Ruiz dominates as Central baseball wins Hesperia tournament

Submitted photo.

MCP/OCP Sports Coverage is presented by: Baker Ford Ludington, Fresh Coast Foam, Mission Graphics, Quick-Way, Inc., Smith & Eddy Insurance and Michelle and Andrew Thomas.

HESPERIA — Mason County Central’s varsity baseball team put together a complete performance Saturday, defeating Shelby 2-0 and rallying past host Hesperia 11-6 to capture the championship of the Ken Smith Wood Bat Memorial Tournament, a four-team event that also included Montabella.

In the opener, senior Kaden Ruiz delivered a standout all-around effort, controlling Shelby from the mound and leading the offense.

Ruiz pitched 6 2/3 scoreless innings, allowing one hit while striking out six. At the plate, he went 3-for-4 with a double and scored one of MCC’s two runs.

“What a game,” Spartans coach Shaun Reed said. “Shelby is a good team, and for Kaden to do what he did shows a lot of leadership and competitiveness that is contagious. The whole team picked up on it and we played stellar.”

MCC set the tone early against Shelby pitcher Dadday Garcia. Toby Reed led off with a single, advanced to third on Ruiz’s hit and scored on a groundout by Pierce Bladzik for a 1-0 lead in the first inning.

Bladzik drove in both runs, finishing 1-for-3 with a double and two RBIs.

“There is only one word to describe that — clutch,” Reed said. “The way we started the top of the first inning sends a message that we are here to ball.”

MCC added another run later and backed Ruiz with a clean defensive effort, committing no errors. Michael Chye and Nate Adams also recorded hits, and Bladzik closed the game with a strikeout.

“Defensively we had zero errors. That’s huge in big games,” Reed said. “I cannot express how happy I am to see us play the way we did today in all aspects.”

In the championship game, MCC had to battle back after falling behind 5-1 before erupting offensively to defeat Hesperia.

“Baseball is a funny game,” Reed said. “We played top-level baseball in the first game and came into this one a little flat, but finally woke up. We can really hit the ball when we lock in.”

Bladzik paced the offense, going 3-for-3 with a triple. Ruiz was 2-for-5 with a double, while Chye went 2-for-5, scored three runs and stole three bases.

Cayden Rummer added a hit and an RBI, Toby Reed had a hit, and Trent Hawke delivered a key two-run double.

“Trent’s double, I feel like sealed the deal for us,” Reed said.

Hawke also finished the game on the mound.

Despite committing three errors, MCC regrouped and surged ahead with a string of hits.

“One of our coaches said after the game, ‘good teams find a way to win,’ and that’s a perfect description,” Reed said. “It wasn’t the prettiest, but we found a way.”

The wood-bat format added a traditional element to the tournament.

“The wood bats add a nice aspect of authenticity and history,” Reed said. “To hear the crack instead of the ping really adds a cool element.”

Reed also credited Hesperia for hosting.

“I am very grateful for Hesperia letting us play in this tournament,” he said. “It was a lot of fun. They have a nice setting for hosting.”

Mason County Central returns home this week to face Hesperia on May 5 and North Muskegon on May 8.