Cheboygan’s Balazovic, Jankoviak, Couture make All-SAC baseball first team
ST. IGNACE – The Cheboygan Chiefs might not have captured the Straits Area Conference baseball title this past season, but they had several players who stood out during conference play.
Three of those Chiefs recently earned spots on the All-SAC first team after strong seasons on the diamond.
Leading the way on the All-SAC first team were junior Dylan Balazovic, senior Jacob Jankoviak and senior Eli Couture. Balazovic made the squad at catcher, Jankoviak was named as a pitcher, and Couture earned a spot as an outfielder for the Chiefs, who went 10-2 in SAC play.
All three Cheboygan players also made the All-District squad.
“All three of those boys had great years,” said Cheboygan coach Kevin Baller. “Their numbers were very good. Dylan’s been solid for the last three years. Just a solid overall catcher that when opposing teams show up, they know that the ball is probably not going to get by them, and if they’re going to try to steal, they’re at risk.
“JJ’s (Jankoviak) just solid, and just his unselfishness. He pitched, he played shortstop, he played second, he played first. Just an unselfish kid who wanted to do what was best for the team wherever we needed him.
“Eli put up some solid numbers, especially being a solid leadoff hitter, and he anchored the outfield out in center. He got to as many baseballs as we could and limited teams to extra-base hits.”
The Chiefs were also represented by sophomore Sean Postula, who made the All-SAC second team as an infielder, while junior Blake Blaskowski and sophomore Luke Munger were each recognized as honorable mentions.
“Sean, he had a very, very, very good second year,” Baller said. “He was another one that was similar to JJ – he would’ve played anywhere. He played at third, played at short, played at second, had to pitch, caught a game. Just a kid who had a great year of playing wherever we needed him.
"Blake and Luke, their first years up on varsity, both of them worked really hard. Blake was very consistent at third base and was a very consistent hitter, and Luke Munger worked his way into being one of the better hitters as the year came to an end, just constantly putting the ball in play and playing hard.”
Rounding out the rest of the All-SAC first team were Sault Ste. Marie’s Matt Lumdsen, who was named the conference’s Player of the Year, as well as his Blue Devil teammates Garrett Gorsuch, Denvy McCord, Ethan Chambers and Josh Lumsden, Rudyard’s Cam Peterson and Aiden Bickel, and Newberry’s Matthew Rahilly.
SAC second team honors also went to Rudyard’s Tanner Baker, Jaxon Clark and Eli Sprague, Pickford’s Blake Spencer, Eli McDonald, Tommy Storey and Cale Maciag, Newberry’s Ethan Salter, and Sault Ste. Marie’s Cale Bell.
Honorable mention nods were earned by Rudyard’s Landon Mayer and Kallen Lawlor, Brimley’s Perry LaBlanc and Trey Lynn, Newberry’s Stephen Allen, Sault Ste. Marie’s Drew Adair, and Pickford’s Gunner Bennin.
All-SAC First Team
Dylan Balazovic, Cheboygan, Catcher
Matt Lumsden, Sault, Infield (SAC Player of the Year)
Garrett Gorsuch, Sault, Pitcher
Jacob Jankoviak, Cheboygan, Pitcher
Eli Couture, Cheboygan, Outfield
Denvy McCord, Sault, Outfield
Cam Peterson, Rudyard, Infield
Aiden Bickel, Rudyard, Infield
Ethan Chambers, Sault, Infield
Matthew Rahilly, Newberry, Infield
Josh Lumsden, Sault, Utility
All-SAC Second Team
Tanner Baker, Rudyard
Jaxon Clark, Rudyard
Blake Spencer, Pickford
Eli Sprague, Rudyard
Ethan Shepard, St. Ignace
Ethan Salter, Newberry
Sean Postula, Cheboygan
Eli McDonald, Pickford
Tommy Storey, Pickford
Cale Bell, Sault
Cale Maciag, Pickford
SAC Honorable Mention
Landon Mayer, Rudyard
Kallen Lawlor, Rudyard
Luke Munger, Cheboygan
Blake Blaskowski, Cheboygan
Stephen Allen, Newberry
Drew Adair, Sault
Gunner Bennin, Pickford
Perry LaBlanc, Brimley
Trey Lynn, Brimley
This article originally appeared on Cheboygan Daily Tribune: Cheboygan’s Balazovic, Jankoviak, Couture make All-SAC baseball first team
