Prep Roundup: Cheboygan softball earns split with TC Central
CHEBOYGAN – If you’re aiming to win a district title in one of the hardest districts in the state, a dominant pitcher is absolutely required.
With what Cheboygan junior pitcher Libby VanFleet showed on Thursday, the Chiefs might certainly have a chance to capture a championship in June.
Taking on a solid Traverse City Central team, VanFleet delivered a big-time performance and helped lead the Chiefs to a 7-1 victory over the Trojans in game one of a non-conference softball doubleheader at home.
“Libby threw a gem in the first game,” said Cheboygan coach Mike LaLonde. “She only gave up three hits, and I think she hit her spots well. We played really good defense behind her. The girls came to play.”
VanFleet was terrific in the six innings she pitched, striking out six, allowing just three hits and walking one.
“(We can win a district title) if she pitches like she did tonight. She hits her spots well, she kept the ball down, changing them up. I think we have a legit chance, I really do,” LaLonde said.
Offensively, Jordan Ashley smacked a two-run homer, while Emerson Eustice had two hits and scored two runs, Marley Couture added two hits and a run scored, and VanFleet doubled and knocked in two runs. Presley Chamberlain, Liv Brandau and Cheyanne Friday each chipped in with a hit.
However, errors ended up plaguing the Chiefs in a 17-1 loss to the Trojans in game two.
Amelia Johnson doubled and had an RBI, VanFleet added a hit and scored a run, and Couture and Ashley recorded a hit apiece for Cheboygan. Ashley was the losing pitcher.
Cheboygan closes out its regular season when it travels to face Hillman on Thursday, June 1.
“Like I told (my players), overall, I’m very happy with the split, with way we played that first game against them,” LaLonde said. “They saw what Cheboygan could do. We put everything together, played our game, didn't beat ourselves, so I’m very happy.”
Cheboygan baseball passes .500 mark, sweeps Rudyard
RUDYARD – It took them a while, but the Cheboygan baseball team finally went over the .500 mark this season.
On Thursday, the Chiefs captured 6-4 and 9-5 victories over Rudyard in a non-conference road doubleheader.
In game one, Eli Couture, who tripled, led the Chiefs (14-13-1) with two hits and an RBI, while Dylan Balazovic recorded two hits, Brennan Bradley doubled and finished with two RBI, Luke Munger doubled, and Sean Postula and Jacob Seaman each chipped in with a hit. Blake Blaskowski added an RBI.
Jacob Jankoviak was Cheboygan’s winning pitcher, striking out five, allowing eight hits and walking three in 5 1/3 innings. Postula pitched the last 2/3 innings and earned the save, striking out two and allowing two hits.
Postula had a big offensive performance in game two, going 4-for-4 with a double and three RBI to lead Cheboygan. Couture had three hits and an RBI, Blaskowski tallied two hits and an RBI, Balazovic recorded a hit and an RBI, Munger doubled, and Jankoviak and Evan Brantley registered a hit apiece.
Charlie Godfrey earned the win on the mound, striking out three, scattering seven hits and walking one over five innings. Balazovic pitched the last inning, walking one.
Cheboygan hosts Soo Canada in its regular season finale on Tuesday, May 30.
Pellston softball smashes through Alanson
ALANSON – The Pellston softball team thumped Alanson with 18-0 and 25-0 victories in a non-conference road doubleheader sweep on Thursday.
Lillie Bourrie finished 3-for-3 with two doubles and four RBI for the Hornets (11-12) in game one, while Gabby Landon had three hits and three RBI, Ella Klungle recorded two hits and three RBI, Megan Bricker tallied two hits and two RBI, and Caroline Crenshaw finished with two hits.
Crenshaw was the winning pitcher, striking out three and allowing two hits in four innings.
Landon went 3-for-4 with two doubles in game two, while Crenshaw added two doubles and three RBI, Elysia Ward hit two doubles, Klungle tallied two hits and four RBI, Sadie Keck finished with two hits and three RBI, and Alivia Broman added two hits.
Keck earned the win on the mound, tossing a three-inning perfect game with two strikeouts.
Hart, Cheboygan golf play at Nightmare Invitational in West Branch
WEST BRANCH – In one last meet before regionals next week, the Cheboygan boys golf team recorded a 13th-place finish at The Nightmare Invitational in West Branch on Thursday.
Max Hart shot an 84 and finished in a tie for 32nd to lead the Chiefs (374), who saw Carson Lavender card a 90 and tie for 43rd. Blaine Baldwin and Tristan Stead both tied for 78th after each posted a 99, Luke Karsten tied for 88th with a 102, and Connor Gibbons tied for 100th with a 107.
Traverse City Central (307) claimed the team title, while Shepherd’s Christopher Crockett’s score of 74 was good enough for individual medalist honors.
Cheboygan will play in a MHSAA Division 2 regional meet at East Lansing’s Timber Ridge Golf Club on Wednesday, May 31.
Inland Lakes baseball takes two from Rogers City
INDIAN RIVER – The Inland Lakes baseball team improved to 29-1 overall after sweeping Rogers City with 9-4 and 9-1 victories in a non-conference doubleheader on Wednesday.
Cash DePauw was the winning pitcher in the opener, striking out six, walking five and allowing four hits in 4 1/3 innings pitched. Payton Teuthorn came on in relief and tossed 1 2/3 innings, striking out one and allowing two hits.
Aidan Fenstermaker and Connor Wallace each had two hits and an RBI for the Bulldogs, who received a hit apiece from Grant Blumke (two RBI), Logan McMullen (two RBI), Teuthorn (RBI), and Kaden Hansel. Jake Willey and DePauw each chipped in with an RBI.
Teuthorn’s three hits and two RBI fueled the Bulldogs in the game two win. Blumke tallied two hits and two RBI, Hansel and Fenstermaker each added two hits and an RBI, and Wallace, Willey and McMullen recorded a hit and an RBI.
Fenstermaker won on the mound, striking out four, allowing two hits and walking two in five innings pitched. Teuthorn threw the final inning, striking out one, allowing a hit and walking one.
Inland Lakes heads to Petoskey for a non-conference doubleheader on Tuesday, May 30.
Pellston swept by JoBurg in baseball doubleheader
PELLSTON – The Pellston baseball team suffered 18-2 and 8-3 losses to Johannesburg-Lewiston in a Ski Valley doubleheader at home on Wednesday.
Aiden Klungle had a hit and knocked in a run to lead the Hornets (5-15-1, 5-11 Ski Valley) in the opener. Jack Lane and Jacob Willis each finished with a hit.
Lane took the loss on the mound, striking out four, walking six and scattering five hits in 2 2/3 innings pitched.
Klungle, who homered, finished with two hits and an RBI in game two, while Noah Hansen and Jack Schmalzried each added a hit.
Hansen was the losing pitcher, striking out four and allowing seven hits.
This article originally appeared on Cheboygan Daily Tribune: Prep Roundup: Cheboygan softball earns split with TC Central
