Hurons sweep Cheboygan in season opening doubleheader

by Richard Lamb– Advance Editor

Not even the cold temperatures could cool the Huron bats in a doubleheader sweep of Cheboygan Tuesday. The Hurons took both ends of the opener 7-6 and 11-8. With temperatures at game time in the mid-40s, opening day fans used blankets to keep warm as players enjoyed the opener at the ballfield. Senior Ben Tulgestke, in relief of Tyler Szumila in the opener, and as a starter in game two, picked up both wins.

?I am very happy with the two wins. We played a good baseball team and hit the ball hard. For early in the season, we did a good job,? said coach Howard Madsen. Rogers City saw a 2-0 lead disappear in game one and trailing 6-3 in the fifth inning before coming back. The Hurons scored three in the fifth, the first coming on Alex Jozwiak?s bases-loaded sacrifice fly to start the three-run rally. In the Huron seventh, with the score tied at 6-6, shortstop Levi Ellenberger led off with a single and stole second. Sidney Marx followed with a walk before Jozwiak popped out. Then Travis Fleis drilled a single through the infield to score Ellenberger with the winning run.

SZUMILA WENT the first six innings, allowing five hits and two walks with 11 strikeouts. Tulgestke relieved in the seventh, setting down the side in order to earn the win. Ellenberger had two hits and two walks, scoring three runs while Szumila added two hits.

The second game looked like an easy Huron win, but turned out close in the end. A nine-run inning nearly disappeared as Cheboygan came back to make it a game. Rogers City scored nine in the second inning and two more in the fourth. Tulgestke went the first five allowing four runs Alex Lemmon came on in the sixth and surrendered four runs before Szumila relieved for the last out of the game. Tulgestke and Szumila, batting 1-2 in the order, each had two hits. Zach Sobeck, getting the start at third base in the nightcap, had two hits. Rogers City hosts Gaylord today at 4:15 p.m. and hosts Escanaba Saturday at noon.

THE JUNIOR varsity lost both ends of a doubleheader in Cheboygan to open the season. Cheboygan took game one 5-3, notching six hits and taking advantage of one Huron error. The Hurons managed six hits, scoring single runs in the first, third and fourth innings. Dylan Orr had two hits and Austin Brege took the loss on the mound. He went four innings, allowing six hits and struck out one. Cheboygan took the second game 9-2, putting up seven runs in the second inning. Chad Karsten pitched three and two-thirds innings allowing just two hits but walking 10 batters. All Cheboygan?s runs were unearned. The junior varsity plays at Rudyard Tuesday.