MUSKEGON TWP. – The 6-2 lead that Reeths-Puffer built following the bottom of the third inning seemed promising enough in their baseball game against Mona Shores.

But things quickly became unraveled for the Rockets as they lost, 12-6 by making numerous errors in the field.

It was the third time the Rockets played Mona Shores this week.

Rockets Head Coach Butch Attig said, “We’re just not playing good baseball.”

“We can’t keep making errors and baserunning mistakes,” Attig said. “We can’t continue to give up out after out.”

“We can’t seem to get out of our own way right now,” Attig said.

In the bottom of the first inning, the Rockets Ethan Frang was hit by a pitch, then Brendan Guikema hit an infield single singled, driving in Frang, and Brayden Mitchelson hit a single to right field, scoring Guikema.

At that point, the score was 2-0 in favor of the Rockets

Then, the Rockets got two more runs across the plate as Quinn Alderink singled, Cade Paugh reached first base on an error, then Holden Earnest hit a two-run double.

Mona Shores scored twice when a pair of wild pitches got by the Rockets catcher and reached the backstop.

The Rockets were able to extend their lead to 6-2 when Connor McManus reached first after the Mona Shores dropped a third strike.

Mitchelson then reached first base on an error, and Lukas Johnson also hit a two-run single. Mona Shores then took advantage of Rockets errors in the top of the fifth, cutting the Rockets lead to 4-2.

Then the game fell apart for the Rockets.

Mona Shores scored three runs in the top of the fourth inning, aided by walks and Rockets errors that came at key points in the game.

Mona Shores added five runs in the fifth inning, then one run in both the sixth and seventh innings to close out the scoring.

Guikema surrendered two hits and five runs, striking out two and walking four in his three and two-thirds innings of work.

Earnest took the loss for the Rockets as he went two-thirds of an inning, giving up five runs on three hits, striking out two and giving up three walks.

Jayden Wiseman also got into the game, pitching two and two-thirds innings and gave up two runs on four hits and got two strikeouts and two walks.

Attig also said, “It’s up to our seniors to lead this team.”

“They know what to do; they’ve been with me for years,” Attig said. “It’s simple baseball – pitch the ball, catch the ball.”

Attig said, “I am frustrated right now.”

“But it’s my job to get them there, and I’m going to take that on and we’re going to right some things and be ready to play on Saturday,” Attig said.

They were scheduled to play Oakridge at home.