COOPERSVILLE, Mich -- Mike Mokma can pitch, but you would never know it if you watched him hit. The senior launched his fourth home run of the year Thursday as the Maroons won their 28th game of the season.
We asked him if Michigan State should let him hit when he gets to East Lansing.
“Its coaches decision whatever he wants thinks I should do I’m going to do” Mokma said.
Mokma’s year has been nothing short of stellar, on April 19th he threw a perfect game against Holland, striking out 15 of the 21 batters he faced, and if that wasn’t enough, he also homered in that game.
“That was something I have always dreamed of as a little kid, throwing a perfect game is a pitchers dream" Mokma said, "fortunately that was my first one against a rival so that felt real good.”
Mokma has been dominating on the mound all season for the Maroons. Monday he threw his second career perfect game, this one in five innings because Holland Christian scored 12 runs in one inning, thanks in part to two more Mokma dingers.
“He’s better than I’ve ever seen him" senionr catcher David Williams said, "I’ve been catching him for years now and he’s definitely even getting better still but he’s the best I’ve seen him.”
So it’s not surprising that the Holland Christian ace is on the radar of Major League teams with draft just two weeks away.
“He’s worked awful hard coming back from an injury last year and doing the things that he did in the off season that has led to his success this year and it’s really paid off" Maroons head coach Jim Caserta said, "I am so happy to see it because he is a great kid and to see his work payoff is really gratifying.”
The outright OK Green champs will host a division 2 district next Saturday and at 28-5 have to be considered a favorite to make a long run.
"From the beginning we knew we could do something special and 30 is the school record for wins so we are trying to eye that, Mokma added, "it would be nice if we could get that but we’ve been going hard from day one and we are accomplishing what we plan to accomplish.”
Holland Christian plays Saturday against a good Zeeland East team and then it's on to the state tournament.
