District Round 1 Ends in Packer Favor

Lions batter Remington Wells stares down the pitch

District Round 1 Ends in Packer Favor
Photos and story by Alexis Mercer

This would be the third time Fremont and Newaygo have matched up this season, but this time it was one game with the winner advancing and the loser completing the season. The first two games Fremont came out on top. They would be looking to make it a sweep in round one of Districts, played at Newaygo on Tuesday, June 1.

Newaygo senior Brenden Brechting started at the mound for the Lions. The Packers got off to a quick start putting two on base but left them stranded. Brechting quickly found himself on base in the bottom of the first after getting hit by a pitch from Albion recruit Payton Mansfield. But the Lions also left him out there before retiring into the second inning.

Packer pitcher Payton Mansfield throws heat

Fremont’s bats never slowed down as the night wore on and Newaygo’s bats didn’t heat up enough. It was in the third inning when the Packers put it all together to have three cross home plate. Newaygo nearly answered with two of their own in the bottom of the third, but never quite made up the difference started in this inning.

The final score was 6-3 with the Packers advancing to the next round of Districts.

Joey DeLong led the Packers with 3 RBIs while Logan Nelson, Payton Mansfield and Michael Baden each had one of their own. Lions’ Glenn Toth led with 2 RBIs while Seth McGowen brought in one.

Fremont was able to close the game out with only Payton Mansfield on the mound. He ended the night with 86 pitches and 60 strikes. The Lions went through three pitchers: Brechting, Josiah Long and Seth McGowen. 

The Packers head to Alma on Saturday to face Grant.

Seth McGowen waits in the outfield for the next hard hit