Cheboygan soccer battles to tie with NMC; Mackinaw City, Inland Lakes teams earn victories

CHEBOYGAN – Oh, they were so close.

With just minutes to play, the Cheboygan Chiefs look destined to earn their biggest win of the soccer season.

However, the Chiefs, who held a narrow 1-0 lead, were called for a foul in their own box, setting up McBain Northern Michigan Christian’s Jada VanNoord, who calmly slotted home a penalty kick to equalize with 6:49 left. As a result, the Chiefs had to settle for a 1-1 tie against the league-leading Comets in Cheboygan on Thursday.

“I really think that was a clean tackle, I think it was ball first, both kids were really hustling,” Cheboygan coach Tom Markham said. “Jada’s (VanNoord) quite a player, she was playing hard, and so I felt we had opportunities. We had some good serves we should’ve buried in the first half, but a really solid effort tonight by the Cheboygan Chiefs.”

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Despite falling short of an upset, the Chiefs (6-2-2, 6-2-2 NMSL) played what Markham called their best game of the season, controlling the first half and being rewarded when sophomore Morgan Davis scored to make it a one-goal Cheboygan advantage. Defensively, the Chiefs were stout, holding a lethal NMC attack to just one goal.

“We won a lot of balls, we had a great practice (Wednesday), and I’m really proud of these kids, and we said if we’re going to make a mistake, we’re going to make it big,” Markham said. “I feel like tonight was a breakthrough moment for us because they played with heart, they played together, and we had some really solid opportunities.”

By earning a tie, NMC (11-0-1, 9-0-1) remained the only unbeaten team in the NMSL.

Cheboygan travels to Roscommon for a makeup game on Tuesday, May 7.

Comets fight back, capture split with Harbor Light

MACKINAW CITY – The Mackinaw City baseball team kept itself in the Northern Lakes Conference title race by avenging a 4-2 game one loss, earning a 3-2 victory in the nightcap, and splitting with Harbor Light on Thursday.

Braylon Currie was Mackinaw City’s winning pitcher in game two, striking out five, allowing five hits and walking one in five innings. Mackinaw City’s offense was led by a hit apiece from Ben Strittmatter (double, RBI), Lucas Bergstrom (run), Nick Vieau and Currie. Tyler Hingston had an RBI and Tanyon Pierce scored a run.

Currie’s hit and two RBIs led the Comets (9-3, 5-1 NLC) in the opener. Sabastian Pierce and Vieau each scored a run. Sabastian Pierce took the loss on the mound, striking out four in five innings pitched.

“Tonight was a huge matchup for league standings, and we were happy to come away with a split,” Mackinaw City coach Elijah May said. “We had our chances in game one, but we ended up with five errors and Harbor Light capitalized on those mistakes. Our pitching has continued to keep us in games, we will have to make some offensive adjustments moving forward.”

Mackinaw City plays at Atlanta on Friday and at the Pellston tournament on Saturday.

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Pitching fuels Bulldogs to home sweep over Alpena

INDIAN RIVER – Two quality pitching performances helped lift the Inland Lakes baseball team to 3-2 and 4-0 victories over Alpena in a non-conference doubleheader sweep on Thursday.

In the opener, I-L's Connor Wallace earned the win on the mound, striking out 13, walking three and allowing one hit in six innings. Cash DePauw put on a strong display in the nightcap, picking up the win with six strikeouts, four walks and one hit allowed over six innings.

The Bulldogs (15-0) were led by a hit and a run scored from Wallace and DePauw in game one, while Andre Bradford had a hit and Jake Willey knocked in a run.

DePauw’s one hit, two RBIs and one run scored fueled Inland Lakes in game two. Garrett Shoven recorded a hit and scored a run, Ty Kolly and Willey tallied a hit apiece, and Wyatt Hanel had an RBI.

Inland Lakes travels to Bellaire for a Ski Valley clash on Friday.

Offense lifts Comet softball to sweep over Harbor Light

MACKINAW CITY – It was a terrific offensive night for the Mackinaw City softball team, which swept Harbor Light with 17-7 and 17-3 victories on Thursday.

Rian Esper's two hits, three RBIs and two runs scored led the Comets in the opener, while Vanessa Groenewoud had two hits, two RBIs and four runs scored, Jersey Beauchamp added two hits, three RBIs and two runs scored, Emily Kruczynski registered a hit, an RBI and a run scored, and Abby Brown recorded a hit. Gracie Beauchamp (three runs), Chloe Richards (two runs), Jillian Poumade (run) and Liz Kruczynski (run) also contributed. Groenewoud was the winning pitcher, striking out four and allowing four hits in five innings.

Jersey Beauchamp was the winning pitcher in game two, striking out six and allowing four hits in four innings.

Esper had three hits, knocked in two runs and scored four times, while Jersey Beauchamp finished with two doubles, five RBIs and two runs scored. Brown (three RBIs, run), Emily Kruczynski (RBI, two runs), Groenewoud (three runs) and Poppy Wallace (run) registered a hit apiece. Keilan Thompson (RBI, run), Julia Short (RBI, run) and Gracie Beauchamp (two runs) rounded out the Comets (4-8, 2-4 Northern Lakes Conference).

Mackinaw City heads to Atlanta on Friday.

Contact sports editor Jared Greenleaf at jgreenleaf@gannett.com. Follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter @sportsCDT

This article originally appeared on Cheboygan Daily Tribune: Cheboygan soccer ties with McBain NMC, Mackinaw City teams face Harbor Light, Bulldogs sweep Alpena