Patrick Rapson had a single, a double and three RBI; Ryan Hillman had two singles and two runs; and Robin Wiggins added a single, a double and two RBI. No. 9 hitter Sam Gautraud scored twice.

me 19 ~ North Muskegon 21, Holton 0 (10-9): At Holton, the Norse finally put together a complete day, pounding out 12 hits to make a winner of Robin Wiggins (3-5), who pitched the complete four-inning game, allowing four hits. Ryan Hillman continued his torrid non-conference hitting with a 4-for-4 performance with five RBI and two runs. Hillman is now batting .767 (23-for-30) in non-conference games and .632 (36-for-57) overall. Wiggins helped his own cause with two singles, two RBI and two runs while Simon VanBergen added two singles, three RBI and three runs. Patrick Rapson, Drake Cooke, Jake Frein, Erik Boczkaja and Andy Buris each scored twice. Sam Gautraud added three runs. Gautraud and Buris each had two RBI. North Muskegon has owned the series with Holton, posting a 38-10 overall record, including wins in the past nine games. In the past five games, the Norse have outscored the Red Devils, 61-8.

Game 20 ~ North Muskegon 15, Muskegon Heights 0 (11-9): At North Muskegon, the Norse jumped out to a 9-0 first-inning lead and coasted to the win behind Ryan Hillman’s three-inning no-hitter. Hillman (1-0), who struck out seven, had two RBI. Geoff Evans had a three-run triple to lead the offense. Jake Frein had a double and two RBI, and Simon VanBergen had a triple and two runs. Patrick Rapson and Erik Boczkaja each scored twice. Another highlight was Korean exchange student Chang Seok-Ryu getting his first hit.

Game 21 ~ North Muskegon 18, Muskegon Heights 1 (12-9): At North Muskegon, Geoff Evans continued his hot day by adding another triple, a single and five RBI. John Hardy had two doubles, a single, three RBI and three runs. Patrick Rapson, Sam Gautraud and Jory Meagher each added a double and two runs with Gautraud also picking up two RBI. Jake Veltman and Andy Buris each scored two runs. Another highlight was Tyler Rennells getting his first action on the mound. He struck out the first batter he faced and pitched the final inning. Drake Cooke (1-0) gained the win with two shutout innings. NM has now outscored the Tigers 152-8 in the past 10 meetings, all Norse wins.

Game 22 ~ North Muskegon 8, Mason County Central 7 (13-9, 4-5): At North Muskegon, Robin Wiggins’ two-run double in the bottom of the seventh inning made a winner of Jake Frein (2-2, 2-0), who picked up the win in relief. The Spartans led 6-2 heading into the bottom of the sixth when the Norse scored four runs to knot the score at 6. MCC then scored the go-ahead run in the top of the seventh. In the bottom of the seventh, Patrick Rapson led off with a walk, and Ryan Hillman’s bloop single down the left-field line put runners at first and second before Wiggins’ game-winning hit. Wiggins finished with a single, two doubles, three RBI and two runs. Hillman had two singles and scored twice. Geoff Evans had two singles, and Simon VanBergen, Drake Cooke and Brian Kelly each had a double.

Game 23 ~ North Muskegon 8, Mason County Central 3 (14-9, 5-5): At North Muskegon, the Norse completed the league sweep on Coach Kent’s birthday to run their win streak to seven games. Robin Wiggins (4-5, 1-4) gained the win with a four-hit, seven-strikeout complete-game performance. Ryan Hillman paced the offense with two singles and two runs. Patrick Rapson scored twice, and Geoff Evans added a double.

Game 24 ~ Shelby 4, North Muskegon 2 (14-10, 5-6): At Shelby, the Norse defense spoiled a strong pitching performance from Jory Meagher (4-2, 2-2), who had a no-hitter through 5 1/3 innings. Trailing 2-0, the Tigers took advantage of two infield errors and added three singles to score four unearned runs in the bottom of the sixth inning to end the Norse’s seven-game win streak. Ryan Hillman went 3-for-3 while Patrick Rapson and Robin Wiggins each added two singles. Geoff Evans and Jake Frein both had a double.

Game 25 ~ Shelby 9, North Muskegon 8 (14-11, 5-7): At Shelby, the Norse’s rally from an 8-2 deficit fell short as the Tigers scored an unearned run in the top of the seventh to break an 8-8 tie. NM has now lost six games by two or fewer runs. Shelby began the game by taking a 7-0 lead before the Norse scored twice in the bottom of the second inning. After the Tigers took an 8-2 lead, the Norse rallied with three runs in both the fourth and fifth innings. In the seventh, the Tigers’ lead-off hitter singled and moved to second when the ball was misplayed in the outfield. After a sacrifice bunt moved the runner to third base, the Norse picked off the runner from third base, but NM could not complete the rundown and get the out. Two pitches later, a grounder was hit to third base, but the throw home was errant, allowing the go-ahead run to score.  The Norse went down 1-2-3 in the bottom of the seventh. NM outhit Shelby 12-10, but the Norse’s 2-3-4 hitters combined to go 0-for-11. Everyone else (Simon VanBergen, Drake Cooke, Brian Kelly, Erik Boczkaja, Geoff Evans and Jake Frein) in the NM lineup had two singles. Cooke, Kelly, Boczkaja and Evans each scored twice while Frein had three RBI, and VanBergen had two RBI. Frein (2-3, 2-1), who allowed just one unearned run in 4 1/3 innings, took the loss. The Norse had won the past six games against Shelby before the doubleheader sweep, and the career series record is now 56-56-1.

Game 26 ~ Fremont 10, North Muskegon 2 (14-12): At North Muskegon, Simon VanBergen led off the game with a single; unfortunately, that would be the only hit that the Norse would get in dropping their third straight game. Despite the lack of offense, NM managed to take a 2-0 lead into the sixth inning behind the strong pitching of Ryan Hillman, who shut out Fremont for five innings. However, the Packers scored nine runs in the sixth inning with Jake Frein (2-4) picking up the loss. With three games remaining, the Norse have to find a way to get the offense going, especially early in the game: when leading in the first inning, NM is 12-3; when losing in the first inning, NM is 1-7; and when tied in the first inning, NM is 1-2. The game was the first against the Packers, who lead the series with an 18-10 record, since 2006.

Game 27 ~ Montague 11, North Muskegon 9 (14-13, 5-8): At Montague, the Norse jumped ahead 1-0 in the top of the first inning only to see the Wildcats score seven runs in the bottom of the inning with the help of four errors after two outs. NM tried to rally, scoring four runs in the seventh inning, but dropped its fourth straight game. Ryan Hillman paced the offense with two singles, a double and three RBI while Robin Wiggins added three singles and two RBI. Patrick Rapson had two doubles, scored twice and knocked in two runs. Simon VanBergen added two singles and two runs. Jake Frein also scored twice. Jory Meagher (4-3, 2-3) picked up the loss.

Game 28 ~ North Muskegon 15, Montague 5 (15-13, 6-8): At Montague, NM split the final conference doubleheader of the season by scoring three runs in the first, five in the third, one in the fourth and six in the fifth. Drake Cooke led the way with three singles, three RBI and three runs. Erik Boczkaja had a single, a double, two RBI and two runs, Jake Frein had a single and a double, and Simon VanBergen added two singles and two runs. Ptrick Rapson had two RBI and two runs while Ryan Hillman scored twice. Robin Wiggins (5-5, 2-4) picked up the win in relief. The loss in the opener ended a six-game win streak against Montague; however, the Norse are still 11-2 in the past 13 games.

Game 29 ~ North Muskegon 7, Muskegon Catholic Central 2 (16-13): In the district opener at North Muskegon, the Norse avenged its County loss to the Crusaders. The Norse took a 6-0 lead into the bottom of the fourth inning before MCC scored a run.  Both teams scored a seventh-inning run for the final margin. Robin Wiggins (6-5) tossed the complete-game win, allowing two hits while striking out eight. Offensively, Jake Frein and Drake Cooke led the way. Frein was 3-for-3 with two doubles and three RBI while Cooke had a double, a solo home run and two runs. Brian Kelly and Patrick Rapson each added a double, and Geoff Evans scored twice. The Norse are 12-6 against MCC since 2001.

Game 30 ~ North Muskegon 4, Western Michigan Christian 3 in 8 innings (17-13): In the district championship game at North Muskegon, the Norse won their third straight district title and the fourth in five years, but it didn’t come easy. Tied 3-3 in the bottom of the eighth inning, Robin Wiggins led off with a single. Courtesy runner Andy Buris advanced to second on a wild pitch. Drake Cooke then bunted toward the third-base line, and the WMC pitcher’s errant throw to third allowed Buris to score the wining run. WMC opened the game with an unearned run in the top of the first inning, but RBI singles from Ryan Hillman and Robin Wiggins gave the Norse a 2-1 lead at the end of the first. Jake Frein’s second-inning RBI single made it 3-1 before WMC tallied solo runs in both the third and fourth innings. Jory Meagher (5-3) pitched all eight innings for the win, allowing five hits and striking out six. Offensively, Wiggins had two singles. The win gives the Norse five wins in their final at bat this season. The victory was the 15th straight over the WMC and the 18th in the past 19 contests.

Game 31 ~ Spring Lake 6, North Muskegon 3 (17-14): At North Muskegon in a tune-up game for regionals, four Norse pitchers allowed just three hits, but poor defense (five errors), six walks and three hit batters led to the loss. All 17 players got into the lineup for NM, which had six singles and left 10 runners on base, including bases loaded in the sixth inning. Robin Wiggins (6-6) took the loss. The win gave the Lakers a sweep of the season series and an overall record of 10-4 against the Norse.

Game 32 ~ Beal City 11, North Muskegon 5 (17-15): At Saugatuck in the regional opener, the Aggies used a seven-run sixth inning to break open a tight 2-1 game and take a 9-1 lead. NM responded with three runs in the bottom of the inning but could get no closer. As was the case most of the year, too many walks and untimely errors were the difference. Three Norse pitchers combined to walk 12 while the defense committed four errors as only three of the 11 Beal City runs were earned. Robin Wiggins (6-7), who struck out eight in five innings, had two run-scoring doubles. Patrick Rapson added a single, a double and two runs. This was the second consecutive year that the Norse's season ended with a loss to the eventual state champs.