Cheboygan softball rolls on senior night; Onaway baseball wraps up solid Ski Valley season
CHEBOYGAN – There were tears shed on Thursday night – and for good reason.
Growing up together, Cheboygan softball’s current senior class has won on a ton on the field. So, it was only fitting they captured a couple more victories in their final regular season games at home.
Keyed by the usual strengths – solid pitching and efficient offense – the Chiefs swept past Kingsley with 10-0 and 6-1 victories on senior night in Cheboygan.
“It felt great to win against Kingsley. I know they’re a pretty good team, and we just all came together and did what we needed to do,” Cheboygan senior Amelia Johnson said.
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Following Cheboygan’s game one win, a ceremony was held for the Chiefs’ senior class, which includes Johnson, who will continue her softball career at Lansing Community College next season. It was an emotional moment for a group that’s been together for a long time.
“It’s just amazing to play with all of them and to see it all come to an end is really hard, but I know we all have bright futures,” Johnson said.
Cheboygan’s game one pitching win came from senior Libby VanFleet, who struck out 10 and allowed just two hits over five innings.
At the plate, the Chiefs (26-10) were led by two doubles, a single and a run scored from Emerson Eustice, while Presley Chamberlain had two hits and scored twice, Johnson tripled, singled and scored a run, Jordan Ashley doubled, singled and scored a run, and Marley Couture ripped a two-run single. Adding a hit and a run scored were Emily Clark, Hannah Whippo and Tessa Lake. Ella Kosanke and VanFleet each scored a run.
Eustice, another senior pitcher, earned the win in the nightcap, striking out six – including a 100th strikeout this season – in 5 2/3 innings of work. VanFleet pitched the last 1 1/3 innings, striking out one and allowing a hit.
Couture doubled, singled and scored a run for the Chiefs, who received a double and a run scored from Clark, a double from Whippo, a hit and a run scored from Lake, and a hit from Kosanke.
Cheboygan now prepares for district play, which will be hosted by the Chiefs on Saturday, June 1. Cheboygan takes on Sault Ste. Marie in a 10 a.m. Division 2 semifinal.
“I’m really looking forward to districts, and I’m very excited that we’re hosting, and we get at least one more home game on our field, which means a lot,” Johnson said.
Chiefs shut out by Stags in both games
CHEBOYGAN – The struggle was real offensively for the Cheboygan baseball team, which suffered 9-0 and 7-0 losses to Kingsley in a doubleheader on Thursday.
In the opener, James Charboneau registered the lone hit for the Chiefs (14-18).
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Dylan Balazovic was the losing pitcher, striking out four, allowing four hits and walking two in four innings. Nolan Schley and Charlie Godfrey each struck out two batters in an inning pitched.
Brennan Bradley had two hits for the Chiefs, who received a hit apiece from James Charboneau and Godfrey in the second game.
Godfrey took the loss on the mound, striking out six and scattering 10 hits in six innings.
Cheboygan hosts the Soo Black Sox on Tuesday, May 28.
Stead, Rose lead Cheboygan golf to third at Boyne invite
BOYNE CITY – Led by top-10 finishes from Tristan Stead and Gavin Rose, the Cheboygan boys golf team finished third at the Boyne City Invitational on Thursday.
Stead’s 18-hole score of 87 was good enough for fourth and Rose’s 92 placed eighth for the Chiefs, who posted a 387 score. Other Chiefs competing included Jacob Pluszczynski (17th, 102), Caden Gardner (23rd, 106), Alex Hudson (29th, 111) and Kaleb Goodrich (30th, 113).
Cheboygan will play in a MHSAA Division 3 regional at Houghton Lake on Tuesday, May 28.
Cardinals take care of Mancelona at home
ONAWAY – The Onaway baseball team wrapped up a successful Ski Valley Conference season by sweeping Mancelona with 7-0 and 9-1 victories at home on Thursday.
The Cardinals (18-7, 12-4 Ski Valley) were led in game one by pitcher Dylan Szymoniak, who struck out eight, allowed eight hits and walked three over six innings.
Cole Selke’s two doubles fueled Onaway’s offense, which received two hits from Luke Lovelace, and hits apiece for Austin Veal (two RBIs), Anthony Santiago (RBI), Jackson Chaskey, Gavin Green and Szymoniak.
In game two, Lovelace had two doubles, Santiago tripled and added an RBI, and Veal, Selke and Chaskey each recorded a hit and an RBI. Justin Kramer-St. Germain chipped in with a hit.
Selke earned the win on the mound, striking out six, scattering four hits and walking one in six innings.
Cardinals loses twice against Mancy
ONAWAY – The Onaway softball team suffered 9-6 and 5-4 losses in a Ski Valley home doubleheader against Mancelona on Thursday.
Ema DeMaestri had two hits and two RBis and Marley Szymoniak added two hits and an RBI for the Cardinals in game one, while Charlotte Box (RBI), Natalie Hyde and Lesley Lalonde tallied a hit each.
Box was the losing pitcher, striking out five, scattering five hits and walking two over six innings.
In the nightcap, DeMaestri led the Cardinals with two hits, Sadie Decker had a hit and an RBI, and Lily Parr and Szymoniak each chipped in with a hit.
Layla Box took the pitching loss, striking out three, allowing seven hits and walking six in seven innings.
Mackinaw City softball drops two at Ellsworth
ELLSWORTH – The Mackinaw City softball team dropped 14-4 and 14-2 contests at Ellsworth on Tuesday.
Kenzlie Currie doubled and scored a run to lead the Comets (10-18, 6-6 NLC) in the opener, while Liz Kruczynski had a hit and two RBIs, Jersey Beauchamp recorded a hit and a run scored, Gracie Beauchamp added a hit, and Abby Brown tallied an RBI and a run scored. Jersey Beauchamp was the losing pitcher, striking out six and allowing seven hits in five innings.
Rian Esper's two hits, two RBIs and two runs scored led Mackinaw City in game two. Currie had a hit and Kruczynski scored twice. Jersey Beauchamp took the pitching defeat, striking out one and scattering 11 hits in four innings.
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 softball tops Kingsley in regular season finale; Onaway teams face Mancelona
