What a turnaround: Trojans wrap up baseball league title
Wed, May 21, 2008 
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It has been quite the turnaround for the Fruitport baseball team.
After starting the season 0-6, the Trojans have bounced back and can now call themselves repeat Lakes Eight Conference champions.
Fruitport (19-13, 11-3) made it official Tuesday, as it swept visiting Newaygo, 5-2 and 7-6.
Nick Brezina pitched a complete game gem in the opener, allowing only three hits and striking out seven. The Trojans rolled out of the gates, as they scored three runs in the first inning, keyed by a two-RBI double from Dominick Rizzo and an RBI single from Tyler Basch.
The Trojans added to their lead in the sixth, as Mike Hall and Ryan Senecal came through with RBI hits.
Senecal was the winning pitcher in Game 2, as he struck out five and allowed only one walk. Fruitport jumped out to an early lead, but the Lions rallied to make it a one-run game in the seventh. Newaygo had runners on first and third with two outs, but the Trojans ended the scare, as Senecal picked off the base runner at first with a great throw to Mike Hall.
Despite clinching the conference crown, Fruitport suffered two possible costly losses in the game, as catcher Patrick Arntson dinged up his shoulder in the opener, but fought through the injury. Starting right fielder Jordan Hill also sustained a knee injury during the contest.
FREMONT SWEEPS SL
Poor Spring Lake fielding and timely hitting from Fremont proved to be just the right recipe for the Packers, as they swept the Lakers Tuesday in Lakes Eight Conference action.
Spring Lake held a 6-5 lead heading into the bottom of the seventh inning in the opener, and was one out away from taking the win, but it slipped away. The Packers stayed alive with a single, then two ensuing Spring Lake errors tied the game at 6-all. Fremont then won the contest on a wild pitch.
"The defensive mistakes killed us," Spring Lake coach Brian Sabo said. "We had 10 hits, but we also had four errors and three in the last inning. We didn't get the outs when we needed them."
Mark Rhem, Kevin Teays and Brooks McDonald each had two hits for the Lakers, while Chris Sabo had a single and two RBIs. Kevin Bergy pitched a terrific game, going 6 2-3 innings, striking out six and walking one. He allowed only three earned runs.
McDonald fanned 10 Fremont batters in Game 2, but Fremont scored three critical runs in the sixth inning to erase a one-run deficit and take the victory.
McDonald helped his own cause with three hits, including a two-run home run. Rhem and Tyler Pederson added two hits apiece.
"These two losses hurt right now, but we'll bounce back and prepare ourselves for districts," Brian Sabo said.
SHORES HAMMERS GH
Grand Haven's offense managed only four hits against Mona Shores' pitcher Dominic Kiley Tuesday, as the Sailors cruised to a 8-1 victory.
Grand Haven (6-19 overall) fell behind 7-0 to the Sailors and finally got on the scoreboard in the sixth, as Andy Deal's two-out single drove in Andy Martin.
Cody Borta added two hits for the Bucs, and Sam Van Heest added one hit.
Kurt Dilley started on the mound for Grand Haven, throwing four innings and allowing five hits and five runs. Blake Vanden Berg relieved Dilley and allowed three runs and five hits.
Grand Haven hosts O-K Red foe Grandville today and then battles longtime rival Holland Thursday.
