'The three-peat really tops it off': Inland Lakes baseball seniors leaving championship legacy

INDIAN RIVER – When Connor Wallace makes his way to the pitcher’s mound, it’s usually to get ready to shut down an opponent he faces.

But Wednesday night was somewhat different for the Inland Lakes senior star pitcher, who was told by coach Josh Vieau to lead his teammates over to the mound with a Ski Valley championship trophy in hand. It was another exciting moment for Wallace, Vieau and the rest of the Bulldogs, who sealed their third straight conference crown by sweeping Gaylord St. Mary with 6-1 and 6-2 victories at Cooperation Park.

The moment was fitting for Wallace, as well as senior teammates Jake Willey and Payton Teuthorn, three players who have established a championship-winning legacy with the Bulldogs since they joined years ago.

“The three-peat really tops it off,” Wallace said. “I don’t know if many schools in the Ski Valley have three-peated before, but to be able to do this on senior night was pretty cool.”

IL SOFTBALL: Inland Lakes softball rolls on senior day; Pellston's Griffith wins two conference crowns

BULLDOGS WIN SVC AGAIN: Kings of the Ski Valley: Inland Lakes sweeps Snowbirds, wins third straight baseball title

Spending a ton of time together on their home field through the years, each senior played his role in helping Inland Lakes to glory. Whether it was Wallace’s solid game one pitching display, Willey’s two-run single that put the Bulldogs in front during the nightcap, or Teuthorn’s smooth play at shortstop, all three stepped up and delivered.

Following Wednesday’s sweep, the Bulldogs – fueled by those seniors – have gone 45-1 in Ski Valley play over the last three seasons.

“We’ve got a lot of respect for these seniors. They’ve been one of our favorite classes in a long time,” Vieau said. “They’re focused, man. The leadership is there. I can’t say enough about those three guys, and we’re going to miss them all. Jake’s a hell of a player at third base, he’s starting to hit the ball again, and Payton’s just an all-around athlete, and Connor’s obviously just Connor.

“It’s not over.”

Willey, a third baseman who made a spectacular diving catch to keep things scoreless in game two, said the trio of him, Wallace and Teuthorn has always had one major goal during their respective careers. That’s to leave the program better than it was when they arrived – and they’ve done that in a huge way.

“It’s definitely been special,” Willey said of playing at Inland Lakes.

JACOB SEAMAN: Gritty Jacob Seaman does a little bit of everything for Cheboygan baseball

XAVIER SANTIAGO: Upbeat, humble Xavier Santiago capping off historic career as Onaway high jumper

Even with another title in the bag, the dream for the Bulldogs is still out there. With the firepower they have, they believe a deep postseason run is more than possible in the coming weeks.

“We want a regional title and want to be in the final four,” Willey said. “(It’ll take) teamwork, we’ve got to believe in one another.”

After facing Pellston in a doubleheader on Friday, Inland Lakes opens its postseason with a 4 p.m. MHSAA Division 4 pre-district clash at Johannesburg-Lewiston on Tuesday, May 28.

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 seniors help lead way to third straight Ski Valley crown