The main questions heading into the 2024 Cheboygan area high school softball season
CHEBOYGAN – As I’ve mentioned before, I love softball season.
Every year, I get at least one really good team to cover, and that could once again be the case this spring as it appears a couple of teams look destined to have success in their respective conferences and beyond.
When it comes to the 2024 season, I’ve got a question for each Cheboygan area softball squad as it prepares for competitive contests in the coming days.
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Can Cheboygan strike district gold?
When you look at Cheboygan’s squad this spring, it’s fueled by a star-studded senior cast that features the likes of Libby VanFleet, Amelia Johnson, Emerson Eustice, Emily Clark and so many more. The Chiefs are likely favorites in the Straits Area Conference, but can they win the big one?
That would be a district title in one of the toughest districts in Division 2. It most certainly won’t be easy as the Chiefs will likely need to defeat state powerhouse Escanaba. One positive is last year's Division 2 state champion Gaylord won't be in Cheboygan's district this campaign. Another is that the Chiefs will be hosting!
Can Cheboygan win it? I believe so, but they’ll have to be at their best and then some on that day.
Does Inland Lakes have another run in them?
Inland Lakes knows what it takes to win trophies, as the Bulldogs have won several over the years. Last year, they shared the Ski Valley title with Johannesburg-Lewiston and shut out Rogers City to win their district.
The Bulldogs graduated a lot of firepower from last year’s team, including all-American Natalie Wandrie and Ryann Clancy, but they still return stars in Maggie Grant, Lexi Kovtun, Brooklyn LaBrecque and Jenna Stubbs.
Inland Lakes will have to keep up with Jayden Marlatt and JoBurg to have a chance in the Ski Valley, while the Bulldogs' district will be hosted by Gaylord St. Mary in June.
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How different will Mackinaw City look?
If there’s a team that might look totally different this spring, it’s probably Mackinaw City, which lost several key players from last season’s squad, including longtime pitcher Marlie Postula.
The Comets do have experience back with Gracie Beauchamp and Vanessa Groenewoud, as well as young talent in Rian Esper and Kenzlie Currie, but pitching will be a huge question mark for a Mackinaw City team with aspirations of challenging for the Northern Lakes crown.
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Is Onaway a dark horse?
Last June, Onaway put a real scare into rival Inland Lakes in the district semifinals. However, the Cardinals fell just short and saw their season end in a thrilling contest.
And it got me to thinking that the Cardinals – a group that returns Kailyn George, Charlotte Box, Ema DeMaestri and Marley Szymoniak – can challenge in the Ski Valley and win a district crown. The Cardinals showed last year that they could hang with some of Northern Michigan’s best. Let’s see if they can take the next big step.
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Will Pellston’s district success continue?
While the regular season wasn’t perfect by any means for Pellston last spring, the Hornets head into this campaign as winners of two consecutive district crowns.
At the same time, the Hornets will have a new coach in Dena Moore, who takes over for Randy Bricker, who guided Pellston to those championships. The Hornets feature several solid sophomores that include Ella Klungle, Breanna Willis, Lanie Irwin and others, and they all know what it takes to win in the postseason.
Do the Hornets have what it takes to three-peat? We’ll find out in a couple of months.
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: The questions I have for this year's Cheboygan area softball teams
