Last week was last week – and it was a tremendous one for Onaway and Pellston softball.
But now comes the most challenging point of the season for a pair of Cheboygan-area teams who will be looking to make noise in an MHSAA Division 4 regional round at Rogers City on Saturday, June 6.
The Hornets get things started with a 10 a.m. semifinal clash with No. 2-ranked Hillman, while the Cardinals follow with a 12 p.m. contest against Rudyard.
Who has the best chance to win? Let’s break it down.
Do the Hornets have a shot against Hillman?
One week ago, the Hornets were celebrating their first district title since 2023 after beating Harbor Light in a high-scoring final. It was a massive moment for a program that ended a three-year title brought, but Pellston’s regional matchup will be its hardest game of the season.
The two squads already played a doubleheader with Hillman, and it didn’t go well at all for the Hornets, who suffered lopsided losses to the powerhouse Tigers, who have an excellent senior pitcher in Alma College signee Gretchen Weiland, along with many players from last year’s state semifinalist squad.
The Hornets have offensive weapons of their own like Alpena Community College-bound Ella Klungle, Lanie Irwin, Breanna Willis and Allie Cameron, among many others. These Pellston hitters will need to make the most of their at-bats against Weiland, who has been downright dominant in her career.
Pitching-wise, Irwin will need to find a way to handle a Hillman lineup with elite bats across their lineup, while the Hornets can’t afford to commit defensive mistakes and give the Tigers extra at-bats.
Pellston is a heavy underdog heading into this one, but strange things happen all the time, especially in this wild and exciting sport of softball.
Onaway-Hillman II on deck?
If any team has a ton of momentum heading into this round, it’s the Cardinals, who wiped out two regular season losses to Inland Lakes and got their revenge with a 7-3 victory over the rival Bulldogs in a district championship showdown in Gaylord last week.
The Cardinals have a big task of their own when they take on Rudyard in the second semifinal on Saturday. The Bulldogs have been a dangerous program for years, so they shouldn’t be underestimated.
But when I look at the Cardinals, their top players are clicking at the right time, especially sophomore pitcher Aleigha Garms, who delivered another clutch postseason performance in the win over the Bulldogs, as well as senior leaders Marley Szymoniak, Carley Karsten, and junior star Natalee Hyde, who all provide plenty of firepower in Onaway’s lineup.
If the Cardinals manage to get through Rudyard, then comes a potentially exciting regional title rematch against the Tigers, who hammered Onaway in last year’s final at Harbor Light.
I think Onaway has several hitters that can test Weiland, but it’ll be a matter of coming up with clutch hits when they do get runners on base. The big question will be if Garms can avenge last year’s rough pitching performance against Hillman and throw a gem to give the Cardinals a chance.
First things first, Onaway must get through Rudyard, which is no gimme.
Either way, it’s going to be another entertaining Saturday of regional softball up north.
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: Pellston and Onaway teams chasing MHSAA D4 regional softball glory
Reporting by Jared Greenleaf, Cheboygan Daily Tribune / Cheboygan Daily Tribune
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By Jared Greenleaf, Cheboygan Daily Tribune | USA TODAY Network
