District baseball preview: Home sweet home for Cheboygan; Bulldogs could face St. Mary
CHEBOYGAN – District baseball is almost here.
Following Memorial Day, things are really going to kick into high gear as Cheboygan, Inland Lakes, Mackinaw City, Onaway and Pellston will be on the hunt for championships.
With district action starting on Tuesday, let’s break down each Cheboygan area team and the path it faces.
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MHSAA Division 2, District 33, Saturday, June 1
Host: Cheboygan
District Semifinals
Cheboygan vs. Kingsford, 10 a.m.
Sault Ste. Marie vs. Escanaba, 12 p.m.
Championship
2 p.m.
It’s been an up-and-down season for the Chiefs, who will be aiming to capture their first district title since 2022. This is always a difficult district to pick, especially with the likes of Sault Ste. Marie and Escanaba being involved. If Cheboygan can get through a tricky first-round clash with Kingsford, it would set up what could be a thrilling final against either the Sault or Esky. The Chiefs were swept by the Blue Devils earlier this season.
MHSAA Division 4, District 102, May 28-June 1
Host: Johannesburg-Lewiston
Pre-Districts: Tuesday, May 28
Inland Lakes at Johannesburg-Lewiston, 4 p.m.
District Semifinals, Saturday, June 1
Inland Lakes/JoBurg vs. Wolverine, 10 a.m.
Gaylord St. Mary vs. Boyne Falls, 12 p.m.
Championship
2 p.m.
Inland Lakes is hungry for a deep postseason run and a third consecutive district title. The Bulldogs will need to get through JoBurg and Wolverine before likely taking on Ski Valley rival Gaylord St. Mary in the finals. If it’s the Bulldogs and Snowbirds, that would be an exciting title clash. First things first, Inland Lakes needs to take care of business if it wants another spot in the final.
MHSAA Division 4, District 103, May 28-June 1
Host: Hillman
Pre-Districts: Tuesday, May 28
Onaway vs. Atlanta, 4 p.m.
District Semifinals, Saturday, June 1
Onaway/Atlanta vs. Posen, 10 a.m.
Hillman vs. Rogers City, 12 p.m.
Championship
2 p.m.
This is a great chance for a solid Onaway team, but the Cardinals will need to win two if they want to reach the championship. If they make the final, facing either Rogers City or Hillman would be a challenging task. If the pitching continues to be as good as it's been, the Cardinals can prevail.
MHSAA Division 4, District 99, May 28-31
Host: Rudyard
Pre-Districts: Tuesday, May 28
Bark-River Harris vs. Pickford, 4:30 p.m.
District Semifinals, Friday, May 31
Mackinaw City vs. Rudyard, 10 a.m.
Bark-River Harris/Pickford vs. Brimley, 12 p.m.
Championship
2 p.m.
Having won several districts over the years, Rudyard is likely the favorite here, but Mackinaw City has the pitching and hitting to make things interesting against the Bulldogs in the semifinals. If the Comets pull an upset, that would be a massive accomplishment. Brimley could also be one of the dark horses here as well.
MHSAA Division 4, District 100, Friday, May 31
Host: Harbor Springs
District Semifinals
Alanson vs. Harbor Springs, 10 a.m.
Pellston vs. Harbor Light, 12 p.m.
Championship
2 p.m.
The Hornets have struggled all season, but this will be a great chance for redemption. However, Harbor Light might just be the best team in this district. If there was ever a time for Pellston to put it all together, this would be it.
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: Previewing the 2024 postseason for Cheboygan area baseball teams
