MUSTANGS CAP 2008 SEASON WITH 29 AWARDS

KALAMAZOO GAZETTE DIV. 1-2 ALL-AREA TEAM
Player of the Year: Jared Hook
Pitcher: Kyle Clark
Utility: Trey Popp
Infield: Gerrit Rauch
Honorable Mention: Brad Beauregard, Kyle Kleiman
Coach of the Year: Paul Schneider

ALL-STATE
All-Star: Jared Hook
Dream Team: Jared Hook
Div. 1 All-State First Team: Jared Hook
Div. 1 All-State Second Team: Trey Popp
Div. 1 All-Region (All-State Honorable Mention): Kyle Kleiman, Gerrit Rauch

ALL-DISTRICT
Kyle Clark, Jared Hook, Kyle Kleiman, Trey Popp, Gerrit Rauch

ALL-CONFERENCE
Brad Beauregard, Kyle Clark, Mike Cooley, Jared Hook, Kyle Kleiman, Austin McCollum, Trey Popp, Gerrit Rauch
Honorable Mention: Nevin Covey, Matt Perry, Monty Porter
 

6/7/2008 - REGIONAL SEMIFINAL vs GRAND LEDGE
The Mustangs jumped out to a 3-0 lead after 1/2 inning of play but beyond that there was little for Mustangs fans to cheer about.  Sloppy defense including four infield miscues in the first two innings, ineffective pitching, poor base running, and untimely hitting conspired to bury the Mustangs in an 8-5 hole.  Kyle Clark pitched relief in the bottom of the sixth inning fanning all three but it was too late as the last three Mustang outs were recorded 1-2-3 ending the season for this talent loaded team at 33 wins and 4 losses.  Kyle Clark hit three singles, Gerrit Rauch smashed a first-pitch two-run dinger (his 6th home run) plus a double to the centerfield fence, and Trey Popp hit 2 singles, one featuring a head first diving slide.  Brad Beuregard, Jared Hook, Kyle Kleiman, and Matt Perry all added singles.  Grand Ledge went on to defeat South Lyon in the Regional Final advancing them to the State Quarterfinals.

5/31/2008 - DISTRICT CHAMPIONSHIP vs LOY NORRIX
Three innings and 46 pitches is all it took Kyle Clark to get the 16-0 no-hitter over Loy Norrix.  Twelve Mustangs hits led by Brad Beauregard's three secured the District Title.  The win moves the Mustangs to 33-3 and advances them to Regional play vs. Grand Ledge on Saturday June 7.

5/31/2008  - DISTRICT SEMIFINAL vs K. CENTRAL
Trey Popp struck out 10 batters in 6 innings with no earned runs while the Mustangs bats provided the runs to put the Maroon Giants away 11-3.  Michael Cooley was the closer in the final frame.  Gerrit Rauch led the Mustangs with 3 hits, with Jared Hook and Kyle Kleiman each contributing two hits for the win.

5/28/2008 - #4 PC vs THREE RIVERS
In Game 1 it was Mustangs all over the Wildcats of Three Rivers 17-2.  Kyle Clark cruises to the PC win with Trey Popp and Michael Cooley pitching relief.

Game 2 was very different.  The Mustangs fans didn't begin to relax until the first pitch of the fifth inning when trailing 6-4, Gerrit Rauch ignited a four run inning with a home run high over the centerfield fence. The game featured another homer to left-center by Trey Popp, an acrobatic 4-6-3 double play, and a fantastic catch in foul territory by infielder Brad Beauregard.  Mustang hurlers seeing action were sophomore Monty Porter, junior Nevin Covey, and junior "Patty" Oppel. The win moves the Mustangs to 31-3 keeping them focused for the District playoff game at 10:00 a.m. Saturday at Mustangs Field.  The Mustangs are on a roll, winning eleven straight while outscoring opponents 98-19 in that stint.

5/27/2008 - ELEVEN MUSTANGS EARN ALL-CONFERENCE
Senior Mustang Jared Hook topped the elite group earning SMAC Player of the Year followed by Brad Beauregard, Kyle Clark, Mike Cooley, Kyle Kleiman, Austin McCollum, Trey Popp, and Gerrit Rauch all earning SMAC Central First Team All-Conference recognition.  Nevin Covey, Matt Perry, and Monty Porter filled out the Mustangs-laden list with Honorable Mention Awards.

5/24/2008 - MUSTANGS STRIKE GOLD
Still hungry from last year's Greater Kalamazoo (G-K) Gold Championship rainout, this Memorial Weekend it was all Mustangs at WMU Hyames Field.  Senior captain and pitcher Trey Popp (6-0) posted a 2-hit 10-0 shutout in 5 innings with 7 strikeouts on tough cross-town rival Portage Northern, moving the Mustangs to a 29-3 record.  The Mustangs are getting hot exactly at the right time with District playoffs just three days off, riding a nine game win streak and outscoring opponents 74-10 in the last seven outings. "This team has something special.  We are all friends", said Gerrit Rauch.  The contest was witnessed by a paid attendance of 359. 

5/13/2008 - #5 PC vs BATTLE CREEK CENTRAL
Tuesday afternoon the Portage Central Mustangs pounded out 27 hits in a doubleheader sweep of the Battle Creek Central Bearcats at Bailey Park. The Mustangs took game one 16 to 1 with Kyle Clark picking up the win on the mound running his record to 5 and 0. Mike Cooley, now 3 and 0, earned the victory in game two with the Mustangs prevailing 15 to 0. Junior Conner Byrd led the bat brigade with 5 hits including 3 doubles. Byrd drove in 7 runs in the twin bill. Senior Captains Trey Popp and Jared Hook each had four hits. Popp legged out three triples while Hook tripled and drove in four. Senior Catcher/DH Kyle Kleiman had two hits and two RBI while Freshman first baseman Ryan Krill made his varsity debut with a bang, pounding out 4 hits. Gerrit Rauch and Austin McCollum each had two hits and two RBI in game two. Nick Wright made his first start of the year and knocked in two runs in game one. Chad Werner saw action in game two for the Mustangs and picked up his first hit of the season. Sophomore Monty Porter made his first start at 3rd base in game two and doubled down the left field line for his first varsity hit. Led by Rauch and Brad Beauregard's solid performance in the middle infield, the Mustangs played error free baseball while running their record to 24 and 3 with an unblemished 8 and 0 first place finish in the SMAC Central.