GAYLORD — Following one last practice before districts, the Onaway softball team couldn’t wait to play.
Understanding they could face rival Inland Lakes in the final, the Cardinals couldn’t contain their excitement, especially knowing a victory over the rival Bulldogs would be an all-time great moment.
In the biggest game of their campaign, the Cardinals showed once again why they’re built for the postseason as they avenged a Ski Valley Conference sweep to their rivals by earning a 7-3 victory in an MHSAA Division 4 district final at Gaylord St. Mary on Friday, May 29.
“You could tell as soon as we stepped onto the field that we all wanted it,” Onaway senior Marley Szymoniak said. “We knew if we won that it would be 10 times sweeter.”
After a 24-4 semifinal victory over Boyne Falls, it set up a championship showdown with the Bulldogs, who rolled to an 11-1 win over Gaylord St. Mary in their semifinal.
Down 3-1 in the fifth inning, the Cardinals needed a spark against I-L freshman pitcher Azalia Carper, who was holding Onaway’s potent offense in check. The Cardinals finally manufactured the clutch hitting as Jerzie Garms tied the game by lacing a two-run hit, while Aubrey Havel followed up with a two-RBI single for a 5-3 advantage. Onaway added two more precious runs when senior Carley Karsten delivered a single in the sixth.
Down the stretch, sophomore pitcher Aleigha Garms was at her postseason best just like last year’s district title triumph over rival Rogers City. Garms, who struggled against the Bulldogs earlier in the season, struck out 16, allowed three hits, and surrendered one earned run across seven innings.
“She pitched amazing today,” Szymoniak said of her teammate. “She even told us before the game started that she pitched better under pressure, and she really showed us that today, and I was absolutely amazed with her. She was locked in and pretty much won us that game.”
Natalee Hyde, who homered in the first, went 3-for-5 to fuel the Cardinals, who saw Havel finish 3-for-4. Szymoniak added three hits, Karsten was 2-for-4 and Aleigha Garms added a double.
The victory sends the Cardinals to the regional semifinals, where they’ll collide with Rudyard in a 12 p.m. contest at Rogers City on Saturday, June 6.
Adi Fenstermaker, Khali Woollard and Taylor Nutt recorded a hit apiece for I-L against Onaway.
Carper took the pitching loss, striking out seven and scattering 11 hits.
Alexis Powell’s three hits and an RBI paced Inland Lakes in the semifinal win over the Snowbirds. Woollard tallied two hits and two RBIs, while Alexys Langworthy recorded a hit and an RBI. Fenstermaker, Carper and Nutt added a hit apiece.
Carper earned the pitching win, striking out 10 and allowing one hit.
“The girls improved each game every week,” Inland Lakes coach Krissi Thompson said. “I’m very proud where we ended the season from where we started.”
In the win over Boyne Falls, Jerzie Garms led the Cardinals by going 2-for-3 with a home run, three RBIs and two runs scored. Aubrey Havel finished 3-for-3 with a double, three RBIs and three runs scored, Karsten went 3-for-4 with a double, three RBIs and three runs scored, and Layla Box was 3-for-4 with two RBIs and three runs scored. Brooklyn Boughner (four RBIs, two runs), Szymoniak (two RBIs, four runs), Hyde (two RBIs, three runs), and Aleigha Garms (double, RBI, three runs) finished with two hits each. Shawny Shepard scored two runs.
Box was Onaway’s winning pitcher, striking out three and allowing four hits in three innings.
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: Onaway softball runs it back, tops Inland Lakes for district repeat
Reporting by Jared Greenleaf, Cheboygan Daily Tribune / Cheboygan Daily Tribune
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