Inland Lakes softball coasts past Onaway; Cheboygan soccer cruises in season opener

INDIAN RIVER – If you’ve followed Inland Lakes softball over the last several years, you've seen a ton of elite hitting.

That appears to once again be the case again this spring for the Bulldogs, who unleashed their powerful bats on rival Onaway Tuesday with 15-0 and 8-6 victories at Cooperation Park.

“Overall, pretty good games played tonight,” Inland Lakes coach Krissi Thompson said. “Looking forward to making improvements and having a great season.”

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The Bulldogs (3-1, 2-0 Ski Valley Conference) delivered an offensive explosion in game one, as senior Maggie Grant hammered a grand slam and junior teammate Lexi Kovtun also homered. Grant finished with two homers and five RBIs, while Kovtun singled and had two RBIs. Brooklyn LaBrecque doubled, singled and knocked in two runs, Alexis Langworthy doubled, singled and knocked in a run, and Lakyn Thompson doubled.

Grant was the winning pitcher, striking out four and walking three in four innings.

In the nightcap, Langworthy hit her first career home run and singled to lead the Bulldogs, who received a double from Jenna Stubbs and a single apiece from Eva Carper and Kovtun.

Grant was I-L's winning pitcher again, throwing four relief innings with five strikeouts and one hit allowed. Kovtun, who started, struck out five and scattered two hits in three innings of work.

Ema DeMaestri, Charlotte Box, Lesley Lalonde and Lilly Parr each recorded a hit to pace Onaway’s offense in game one. Layla Box was the losing pitcher, striking out three.

Charlotte Box went 3-for-4 with a double and two RBIs in the nightcap, while Layla Box had two RBIs. Charlotte Box (two strikeouts) took the loss on the mound.

“We had some early season bugs (in the first game),” Onaway coach Lonny Metty said. “We have to work it out. In the second game, we played some great defense, and they were putting the bat on the ball. We really looked like a different team that second game. All I want is for the girls to learn and improve every at-bat and every day, and they showed that today.”

Inland Lakes heads to Ogemaw Heights on Friday, while Onaway travels to Bellaire on Monday, April 15.

Cheboygan girls soccer blows past Brethren in opener

BRETHREN – It didn’t take long for the Cheboygan girls soccer team to find a rhythm in its opener.

Fueled by two goals and two assists from Jaelyn Wheelock and Addy Baldwin and two goals and an assist from Morgan Davis, the Chiefs rolled to an 8-0 victory at Brethren on Tuesday.

Scoring a goal each for the Chiefs (1-0, 1-0 Northern Michigan Soccer League) were Taylor Bent (assist) and Jillian McKinley. Ava Baldwin chipped in with an assist.

“Nice representation all around from our players,” Cheboygan coach Tom Markham said. “I thought Addy Baldwin had a huge game, I thought Taylor Bent won a lot of balls from her defensive midfielder role. She and my daughter Elise (Markham) brought stability to the midfield. We created some really good opportunities.”

Cheboygan goes to Houghton Lake for a 5 p.m. NMSL matchup on Thursday, then heads to Boyne City for a 5 p.m. non-conference clash on Friday.

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Mackinaw City baseball earns split with Central Lake

MACKINAW CITY – Following an 11-1 loss in its opener, the Mackinaw City baseball team responded with a 3-2 game two victory and earned a split with Central Lake in a home doubleheader on Tuesday.

Braylon Currie started on the mound for Mackinaw City in game two, striking out two, allowing five hits and walking one in 2 2/3 innings pitched, while Trystan Swanson picked up the win with one strikeout. Sabastian Pierce earned the save, striking out three.

Ben Strittmatter (RBI) and Pierce both had hits, while Nick Vieau, Tanyon Pierce and Currie each scored a run.

Lucas Bergstrom knocked in a run and Sabastian Pierce scored one for the Comets in the opener.

Sabastian Pierce pitched the opening three innings, striking out five. Vieau took the loss and Jacob Sroka (two strikeouts) and Currie (two strikeouts) also pitched.

“We have really struggled to make plays in the field through our two outings this year,” Mackinaw City coach Elijah May said. “Early season mistakes and mental mistakes are what have plagued us. Our arms have been excellent on the mound, and for the most part we have pounded the strike zone. It really was nice to come out with a split on a night where we had nine errors in the doubleheader and our opponent had one.

“We will get better at the little things as we move forward in the season.”

Pellston baseball drops two at JoBurg in opener

LEWISTON – The Pellston baseball team suffered 4-0 and 9-5 losses in its opener at Johannesburg-Lewiston on Tuesday.

Jack Schmalzried took the loss for Pellston in game one, striking out 11, allowing four hits and walking one in five innings. Ethan Hickman registered the lone Pellston hit.

Noah Hansen’s two hits and one RBI led the Hornets in game two, while Brett Bonter doubled and scored a run, Lucas Livermore had a hit and two RBIs, Brady Bonter doubled and scored a run, and Sam O’Neil recorded a hit.

Hansen was the losing pitcher, striking out seven, walking seven and scattering three hits in four innings. Bonter tossed one relief inning, striking out three and allowing a hit.

Pellston hosts Harbor Springs on Thursday.

Top area performers at Ski Valley open meet (Inland Lakes)

GIRLS TEAM SCORES

1. Inland Lakes, 141; 3. Onaway, 29; 5. Pellston, 2

BOYS TEAM SCORES

1. Johannesburg-Lewiston, 91; 2. Inland Lakes, 76.5; 3. Onaway, 68; 4. Pellston, 49.5

INLAND LAKES BOYS

1. Tanner Howard, 400, 55.84; 1. 4X100 Relay (Sam Schoonmaker, Dylan Zinke, Alyx Willis, Jake Feagan, 48.86); 1. Schoonmaker, discus, 97-02; 2. Feagan, 400, 57.41; 2. Jack Wilson, shot put, 39-2; 2. Tanner Howard, high jump, 5-6

INLAND LAKES GIRLS

1. Kaylee Taglauer, 200, 29.86; 1. Mary Myshock, 100 hurdles, 20.06; 1. Chloe Robinson, high jump, 4-4; 1. Robinson, shot put, 28-11; 1. 4X100 Relay (Taglauer, Myshock, Josie Cooper, Robinson, 57.79); 1. 4X200 Relay (Taglauer, Cooper, Maggie Newman, Byrne, 2:07); 2. Byrne, high jump, 4-2; 2. Newman, long jump, 11-3; 1. Frankie Bunker, pole vault, 6-6; 2. Bunker, 100, 16.04; 2. Cooper, 100 hurdles, 20.5; 2. Elizabeth Furman, 400, 1:11; 2. Teague Meckstroth, discus, 70-0

ONAWAY BOYS

1. Xavier Santiago, high jump, 6-0; 1. Jadin Mix, 300 hurdles; 1. Levi Rigot, shot put, 39-9; 2. Levi Rigot, discus, 95-8.5; 2. Lelin Splan; 800, 2:34; 3. Brendon Brewbaker, 200, 25.87; 3. Brady Gapczynski, 800, 2:34; 3. Toby Pike, 3200, 13:50;

ONAWAY GIRLS

1. Trinity Splan, discus, 74-0; 2. Splan, shot put, 27-6; 2. Cassidy Karsten, long jump, 10-7.75; 3. Abigail Kindt, 400, 1:19.47

PELLSTON BOYS

1. Laith Griffith, 100, 11.96; 1. Griffith, 200, 24:30; 1. Brach Taylor, 110 hurdles, 19.36; 2. Joshua Grondin, 300 hurdles, 47.55; Hunter Sonnenberg, 1600, 5:57; 3. Grondin, 110 hurdles, 20.50; 3. Taylor, 300 hurdles, 48.80; 3. Brady Bonter, long jump, 16-2.5

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: Inland Lakes softball tops Onaway, Cheboygan girls soccer rolls in opener