Boyne City softball showing they've got each other as 2024 gets going

BOYNE CITY — When you’ve always got your team behind you, every practice and every game just has a different feel.

That support in sports goes a long way in making what could be an average season, a great season.

And the Boyne City softball team has that kind of support for each other in 2024. From the senior captains and other vets who have been around the program, to young newcomers, they’ve all got one another.

“Everyone is just so friendly,” Senior Lucy Uy said. “Nobody is ever at each other’s throats. Its friendly competition, but never any arguing or anything. They’re all like sisters to me.”

This year, with a talented roster back, head coach Josh Bush wanted to make sure each girl knew she had the support and backing of their teammates next to them, the ones behind them and the ones in the dugout.

So, Bush came up with a way they can all show it in the moment.

“This year we implemented, ‘My bad’ and, ‘I got you’ to deal with failure,” Bush said. “Admit your failure with, ‘My bad’ and then that’s where the other girls have to come back with, ‘I got you.’ We practice that during practice too. It’s just a mental side of the game.”

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For Uy and others around the team, taking that accountability and then having the backing of the team has been huge.

“It’s so cool,” she said. “Every time you mess up, you’re not afraid because you know that your teammates are there for you.”

It took plenty of that following a season opening trio of losses against some tough competition downstate to begin the season, but on Monday at Rotary Park in Boyne City, the Ramblers were back to picking each other up with a sweep over visiting Inland Lakes.

The Ramblers earned wins of 5-1 and 5-4, winning the nightcap with three runs in the bottom of the sixth inning after entering the final frame down 4-2.

Morgan Erickson drove in Sawyer Cadarette for the game-winning run after two wild pitches made it a 4-4 game.

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That kind of belief that a win is still possible – with two outs on the board, down in the final frame – only comes from teams that have the kind of support and mindset these Ramblers do.

“Their attitudes; everyone is up and our practices are better than the games,” Bush said. “They work hard, there are no downers on the team.

“I’m pumped about this team. I keep telling them, this is my favorite team I’ve coached in 12 years. This is by far my favorite. Once we put it together, it’s trouble. Watch out.”

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Boyne has multiple arms to go to around the lineup, leaning on senior Delaney Vollmer for the game-one win bend nine strikeouts, before freshman Sidney Bush and Vollmer each pitched the nightcap. Bush struck out six in her start.

Bush also went 2 for 2 with an RBI and Erickson was 2 for 3 with an RBI in game two, after each had a pair of hits in the opener as well. Natalie Grobaski also went 2 for 3 with an RBI and Uy had an RBI single in game one, along with Sadie Kroondyk.

Uy thinks this team can be really good, just like her coach, and was happy to get that opening win in a special game for her and the other seniors Monday.

“This is it, my last first home game,” Uy said. “I didn’t want to think about it, but that was what came to my mind. It’s kind of sad, but I’m happy to see the program grow.

"I think we can be really good. If we keep going and keep grinding. We have the Fieldhouse, so even if it’s raining, snowing, we’re in there grinding.”

Boyne City (2-3) will have the chance to keep things moving in the right direction next when they head to a tough Cheboygan team on Tuesday, April 23.

Contact or send game stats/info to Sports Editor Drew Kochanny at dkochanny@petoskeynews.com. Follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter, @DrewKochanny, and Instagram, @drewkochanny

This article originally appeared on The Petoskey News-Review: Boyne City softball takes a pair of wins over Inland Lakes in home opener