Gomez's walk-off single gives Cheboygan baseball dramatic game two win over Boyne City

CHEBOYGAN — This year’s Cheboygan baseball team seems to have a flair for the dramatic in certain games.

Friday evening was one of those times for the Chiefs, who responded from a 9-6 game one loss to Boyne City with a 7-6 game two triumph in a non-conference doubleheader split at home.

The Chiefs (11-14) used a walk-off, RBI bunt single from Phoenix Gomez to top the Ramblers in a thrilling nightcap.

Cheboygan players registering hits were Dylan Balazovic (double, RBI), Charlie Godfrey (RBI), Nolan Schley (run) and Sean Postula. Other contributors included Warren Farver (RBI, run), Jacob Seaman (RBI, run) and Blake Blaskowski (two runs).

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Earning the pitching win was Chase Swanson, who struck out three, walked two and allowed one hit in two innings of relief. Godfrey pitched the first three innings, striking out eight, scattering eight hits and walking one.

“I thought the kids did a much better job of battling in the second game,” Cheboygan coach Kevin Baller said. “We had some mental mistakes in the first game, but we still gave ourselves chances to win it. In the second game, the kids continued to fight. They did great.”

Balazovic’s two hits, including a double, and two RBIs led Cheboygan in game one, while Seaman (RBI, run) also had two hits. Postula (double, two RBIs) and Patrick Smith (run) each recorded a hit. Rounding out the Chiefs were Blaskowski (RBI, run), Swanson (two runs) and James Charboneau (run).

Balazovic took the loss on the mound, striking out six, allowing four hits and walking two in 4 1/3 innings. Schley and Swanson pitched in relief, recording a strikeout apiece.

“I thought our pitching did a nice job of keeping us in the game in both games,” Baller said. “They still gave us a chance to win, and I think that’s important.”

Mackinaw City baseball blasts Pellston on senior night

MACKINAW CITY — It was a thrilling senior night for the Mackinaw City baseball team, which swept Pellston with 18-3 and 9-4 victories on Thursday, May 9.

Mackinaw City seniors being honored were Lucas Bergstrom, Sabastian Pierce, Nick Vieau and Trystan Swanson, a group coach Elijah May praised.

“The four seniors that we have this year are tremendous leaders and excellent young men,” May said. “I have really enjoyed being around them and watching them grow and develop into the players and individuals that they are.”

Pierce was the winning pitcher in the opener for the Comets (16-4), striking out three, allowing four hits and walking one in three innings. Braylon Currie struck out two in one relief inning.

Recording two hits apiece were Pierce (two RBIs, four runs), Currie (two RBIs, three runs), Vieau (two RBIs) and Swanson (four runs). Tanyon Pierce (two RBIs) and Wes House (RBI) each had a hit. Bergstrom (RBI, run), Tyler Hingston (two runs) and Mikey Sullivan (two runs) also contributed.

Swanson earned the win on the mound in game two, striking out two, scattering three hits and walking three in 2 1/3 innings. Jacob Sroka (three strikeouts) and Currie (two strikeouts) each threw in relief.

Offensively, Ben Strittmatter led the Comets with two hits, two RBIs and a run scored, while Tanyon Pierce knocked in two runs and scored once. Sabastian Pierce, Swanson and Currie each scored twice. Vieau added a run scored.

Jack Lane’s two hits and a run scored paced Pellston in game one. Recording hits were Sam O’Neil (double, RBI), Lucas Livermore (double, run), Brett Bonter (double), Donovan O’Rourke (RBI) and Noah Hansen.

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Lane was the losing pitcher, striking out four, allowing nine hits and walking five in 2 2/3 innings. O’Neil pitched one inning, striking out one.

Jack Schmalzried (triple, RBI, run) and O’Neil finished with two hits apiece for the Hornets (0-14) in game two, while Lane had a hit and scored two runs, Bonter doubled and scored a run, and Ethan Hickman registered a hit.

Schmalzried took the loss on the mound, striking out seven, scattering four hits and walking four in five innings.

Offense powers Pellston softball to sweep over Comets

MACKINAW CITY — The Pellston softball team captured 12-2 and 12-11 victories over Mackinaw City in a non-conference doubleheader on May 9.

In the opener, Allie Cameron and Sadie Keck each doubled, singled and knocked in a run to lead the Hornets, who received two hits and an RBI from Lanie Irwin, a double and an RBI from Breanna Willis, and a single apiece from Ella Klungle, Paige Worthington and Mia Cesaro. Keck was the winning pitcher, striking out seven.

Keck starred for the Hornets in game two, finishing with three doubles, a single and three RBIs, while Irwin and Willis each registered two singles and an RBI. Sophia Nicholls, Klungle and Worthington each chipped in with a single.

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Jersey Beauchamp’s hit and an RBI led the Comets in game one. Gracie Beauchamp and Liz Kruczynski each had a hit and scored a run. Abby Brown tallied a hit. Jersey Beauchamp was the losing pitcher, striking out eight in five innings.

Rian Esper’s three hits and three runs scored paced the Comets (6-12) in the nightcap. Adding two hits apiece were Gracie Beauchamp (double, RBI, four runs) and Emily Kruczynski (run). Brown (RBI), Liz Kruczynski (two runs) and Julia Short (RBI) each added a hit. Jersey Beauchamp was the losing pitcher, striking out five in six innings.

Cheboygan JV baseball ties, falls at Boyne City

BOYNE CITY – The Cheboygan junior varsity baseball team battled back to earn a 6-6 tie in game one of a doubleheader at Boyne City on Friday.

Mark Munger’s double led Cheboygan’s offense, which received a hit apiece from Carson Kiefer, Andrew Kiefer and Quin Hatt. Josh Clark pitched, striking out eight and allowing seven hits.

Carson Kiefer, Andrew Kiefer, Clark, Munger and Hatt each added a hit for the Chiefs in a 12-4 game two loss. Carson Kiefer (four strikeouts, six hits) and Brezlin Fyan (two strikeouts, two hits) each pitched.

Results from East Jordan Track Invitational (May 9)

CHEBOYGAN BOYS (LARGE SCHOOL)

2. Lucas Sidlauskas, Shot Put, 42-11

2. Lucas Sidlauskas, Discus, 149-5

3. Evan Benson, Pole Vault, 10-6

3. 4X200 Relay (Kelsey Lamb, Hayden LaPointe, Thomas VanAntwerp, Jacob Baiel, 1:39.30)

4. Gabe Sabolsky, Pole Vault, 9-6

5. Leland Brendle, 110 Hurdles, 17.88

5. Leland Brendle, 300 Hurdles, 47.20

CHEBOYGAN GIRLS (BIG SCHOOL)

1. Bella Ecker, High Jump, 5-1

2. Cheyanne Friday, 100 Hurdles, 18.73

2. Samantha Bailey, 300 Hurdles, 54.72

2. Samantha Bailey, Long Jump, 13-5.5

3. Samantha Bailey, 100 Hurdles, 19.20

3. Andalee Bailey, Pole Vault, 6-6

4. Nola Ecker, Pole Vault, 6-6

3. 4X100 Relay (Abbey Zilla, Piper Stead, Olivia Patrick, Bella Ecker, 55.12)

3. 4X800 Relay (Sammy Harke, Cloee Rupp, Piper Stead, Ava Bury, 11:24)

4. Abbey Zilla, 200, 29.54

5. Joyce Ormsbee, Shot Put, 26-7.75

5. Cloee Rupp, Discus, 72-9

INLAND LAKES BOYS (SMALL SCHOOL)

2. 4X200 Relay (No names available, 1:37.31)

5. Jack Wilson, Shot Put, 39-7

INLAND LAKES GIRLS (SMALL SCHOOL)

3. 4X800 Relay (Addison Byrne, Mackenzie Biesel, Chloe Robinson, Ava Weber), 12:20

4. Frankie Wabanimkee, Pole Vault, 7-6

5. Kaylee Taglauer, 100, 14.12

5. Kaylee Taglauer, 200, 28.93

5. Kaylee Taglauer, 400, 1:07.34

5. Ashley Murray, 30-1.5

5. Kayley Papenhagen, Long Jump, 13-6.5

ONAWAY BOYS (SMALL SCHOOL)

1. Xavier, Santiago, High Jump, 6-8

3. Jackson Chaskey, 19-2.5

4. Levi Rigot, Shot Put, 40-1

ONAWAY GIRLS (SMALL SCHOOL)  

5. Trinity Splan, Discus, 82-2

PELLSTON BOYS (SMALL SCHOOL)

5. Laith Griffith, 400, 54.60

5. Brach Taylor, 110 Hurdles, 18.41

5. Joshua Grondin, 300 Hurdles, 46.11

LARGE SCHOOL BOYS TEAM RESULTS

1. Sault, 150; 6. Cheboygan, 68  

LARGE SCHOOL GIRLS TEAM RESULTS

1. Sault, 175.5; 3. Cheboygan, 102  

SMALL SCHOOL BOYS TEAM RESULTS

1. Maple City Glen Lake, 107; 7. Onaway, 24; T10. Inland Lakes, 18; T10. Pellston, 18  

SMALL SCHOOL GIRLS TEAM RESULTS

1. East Jordan, 125; 7. Inland Lakes, 43.5; 11. Onaway, 11  

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 baseball wins thriller over Boyne City; Mackinaw City, Pellston face off