Busy week on Gaylord-area diamonds for Gaylord, GSM and JoBurg

dylan jespersen, the petoskey news-review

Thu, May 18, 2023, 10:58 PM·6 min read

Avery Parker swings during a high school softball matchup between Gaylord and Traverse City Central on Tuesday, May 16.

GAYLORD ― If you're a fan of high school baseball and softball, this week was a good one to be in Gaylord.

After months of lackluster weather to start the spring season, the Northern Michigan weather is finally allowing for teams to get multiple doubleheaders in per week, and Gaylord area teams took advantage this past week in particular as nearly every team stacked multiple doubleheaders.

See how area teams fared on games from Monday, May 15 to Thursday, May 18.

Gaylord softball extends BNC win streak, splits with Hartland

Alexis Shepherd slides into third base during a high school softball matchup between Gaylord and Traverse City Central on Tuesday, May 16.

It was a challenging but overall successful week for the Gaylord softball program as the Blue Devils finished with a 3-1 record in doubleheaders against two competent opponents, sweeping Traverse City Central on Tuesday before splitting the doubleheader with the Hartland Eagles on Wednesday, suffering just their second loss of the season before bouncing back for their 22nd victory.

Gaylord followed its usual script against TC Central, scoring 11 runs in the game-one victory and 12 runs in the game-two victory to stay unbeaten in BNC play.

In game one, Aubrey Jones, Avery Parker and Alexis Kozlowski all had two hits apiece, with Kozlowski providing the big hit of the day with a two-run home run in the bottom of the sixth to push the Blue Devils to the mercy-rule victory. Jayden Jones put on another fabulous display in the circle, allowing no runs and just two hits while striking out eight.

Jayden Jones pitches during a high school softball matchup between Gaylord and Traverse City Central on Tuesday, May 16.

Avery Parker provided the big hit in the game two victory, with her two-run home run in the fourth inning putting the game out of reach. She also got the win in the circle, allowing two runs while striking out five.

Aubrey Jones (two hits, five runs batted in) and Braleigh Miller (3-for-3, three runs scored) had standout performances at the plate, while Kozlowski (2-for-3, two RBI, two runs) and Alexis Shepherd (2-for-4, two doubles, two RBI, three runs) also had big games.

Aubrey Jones connects with a pitch during a high school softball matchup between Gaylord and Traverse City Central on Tuesday, May 16.

Gaylord was back in action the next day, this time going on the road to the Metro-Detroit area for a matchup with Hartland.

A matchup of two top-ranked teams, it was Hartland that got the better of the Blue Devils in game one with a 4-2 win before Gaylord responded with a decisive 9-1 victory to earn a series split.

Gaylord interrupted a pitcher's duel in the top of the seventh as Parker again came through with the big hit, following a Kozlowski double by clearing the centerfield fence for a go-ahead two-run homer to break the 0-0 tie.

That seemingly would be enough to clinch a hard-fought victory with Jones in the circle, but Hartland would fight back in the bottom half of the inning, tying the game with just one out before eventually winning on Jaylen Nokovich's walk-off, two-run home run, handing the Blue Devils their second loss of the season.

The Gaylord offense bounced back in game two, scoring nine runs on 13 hits in an eight-run victory for win number 22 this season.

Jayden Jones came through in a big way, going 4-for-4 with two home runs, five RBI and three runs scored while getting the win in the circle, allowing one unearned run while striking out five.

Now 22-2 overall this season and 8-0 in BNC games, Gaylord could wrap up yet another unbeaten BNC championship with a doubleheader sweep of Alpena on Tuesday, May 23 while they look to build momentum towards a postseason push.

Blue Devils baseball falls twice to TC Central, manages a split against Charlevoix

Isaac Hopp (left), Lucas Green (center) and Luke Enders (right) talk between innings during a high school baseball matchup between Gaylord and Charlevoix on Thursday, May 18.

Gaylord baseball was on the opposite side of the spectrum during its four games this week, falling twice to TC Central on Tuesday before managing a split against Charlevoix in the doubleheader on Thursday.

The Trojans hitters had their way in both games on Tuesday, putting up 13 runs on 15 hits in a 13-2 win in game one while nearly matching that output with 12 runs on 13 hits in a 12-1 game-two victory.

Luke Enders had the most successful day for the Blue Devils, tripling in game one for one of two Blue Devils' hits while going 2-for-3 with a double and an RBI in game two.

Luke Enders swings at a pitch during a high school baseball matchup between Gaylord and Traverse City Central on Tuesday, May 16.

Game one against Charlevoix was another instance of an offense taking full advantage of its opportunities against Gaylord, with Charlevoix scoring nine runs on 11 hits in a 9-6 win.

The Gaylord offense found a bit of momentum, tallying eight hits despite being on the losing side. Torino Lamerato, Will Bethuy and Cody Cronkright all had two hits, with Bethuy leading the way with a triple while Lamerato scored two runs.

Torino Lamerato watches a pitch low during a high school baseball matchup between Gaylord and Charlevoix on Thursday, May 18.

Everything came together for the Blue Devils in game two, however, as they held the Rayders to just a single run while a total offensive performance led to a 6-1 victory.

Eight of nine Gaylord hitters recorded a hit, with Bethuy, Aidan Locker, Louden Stradling and Brennan Radulski all doubling. Locker got the win on the mound, pitching 4.2 innings of scoreless work. He combined with Bethuy and Isaac Hopp to hold the Rayder scoreless, allowing just four total hits.

St. Mary's sweeps Onaway, falls twice to Inland Lakes

Donovan Blust pitches during a high school baseball matchup between Gaylord St. Mary's and Inland Lakes on Thursday, May 18.

A pivotal week for the St. Mary's baseball team ended on the wrong foot as, despite sweeping Onaway to start the week, a tough two losses to Inland Lakes on Thursday puts their Ski Valley Conference hopes in jeopardy.

Donovan Blust tallied two hits including a home run, while Brody Jeffers had three hits and two RBI in a 16-2 win in game one against the Cardinals. In game two, Jeffers and Daniel Jacobson led the way to a 10-4 victory, tallying two hits apiece and Jeffers getting the win on the mound.

Thursday's matchups with Inland Lakes were extremely important, but ultimately two games that went the Bulldogs' way as they came away with 7-3 and 3-0 victories, seizing control of the SVC.

Dillon Croff pitches during a high school baseball matchup between Gaylord St. Mary's and Inland Lakes on Thursday, May 18.

Inland Lakes managed seven runs off St. Mary's ace, Dillon Croff, in the game one victory, while Jeffers (two hits) and Gavin Bebble (double) did what they could at the plate, but to no avail.

In game two, Kaden Hansel shut down the Snowbirds' offense as they managed just four hits in the 3-0 loss.

JoBurg softball picks up four more wins

Jayden Marlatt pulls into third base during a high school softball matchup between Johannesburg-Lewiston and Gaylord St. Mary on Tuesday, May 9.

The Johannesburg-Lewiston softball team picked up four more wins this week, sweeping Mancelona in a doubleheader on Monday before sweeping Ellsworth on Tuesday.

Jayden Marlatt (double, two RBI) and Reagan Sides (three this, double, two RBI) led the way to a 5-0 win in game one with Mancelona, while Jaeden Briley tripled and scored the go-ahead run in a 6-5, game two win.

It was Marlatt leading the way to 14-8 and 11-4 victories over Ellsworth as well, tallying four hits, two triples, five RBI and five runs scored over the two games.

JoBurg is now 20-2 overall this season.

JoBurg baseball wins three, loses one