Wallace's clutch at-bat helps Inland Lakes baseball seal hard-fought sweep over Onaway

INDIAN RIVER – Two close rivals, two competitive games right down to the wire.

Each time, the Inland Lakes Bulldogs found a way to outlast the Onaway Cardinals, opening their Ski Valley Conference title defense with a pair of narrow 4-3 and 9-8 victories at Cooperation Park on Tuesday.

“Our team grew up tonight,” Inland Lakes coach Josh Vieau said. “We figured that we can’t rely on one or two pitchers, everybody’s got to play together as a team, and we did that. Every single one of those kids deserves credit for those two wins. I’m extremely pleased with how our young guys stepped up in the moment.

“Credit to Onaway. They’re scrappy, they played hard until the end, and that’s what we knew they were going to do.”

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After Inland Lakes (4-0, 2-0 Ski Valley) held on in game one, they found themselves in an 8-8 deadlock in the bottom of the sixth inning of the nightcap. But just when the Bulldogs needed it, senior Connor Wallace came up with the biggest hit of the evening, lacing a two-out, walk-off RBI single to seal the sweep.

“Connor’s a stud, that’s what he puts all the time in for,” Vieau said. “I knew if he could get to the plate with two outs and the bases loaded that he was going to come through there. That’s what hard work does for you."

Prior to Wallace’s heroics, the Cardinals (2-2, 0-2) showed resiliency of their own when senior Cole Selke tied the game with a two-run single with two outs in the top of the sixth.

Even in defeat, Onaway coach Rick Price praised his squad for holding its own against an elite opponent.

"Super proud of our kids," Price said. "Indian River has a really good program and our kids definitely showed some fight tonight. We were in both games. We just have to clean up some little things and I like our chances. Definitely a confidence builder being in two really close games with those guys. Last year we would have folded when things started going downhill, and to see our kids pick each other up and keep fighting is a great sign of things to come."

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Wallace’s three hits paced Inland Lakes in game two, while Andre Bradford delivered two hits and two RBIs, Aidan Fenstermaker doubled and scored a run, and Cash DePauw and Collin Maves each registered a hit.

Fenstermaker, who earned the win for Inland Lakes, struck out five, walked three and allowed no hits in 3 1/3 innings. Elijah Perkins tossed the last 2 2/3 innings, striking out three, surrendering two hits and walking two.

In addition to Selke’s game-tying hit, Jackson Chaskey helped Onaway with a hit, an RBI and three runs scored, and Luke Lovelace had two RBIs.

Dylan Szymoniak was Onaway’s starting pitcher, striking out seven, allowing five hits and walking four in 3 1/3 innings of work. Veal threw 2 1/3 relief innings, striking out two, scattering four hits and walking four.

Wallace earned the win on the mound in game one, striking out eight, walking three and allowing two hits. Wyatt Shovan struck out four over the final two innings to finish off the Inland Lakes triumph.

Bulldogs recording hits were Ty Kolly (run), Fenstermaker (RBI), Logan McMullen (RBI), Wyatt Hanel (run) and Jake Willey.

Szymoniak (RBI) and Selke each added a hit for the Cardinals in game one.

Selke took the loss on the mound, striking out five, allowing five hits and walking three over five innings.

Inland Lakes travels to Ogemaw Heights on Friday, while Onaway heads to Cheboygan on Friday.

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 baseball sweeps rival Onaway with two close victories