GAYLORD ― Expectations are becoming clearer for Gaylord area baseball and softball teams as April comes to a close, setting up what should be an exciting run towards the end of the season for Gaylord High, Gaylord St. Mary and Johannesburg-Lewiston teams on the diamonds.
So far, two teams have separated themselves from their peers: JoBurg softball (10-0, 8-0 Ski Valley) and St. Mary baseball (8-2, 6-0 Ski Valley).
The JL Lady Cardinals picked up two more SVC wins on Monday, April 27, sweeping Onaway with 16-3 and 11-1 victories.
Sophomore Emery Lawes and junior Ashlynn Burke continue to provide elite performances for JoBurg; Lawes was 5-for-9 with two doubles, three RBIs and one run scored over the two-game sweep, while Burke hit two home runs, scored five runs and added another pitching win to her résumé, striking out eight Onaway batters.
JoBurg is currently ranked No. 10 in the Michigan high school softball rankings, the second-highest-ranked SVC team alongside No. 4 Bellaire.
Meanwhile, sophomore Cal Royce is proving to be a key addition for GSM baseball, leading the Snowbirds to a sweep over last year’s conference champions, East Jordan, on Tuesday, April 28. Royce struck out 13 Red Devils in a shutout win on the mound while hitting 4-for-5 with a home run, a triple, four RBIs and four runs scored over two games.
Check out the rest of the top performers from the diamonds this past week:
Brady Shepherd, Gaylord baseball
Shepherd went 1-1 on the mound, allowing four hits, no earned runs and striking out 15 batters over two starts while going 12-for-21 with three doubles and 10 RBIs.
Zayden Mullins, Gaylord baseball
GHS’s new catcher had a big week at the plate, going 7-for-13 with three triples, one double and eight RBIs.
Lily Ryckman-Hall, Gaylord softball
The Spring Arbor commit went 3-for-3 with two home runs, four RBIs and two runs scored in a win over Traverse City St. Francis.
Payton Glasby, Gaylord St. Mary softball
GSM’s starter at first base went 2-for-3 with two RBIs against East Jordan.
Contact GHT Sports Editor Dylan Jespersen at Djespersen@gaylordheraldtimes.com. Follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter, @dylanjespersen, and Instagram, @dylanjespersen
This article originally appeared on The Petoskey News-Review: Top Gaylord area baseball, softball teams separating from their peers
Reporting by Dylan Jespersen, The Petoskey News-Review / The Petoskey News-Review
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