CHEBOYGAN — Two years ago, following a district final softball loss to Escanaba, then-Cheboygan sophomore Presley Chamberlain walked together and spent time with each of her teammates on her home field as part of one last hurrah following a fine season.
When Tessa Lake moved up to the varsity squad and was playing as a freshman catcher, she picked off an opponent on her first throw on the home field of the Chiefs.
Whether it’s emotional, thrilling or right dab in the middle, Cheboygan’s 2026 seniors have had their own unique moments, on Cheboygan’s field or elsewhere. As the Chiefs finished off a 16-2 victory over Harbor Springs in a pre-district home clash on Tuesday, May 26, those seniors had smiles. They also had hope that it won’t be the last time they’ll be playing a game on their home field, as Cheboygan will be a host for the regional round next week.
“This field, we’ve had a lot of memories and a lot of wins, lots of ups and downs, and playing with lots of different girls, so this field means a lot for me, especially since I graduated last week,” Chamberlain said. “It’s just been a bunch of laughs, but it’s also really emotional.”
Like many Cheboygan softball senior classes of the past, this one has performed at a high level, as the Chiefs are 23-9 heading into a 10 a.m. semifinal showdown at Boyne City on Saturday, May 30.
While Chamberlain and Lake are the all-conference star senior players, Cheboygan’s other seniors have risen to the occasion in helping make this a season to remember. From Bea Schulz returning from a lengthy knee injury and becoming one of the team’s best hitters, to Addison Ptasnik making a sensational, tournament-winning catch at Ogemaw Heights, to Caleigh Easter connecting on a mammoth home run – the first of her high school career – to Jenna Dodder hammering multiple dingers in recent years, these Chiefs have experiences that will stick with them for years.
As for their days playing together, they’ve been connected for a long time.
“It’s been easy because we all know each other well and what it takes for each of us to pick each other up, so it’s been really easy to build these connections and be the players we are all together,” Lake said.
As for what they’re all aiming for right now, that’s also easy to find out.
That would be putting an end to a long district title drought. They’ve certainly tried in recent seasons, but powerhouses like Gaylord, Escanaba and Gladstone crushed their hopes. On Saturday, they’ll face another one of those challenging opponents when they collide with the host Ramblers, who swept the Chiefs in Cheboygan earlier this campaign.
“We’re hungry – we want that revenge,” Chamberlain said. “We know we could’ve won that game against Boyne, so we just really want to give it to them, and I think we can do it. We’ve got a lot of practice to do this week, but I think we need to come in with a good mindset just knowing that we can beat them.”
It may or may not happen, but no matter what might occur at Boyne City for those seniors, they’ve got one proud coach backing them all the way.
“I’ve watched them grow up right through little league to summer ball right to high school softball,” Cheboygan coach Mike LaLonde said. “It’s been a pleasure to coach them. They really stepped up this year, especially my two leaders, Presley (Chamberlain) and Tessa Lake. I’m very proud of all of them.”
Contact sports editor Jared Greenleaf at jgreenleaf@gannett.com. Follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter @sportsCDT
This article originally appeared on Cheboygan Daily Tribune: Cheboygan softball seniors motivated to win district championship
Reporting by Jared Greenleaf, Cheboygan Daily Tribune / Cheboygan Daily Tribune
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