Bulldogs regain district crown with wins over Alanson, Harbor Light
INDIAN RIVER – On a certain Friday around this time last year, the Inland Lakes baseball team was crestfallen.
From the players, to head coach Josh Vieau and assistant coach Dusty Saker, to their own fans, it was a terrible feeling after being stunned by Pellston in a district final.
One year later, on another Friday in the early month of June, the Bulldogs absolutely made sure disaster didn’t strike twice.
They went out and got their redemption in a business-like manner.
Lifted by quality all-around team play, the Bulldogs reclaimed their Division 4 district title with victories over Alanson and Harbor Light at Cooperation Park.
“(Our players) were really motivated,” said Vieau, who guided the Bulldogs to a sixth district title in eight seasons. “On Thursday we didn’t have the greatest practice, so we kind of lit them up a little bit, and it lit a fire under them. Harbor Light was a lot better than we thought, they had decent pitching, so it was fun to see that. It seemed like the better the pitching, the better we hit, so that’s a promising thing going forward.
“I can’t say enough about the kids. Like I’ve said all year, right from the top to the bottom, I mean even in the dugout, the kids on the bench who don’t get much playing time, that they’re just great kids with great attitudes. We’re on a mission, I feel like.”
The Bulldogs (25-7) made their intentions known quickly, blitzing Alanson early and cruising to a three-inning 15-0 semifinal victory, which set up a battle with the Swordsmen in the final. The Bulldogs were simply too much in a 14-1 championship win over the Swordsmen, who struggled against the pitching of sophomore Connor Wallace.
When it was all over, it was a much more enjoyable moment for these Bulldogs compared to what happened about 12 months ago.
“It feels good,” Vieau said. “I know people say it’s a weak district and this and that, but it matters. We’re on a mission right now. Our mission is to get to East Lansing, and that’s always been our mission, and we take it one game, one pitch at a time, and it feels good for (assistant coach) Dusty (Saker) and I to be back helping this team become district champs, it really does.”
As he’s done all season, Wallace came up big on the mound, striking out 10, allowing just one hit and walking one in five innings of work.
At the plate, freshman Aidan Fenstermaker went 2-for-3 with two RBI and two runs scored, while senior Mason Blumke and junior Kaden Hansel each finished with two hits, three RBI and a run scored. Also adding two hits was senior Andrew Kolly, who drove in two runs and scored once. Wallace had one hit, two RBI and three runs scored.
“No disrespect to any of the other teams we’ve had, but this is one of the best teams we’ve had,” Vieau said of his current squad. “We are very confident with this team and who’s on the mound and at the plate. Like Austin Brege coming in the other day, we pulled him early so we had all guns blazing for Wednesday, and we’re just ready to go, man. When you bring (Brege) out, he’s a good kid on the bench, he’s talking the team up, and we’re just really proud of our kids right now.”
Logan O’Boyle had a hit, an RBI and a run scored, Dylan Wymer registered a hit and scored a run, and Jacob Willey scored three times to help out in the Inland Lakes rout.
In the semifinal shutout win over Alanson, Fenstermaker paced the Bulldogs with two hits, three RBI and three runs scored. Wallace had two hits, knocked in three runs and scored a run, and Hansel tripled and scored twice. Payton Teuthorn (two runs) and Kolly (RBI, two runs) both added hits. Wymer (two RBI, run), Willey (RBI, run), Logan O’Boyle (RBI, run) and Blumke (run) also played their part in the win.
Brege, a senior, earned the win on the mound for the Bulldogs, striking out five and allowing no hits in two innings. Jackson Boctorff tossed one inning in relief, striking out three and allowing no hits.
The win for Inland Lakes sets up a regional semifinal showdown with Rudyard (25-9-1) at Pellston on Wednesday, June 8, at 5 p.m.
When it comes to the two rivals, there seems to be no love lost between both Bulldog squads.
“I’ll tell you what, if you’re a baseball fan, that is one baseball game that you’re not going to want to miss,” Vieau said. “That’s going to be a very good game. Rudyard’s a very solid team, and there’s nothing wrong with a rivalry. We don’t like them, it’s pretty clear, and they don’t like us. I’m good with it, they’re good with it. They were my rival when I was in school, they were Dusty’s (Saker) rival, and (Rudyard coach) Billy (Mitchell) has got them going right now. They’re senior-heavy and we’re super, super excited to play them.
“We were hoping they would win their district, and we want to play them, and I assume they want to play with us after that (game earlier this season) was called a tie, and there was some talking going back and forth. We’re excited, our kids are excited, and it’s going to be one hell of a baseball game.”
Rudyard won its district by capturing a 14-4 victory over Pickford in the final at Pellston on Friday. The Bulldogs defeated Pellston 7-0 in a semifinal matchup earlier in the day.
Wednesday’s winner advances to the regional final in Rudyard on Saturday, June 11.
This article originally appeared on Cheboygan Daily Tribune: Inland Lakes baseball reclaims district title with wins over Alanson, Harbor Light
