CHEBOYGAN – Carley Lopiccolo might be a defensive soccer player, but whenever the rare chance comes for a goal, she’s going to pounce on it and make it happen.
Playing in the last home opener of her high school soccer career, the Cheboygan senior found a scoring opportunity, delivered a clinical shot and found the back of the net for the first time in her varsity career, which allowed the Chiefs to earn a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Grayling on Monday, April 20.
“I basically took what we did in practice, and just muscle memory, and I ran with it, and I looked for the pass, and I just sent it in,” Lopiccolo said. “It definitely feels different and feels like a shift for my senior year. It makes me happy to know that I could score a goal in my senior year.”
After Lopiccolo netted her goal, she continued to be her aggressive self on the pitch, helping Cheboygan’s defense record a fourth consecutive shutout to start the campaign. While the Vikings had solid chances to tie the contest, the Chiefs stayed composed and manufactured another important league win despite still not logging in an outside practice this spring because of weather conditions.
“We definitely have some things to work on, the girls know that, and there’s a lot of soccer left, but we’ll take a 1-0,” Cheboygan coach Tom Markham said. “We played better than we did last time, and to me that’s a good measuring stick.”
Markham also praised the goal scored by Lopiccolo, whose ability to play many positions on the pitch has paid dividends during Cheboygan’s encouraging start.
“It was a nice one-time goal – and it ended up being the one we needed,” Markham said. “We can use her just about anywhere on the field, but she does really well out on defense, and she’s done well when we’ve had her in the midfield.”
The next test for the Chiefs (4-0-0 4-0-0 NSC) is a challenging one when they host Elk Rapids (3-1-1, 2-1-1) on Wednesday, April 22.
Cheboygan knows what it’ll be up against, but it’s not afraid.
Just ask Lopiccolo.
“Coach (Markham) tells us to go in with a good mindset, so we just want to keep a positive mindset and work together, and we’re not going to let them scare us, and we’re going to push for it,” Lopiccolo said.
LaLonde, Onaway erupt offensively, sweep Bellaire
BELLAIRE – A terrific offensive display lifted the Onaway baseball team to a sweep at Bellaire (27-5, 13-4) in a Ski Valley doubleheader on Monday, April 20.
The Cardinals received a stellar game one offensive performance from Eli LaLonde, who went 4-for-5 with two RBIs and three runs scored, while Emmit Haskill finished 2-for-3 with two RBIs and three runs. Recording two hits apiece were Zach Schmoldt (four RBIs, two runs), Gabe Watson (three RBIs, four runs), Casey Kindt (three RBIs, three runs) and Landon Busbee (two RBIs, three runs). Keagan Beyer chipped in with a hit and Matthew Russ added two RBIs and three runs scored.
Watson was the winning pitcher, striking out three and allowing seven hits in four innings.
Schmoldt went 3-for-3 with three RBIs and two runs scored for the Cardinals in the nightcap, while Jack Hartvigson (two RBIs) and LaLonde (three RBIs) each finished 2-for-3. Brody George (two RBIs, three runs), Caleb Booms and Beyer all had hits. Russ scored two runs.
Kindt earned the win on the mound, striking out one and scattering five hits in three innings.
Onaway plays at Central Lake on Thursday, April 23.
Mackinaw City baseball 2-1 at Ravenna tourney
RAVENNA – Mackinaw City baseball finished 2-1 at the Ravenna tournament on Saturday, April 18.
The Comets captured a 7-3 victory over Kent City Algoma Christian and a 10-1 win over Holland Black River to put themselves in the title game against Ravenna. However, the Bulldogs were too much for Mackinaw City in a 12-0 victory.
“The Ravenna trip is always a great time, and our kids look forward to going downstate and getting some games in against some opponents that we don’t usually get to see,” Mackinaw City coach Elijah May said. “I was really happy with the way we played in our first two games, especially offensively on a cold April day.”
Braylon Currie was Mackinaw City’s winning pitcher against KC Algoma, striking out five and allowing one hit in five innings of work. Currie also went 2-for-3 with two RBIs and two runs scored, while Tyler Hingston was 2-for-3 with two runs scored, and Ben Strittmatter finished 2-for-3 with an RBI.
Knox Wilson earned the pitching win over Holland Black River, striking out seven and allowing no hits in three innings, while Jacob Sroka (two strikeouts) and Wes House (three strikeouts) each threw an inning.
Connor Birchfield doubled and had an RBI, while Myran Thompson (RBI), Currie (RBI), Sroka (double), Kyle Valot and Strittmatter chipped in with a hit apiece. Hingston scored three runs.
Hingston recorded a double in the final against Ravenna.
Wilson (two strikeouts) took the loss on the mound for Mackinaw City.
“Overall, this was a great trip, and I was happy to come home with a couple of quality wins,” May said.
Mackinaw City (4-1) hosts Boyne Falls on Tuesday, April 21.
Inland Lakes girls second at Mancelona track invite
MANCELONA – The Inland Lakes girls track and field team earned a runner-up finish at the Mancelona Invitational on Friday, April 17.
The Bulldogs (84 points) received an individual second place from Kaylee Taglauer in the 400 (1:05.81), while the 4X400 relay team of Josephine Furman, Piper Crawford, Taglauer and Addyson Price also earned second (4:36.92).
Picking up third places were Faith Lehre in the 200 (28.89), Chloe Robinson in the shot put (29-10), Furman in the 800 (2:42.47), and the 4X100 relay team of Lehre, Robinson, Mackenzie Biesel and Taglauer (54.36). Fourth places were claimed by Josie Cooper in the 100 hurdles (19.11) and 300 hurdles (57.78), Furman in the high jump (4-10), and Lehre in the 100 (13.83). Fifth places went to Abygale Zinke in the discus (70-3), Taglauer in the 100 (14.07), and Robinson in the high jump (4-8.25). Margaret Newman took seventh in the 3200 (15:02).
The Mancelona girls (102) finished first as a team.
For the Onaway girls, who finished 13th (13), Lillyann Cooksey captured fifth in the 400 (1:10.34), sixth in the long jump (14-2) and eighth in the 100 (14.21). Alexis Haney was fifth in the 100 hurdles (19.72).
Jake Feagan finished second in the 200 (25.41) to lead the Inland Lakes boys, who finished fifth (56). The Bulldogs received a second place from the 4X200 relay team of Feagan, Jeremy Kettel, Christian Copeland and Tanner Howard (1:40.32). The same team earned second in the 4X400 relay (3:46.92). Third places were claimed by Robinson in the high jump (5-10) and long jump (18-11), Howard in the 400 (54.88), and the 4X800 relay team of Howard, Logan Holden, Robinson and Kettel (9:30.73). Copeland was fifth in the high jump (5-4.25).
Benedict Suess earned fifth in the long jump (18-0.5) for the Onaway boys.
Harbor Springs (96 points) took first as a team.
Comets capture sweep at Gaylord St. Mary
GAYLORD – The Mackinaw City softball team rolled to a sweep at Gaylord St. Mary, capturing 23-0 and 10-3 victories on Friday, April 17.
Rian Esper and Ella Kruczynski finished with two hits and three RBIs apiece for the Comets, who received two hits each from Emily Kruczynski (six RBIs), Kenzlie Currie (triple, three RBIs) and Julia Short (two RBIs). Poppy Wallace, Alaia Mendez, Emmy Holbrook, DiDi Hernandez and Izzy Swanson each had a hit and an RBI. Emily Lentell chipped in with a hit.
Ella Kruczynski, Mackinaw City’s winning pitcher, struck out five in a shutout performance.
Wallace’s four hits (double) and three RBIs, Currie’s three hits (triple, double) and four RBIs, and Esper’s three hits spearheaded the Mackinaw City offense in game two. Emily Kruczynski (RBI), Holbrook (RBI), Hernandez (RBI), Ella Kruczynski and Short all tacked on a hit.
Short earned the pitching win, striking out six in four innings.
“I am very proud of our team,” Mackinaw City coach Erica France said. “They played well and learned a lot. We are continuing to get better and better every day. I am very happy with what I am seeing. The girls made some good defensive plays and gained more game time experience.”
Mackinaw City (2-0) hosts Wolverine on Tuesday, April 21.
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: Lopiccolo’s game-winning goal keeps Cheboygan girls soccer unbeaten
Reporting by Jared Greenleaf, Cheboygan Daily Tribune / Cheboygan Daily Tribune
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