HARBOR SPRINGS – One Mackinaw City baseball player made history in a season-opening doubleheader against Posen at Harbor Light on Wednesday, April 15.
Senior pitching ace Braylon Currie became the program’s all-time winningest pitcher by capturing the 31st win of his career in a 10-0 game two victory for the Comets.
“Braylon is one of the hardest working kids that I have had come through my program,” Mackinaw City coach Elijah May said. “He spends a ton of time in the offseason working in the weight room and throwing bullpens in the gym. He isn’t the biggest kid, and he doesn’t throw the hardest, but he is a gritty kid who has total command of the strike zone and a great knowledge of the game. He has been winning games for us since his seventh grade season and I am really proud of him.”
Pitching in relief, Currie earned the win by striking out three and surrendering no hits in one inning. Knox Wilson (four strikeouts) pitched two scoreless innings, while Ben Strittmatter (two strikeouts) also threw.
Offensively, Tyler Hingston and Wilson each went 2-for-3 with two runs scored, while Kyle Valot and Mikey Sullivan added a hit and an RBI apiece. Strittmatter scored two runs for the Comets.
Hingston’s big offensive day started in the opener, as he finished 3-for-4 with a home run, four RBIs and two runs scored in a 14-4 win, while Valot tallied two hits and three runs, and Sullivan (two RBIs), Myran Thompson and Wilson had a hit each. Jacob Sroka added an RBI and Wes House scored twice.
House was Mackinaw City’s winning pitcher, striking out four and allowing two hits in two relief innings. Currie, who started, struck out six and allowed no hits in two innings.
“I was happy with the way we looked defensively, and our guys threw well on the mound,” May said. “We played error free baseball through two games. We are very grateful to our friends at Harbor Light for letting us use their facilities to play these games. It has been a tough spring, and it was awesome to finally get outdoors and get the season started.”
Mackinaw City (2-0) plays at the Ravenna tournament on Saturday, April 18.
Kosanke, Chiefs power past East Jordan
EAST JORDAN – Even after some narrow losses to start the campaign, Cheboygan softball coach Mike LaLonde had all the confidence in the world that his team would turn things around quickly.
Playing at East Jordan on Wednesday, April 15, the Chiefs rolled to 11-0 and 16-1 victories.
“We needed that tonight,” LaLonde said. “The games we’ve been playing have been tight, but the girls are playing well. Tonight, they played really well in these two games. Even their outs were hit hard. They hit some nice line drives and had some nice defensive plays.”
Spearheading Cheboygan’s shutout performance in game one was sophomore Lydia Kosanke, who kept the East Jordan batters off-balance by striking out 11 and allowing one hit in five scoreless innings.
Offensively, Kosanke was equally as impressive, going 3-for-4 and belting her first-career varsity home run, while adding a double and finishing with three RBIs and two runs scored.
“Lydia had a really big night for us tonight,” LaLonde said. “She did a great job.”
Nataleigh Blaisdell was also a key part of Cheboygan’s offense, smacking three hits (double) and knocking in two runs, while Tessa Lake had two hits. Diem Schley (double, two runs), Presley Chamberlain (RBI), Bea Schulz (RBI), Addison Ptasnik (RBI) and Aubrey Maston chipped in with a hit apiece.
Cheboygan’s offense didn’t slow down in the second game, as Blaisdell recorded three more hits, an RBI and two runs scored. The Chiefs received two hits each from Chamberlain (three RBIs, two runs), Schulz (double, RBI, two runs) and Lake (two RBIs, two runs). Schley (three RBIs), Kosanke (two RBIs, two runs), Caleigh Easter (RBI), Teagan Wheelock (double) and Elleigh Wilson registered a hit apiece. Rounding out Cheboygan’s contributors were Maston (two RBIs) and Mackenzie Stockman (run).
Schley was Cheboygan’s winning pitcher, striking out five and scattering four hits over five innings.
“It’s one of those games where you can get everybody in, and everybody contributed,” LaLonde said.
Cheboygan (3-5) travels to Gaylord for a non-conference doubleheader on Thursday, April 16.
Here’s a look at the other top Cheboygan-area sports performers for April 14-15.
BASEBALL
Josh Clark, Cheboygan – Finished 2-for-3 with three RBIs in game one at East Jordan on April 15. In game two, Clark was the winning pitcher, striking out one and scattering four hits in three innings.
Brody McGovern, Cheboygan – Recorded two hits (double) and scored two runs in game one against East Jordan, while adding another hit in game two.
Ben Schulz, Cheboygan – Registered a hit and an RBI in game one against East Jordan and followed it up with a hit and an RBI in game two.
Michael Laway, Cheboygan – Had a hit and two RBIs in game one against East Jordan.
Game 1: East Jordan 16, Cheboygan 12
More Cheboygan Stats: Ben Groya (hit), Duncan Spies (RBI), Ben Hall (RBI), Nolan Schley (two runs), Charlie Godfrey (2 2/3 innings pitched, four strikeouts, six hits), Michael Laway (2 1/3 innings pitched, one strikeout, six hits)
Game 2: Cheboygan 6, East Jordan 2 (three innings)
More Cheboygan Stats: Adam Woolery (hit), Nolan Schley (two RBIs)
Cheboygan Coach Kevin Baller: “The kids did a really good job of swinging the bats. We ran the bases well. Josh Clark did a fine job pitching in game two.”
Casey Kindt, Onaway – Recorded two hits (double), an RBI and a run scored in game two at Harbor Springs on April 14.
Andrew Gulley, Onaway – Had a hit and an RBI in game two at Harbor Springs.
Matthew Russ, Onaway – Tallied a hit and a run scored in game two at Harbor Springs.
Brody George, Onaway – Finished with a hit apiece in games one and two at Harbor Springs. He also struck out three batters in 2 1/3 innings pitched in game one.
Game 1 Harbor Springs 9, Onaway 0
More Onaway Stats: Landon Busbee (hit)
Game 2: Harbor Springs 7, Onaway 2
More Onaway Stats: Keagan Beyer (hit)
SOFTBALL
Aubrey Havel, Onaway – Went 3-for-3 with an RBI in game one at Harbor Springs on April 14.
Layla Box, Onaway – Finished 2-for-4 with two RBIs in game one at Harbor Springs. She doubled in game two.
Aleigha Garms, Onaway – Went 2-for-4 with a double and two runs scored in game one at Harbor Springs.
Carley Karsten, Onaway – Had a 2-for-4 display with an RBI in game one at Harbor Springs.
Jerzie Garms, Onaway – Finished 2-for-3 in game two at Harbor Springs.
Marley Szymoniak, Onaway – Recorded a hit and two runs scored in game one at Harbor Springs.
Game 1: Harbor Springs 10, Onaway 6
More Onaway Stats: Maya Shimel (hit)
Game 2: Harbor Springs 7, Onaway 3
More Onaway Stats: Brooklyn Boughner (double), Maya Shimel (hit).
Emily Kruczynski, Mackinaw City – Finished 2-for-3 with an inside-the-park home run against Posen at Harbor Light on April 15.
Rian Esper, Mackinaw City – Went 2-for-3 against Posen.
Emmy Holbrook, Mackinaw City – Had a 2-for-3 performance against Posen.
Result: Posen 22, Mackinaw City 7 (five innings)
More Mackinaw City Stats: Poppy Wallace (double), Ella Kruczynski (hit), Kenzlie Currie (hit)
Mackinaw City coach Erica France: “We are looking forward to a great season.”
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: Mackinaw City ace makes history, Cheboygan softball’s offense erupts
Reporting by Jared Greenleaf, Cheboygan Daily Tribune / Cheboygan Daily Tribune
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