BOYNE CITY — There’s no doubt about it, Sidney Bush is a workhorse in the circle.
She’s built for long days and tough situations.
But over the course of the 2026 season, she didn’t need to be. While she spent plenty of doubleheaders over the last couple seasons going back-to-back in the circle, the emergence of freshman Lucy Joyce kept Bush from having to.
But, come the postseason, a decision had to be made. It would be a tall task for a freshman to handle one of the toughest districts in northern Michigan and anything beyond.
“We sat down (before districts) and talked with Sidney and Lucy and just said, from here on out, Sidney’s got every game,” Josh Bush, who happens to be coach and Dad, said.
Joyce, who also starts at third, would have to stay ready if needed, though Bush was going to become the workhorse.
“I asked her if she was up for it and she said, ‘I’m ready. Let’s do it,’” Bush said.
After back-to-back wins over a Cheboygan team that spent much of the season in the Division 3 rankings and a 28-win Elk Rapids squad Saturday, May 30 in the district tournament, she proved it.
“I’m feeling good,” Sidney said afterward. “I was definitely feeling a little tired in the firs game, but I’m proud of how we strung everything together.”
A potent and veteran Cheboygan team got to her a bit in the opener with a relentless approach at the plate, though Bush pitched out of jams and made up for errors in the field. She also grew stronger as the day went on.
After the Elks collected a pair of hits and pushed an unearned run across in the first, Bush went on to give up just five more hits, two walks and no runs, while striking out seven across all seven frames.
It was her first back-to-back start of the season and one of the biggest wins of her career so far.
“I was feeling confident,” she said. “I could feel it in my heart. This team just has something different than past years for sure.”
What’s different is also the Bush connection all around. In years past, Josh would call in pitches for Sidney from the dugout. That changed this year.
“I haven’t called a pitch all year,” Josh said. “Normally, I call the pitching.”
Instead, Josh gave the duties to his girls, both Sidney in the circle and Sadie, only a sophomore, behind the plate.
The two have been working in tandem all season, with Sadie calling games well ahead of her years. It was a way for Josh to become a little less involved as both Dad and coach.
“Being a family, we can get chirpy out there, especially two sisters and a Dad,” Josh said with a smile. “So, I asked Sadie and Sid, ‘Are you OK calling the game this year?’ They both looked at me and said absolutely. I think that has been the big key for Sidney this year. And Sadie, she’s called some fantastic games.”
Entering districts, Sidney had pitched 127.2 innings, striking out 159, while holding just a 1.83 ERA. She pitched two no-hitters – including the season-opener – and has pitched 12 games with one or no earned runs allowed. There’s also been six games of 10-plus strikeouts.
For Sidney, a lot of that has been the connection with Sadie.
“We just know each other,” Sidney said. “Last year she didn’t catch for me at all, so it was good for her going from not catching me to just growing tighter through practices and games.”
As Boyne City looks to add to its 27-10 season that’s now collected Northern Shores and Division 3 district titles ahead in regionals Saturday in Cheboygan, Sidney will be ready to go in the circle, holding the reins for what she hopes is another back-to-back day.
Reach Sports Editor Drew Kochanny at dkochanny@petoskeynews.com and follow him on X @DrewKochanny and Instagram @drewkochanny
This article originally appeared on The Petoskey News-Review: Boyne City’s Sidney Bush proves to be built for tough postseason innings
Reporting by Drew Kochanny, The Petoskey News-Review / The Petoskey News-Review
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
