WEST BRANCH — Heading into the Ogemaw Heights tournament on Saturday, May 16, the Cheboygan softball team had two goals.
Beat Gaylord — and win the whole thing.
After a long day, it was mission accomplished for the Chiefs, who achieved both and came home with the Ogemaw Heights tournament title thanks to a 3-0 record.
“It was a great day for the kids — they played well and hit the ball well,” Cheboygan coach Mike LaLonde said. “They deserved this. They came to play this weekend.”
After beating Gaylord 7-4 in the opener, then topping Onaway 11-3 in their second game, Cheboygan set up a championship showdown with Ogemaw Heights. In the second inning, Cheboygan took the lead when Mackenzie Stockman laced a two-RBI hit that scored Bea Schulz and Aubrey Mastin.
In the final inning, Ogemaw loaded the bases and saw one of its hitters smack a ball into right field, where senior Addison Ptasnik needed to make a running play. Ptasnik saved the game for the Chiefs by catching a ball that was bobbled and then re-caught, one of the most thrilling plays of the season.
Behind the superb pitching of sophomore Lydia Kosanke, the Chiefs closed out the game and earned a tournament crown for the first time this spring. Kosanke’s impressive outing consisted of seven strikeouts and five hits allowed in seven shutout innings.
Kosanke also doubled for Cheboygan, which received hits from Nataleigh Blaisdell, Jenna Dodder, Mastin and Schulz.
In Cheboygan’s victory over Gaylord, Kosanke finished 3-for-4 with a double and two RBIs, while also earning the pitching win with seven strikeouts and four hits scattered in seven strong innings.
Schulz went 2-for-4 with two RBIs, while Tessa Lake was 2-for-4 with a double and two runs scored, Diem Schley and Stockman each doubled and had an RBI, Mastin doubled, Presley Chamberlain and Blaisdell each registered a hit, and Dodder added an RBI.
Schley fueled the Chiefs with a 3-for-4 offensive display against Onaway, hammering a three-run homer, knocking in four runs and scoring three times. Schley was also the winning pitcher, striking out 14 and allowing six hits across seven innings.
Chamberlain went 3-for-4 with two doubles, an RBI and two runs scored, while Kosanke was 3-for-3 with an RBI and two runs scored. Blaisdell finished 2-for-4 with a double, an RBI and two runs scored, and Schulz tallied two hits. Lake (two RBIs), Ptasnik (double, two runs) and Caleigh Easter chipped in with a hit apiece. Mastin tallied an RBI.
Cheboygan (20-9) hosts Harbor Springs in Northern Shores Conference action on Monday, May 18.
For the Onaway Cardinals, Marley Szymoniak finished 3-for-4 with a double, an RBI and two runs scored against Gaylord, while Natalee Hyde was 2-for-3 with an RBI. Carley Karsten (two RBIs), Layla Box (triple, RBI) and Aleigha Garms added a hit apiece.
Garms was the losing pitcher, striking out three and allowing nine hits in 5 1/3 innings.
Garms led the Cardinals against Cheboygan, going 2-for-3 with a double and three RBIs. Szymoniak was 2-for-3. Hyde added a hit and two runs, and Shawny Shepard recorded a hit.
Garms struck out two in four relief innings pitched.
Onaway hosts Forest Area on Monday, May 18.
Currie, Wilson elevate Mack City to baseball sweep
MACKINAW CITY – The Mackinaw City baseball team used sensational shutout pitching to sweep Burt Lake Northern Michigan Christian Academy with 2-0 and 3-0 victories at home on Friday, May 15.
After Braylon Currie tossed a no-hit, 13-strikeout performance in the opener, the Mackinaw City senior and freshman Knox Wilson combined to throw a no-hitter in the nightcap. Wilson, who started, picked up the win by striking out six in 3 1/3 innings, while Currie struck out one in the final 1 2/3 innings.
On the other side, NMCA senior pitcher Josh Ferraiolo was strong, striking out a combined 16 batters and only surrendering two hits in 7 2/3 innings thrown between both games.
“It was tough to get anything going offensively with Josh Ferraiuolo,” Mackinaw City coach Elijah May said. “We have seen Josh pitch against us now for four years in a row, and he was totally dominant. He threw two one-hitters, and we really struggled with his stuff. Josh is one of the premier athletes in the area, and he is one of the better arms in northern Michigan. We were fortunate to squeeze a few runs across and win some competitive baseball games against him tonight.”
Currie doubled for Mackinaw City’s offense in game one.
Tyler Hingston had a hit and scored two in game two.
On senior night, Mackinaw City honored Currie, Hingston, Ben Strittmatter and Tanyon Pierce.
Mackinaw City (11-6, 3-3 Northern Lakes Conference) takes on Boyne Falls on Tuesday, May 19, then hosts its Memorial Classic tourney that will feature Onaway, Posen and Cedarville on Friday, May 22.
MACKINAW CITY VS NMCA SOFTBALL
Game 1 Final: Mackinaw City 15, NMCA 5 (Friday, May 15)
Mackinaw City Stats: Ella Kruczynski (three hits, triple, double; pitching win, six strikeouts), Poppy Wallace (three hits, double), Kenzlie Currie (two hits, inside-the-park home run), Emily Kruczynski (two doubles), Rian Esper (two hits), Izzy Swanson (two hits), Elizabeth Kruczynski (triple)
NMCA Stats: Isabel Hoffmeyer (2-for-3, two runs), Shanna Ferraiuolo (triple, RBI), Piper Spuller (hit, RBI), Ariel Tucker (hit; two pitching strikeouts in 4 1/3 innings), Mya Brewbaker (RBI)
Game 2 Final: Mackinaw City 6, NMCA 2
Mackinaw City Stats: Ella Kruczynski (three hits; pitching win, four strikeouts), Kenzlie Currie (two doubles), Elizabeth Kruczynski (two hits), Alaia Mendez (two hits), Emily Kruczynski (double), Rian Esper (hit), Julia Short (hit), Izzy Swanson (hit)
NMCA Stats: Ariel Tucker (3-for-3) Lauren Ferraiuolo (2-for-3, triple, RBI), Harper Nelund (hit; nine pitching strikeouts in five innings), Isabel Hoffmeyer (hit), Shanna Ferraiuolo (hit)
Mackinaw City Coach Erica France: “We are very excited to bring home these wins, especially on senior night. Elizabeth Kruczynski is our only senior. We got to celebrate her, and she ended the second game by getting all three outs. Two grounders to second base and a pop fly between her and right field. A great way to end the night. I am very proud of our team and how hard they are working.”
INLAND LAKES BASEBALL
Game 1 Final: Beal City 12, Inland Lakes 0 (Beal City Tournament, Saturday, May 16)
Inland Lakes Stats: Ty Kolly (2-for-4, double), Colby Saker (2-for-3), Gus Carper (hit), Wyatt Hanel (hit), Elijah Perkins (three pitching strikeouts), Collin Maves (three pitching strikeouts)
Game 2 Final: Big Rapids 12, Inland Lakes 2
Inland Lakes Stats: Ty Kolly (hit, RBI), Harper Lee (double), Elijah Perkins (hit), James Layman (hit)
CHEBOYGAN GIRLS SOCCER
Friday, May 15 Result: Elk Rapids 8, Cheboygan 0
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 wins Ogemaw softball tourney; Comets sweep past NLC foe
Reporting by Jared Greenleaf, Cheboygan Daily Tribune / Cheboygan Daily Tribune
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