Cardinals have strong showing at downstate tournament
by Angie Asam-Staff Writer
The Onaway Cardinals baseball team traveled to Mt. Morris over the weekend for the North South tournament and finished with two wins and a tie.
Coach Mike Crull said his team had an outstanding defensive weekend. “This is the team I envisioned coming into the season. We played very good baseball over the weekend. It was the best defense I have seen us play, we turned four double plays, I don’t think we had that many all of last season,” said coach Crull.
In game one of the tournament the Cardinals defeated Division II Goodrich 4-1. Andrew Prow started the game on the mound going two innings allowing just three hits and no runs for the win. Cody Whitsitt came on for the save going four innings allowing three hits and no runs. Offensively Chris Cleaver had two hits and two RBI, Prow had two hits and Tommy Auger had a hit, scored a run, had an RBI and a stolen base.
Whitsitt continued his dominance from the mound in the second game against Lakeville. He pitched six innings, allowing no earned runs allowing seven hits while walking one and striking out one in a game the Cardinals won 2-1. Zeke Nave was two for two with a run scored and two stolen bases. Tyler Welklin was two for two with an RBI.
In the final game of the tournament the Cardinals tied with the host team Mt. Morris 4-4. Welklin pitched one inning allowing one earned run on no hits and three walks while striking out one. Morgan McLean pitched three innings allowing two earned runs on three hits and three walks while striking out two. Matt Tollini pitched the final three innings allowing no runs on two hits and three walks while striking out three.
Offensively Nave was one for two with a run scored and also had a walk. Prow was two for three with a double and two runs scored. Auger had a double, scored a run and had two RBI.
Crull said the game ended when Mt. Morris had the bases loaded with one out and a fly ball was hit to Auger in centerfield. He caught the ball and gunned down the runner tagging from third at home plate for the final out.
Juan Janeczek also threw out a runner from right field as a part of a double play over the weekend.
“We played some fantastic baseball. Welklin and Cleaver made some good plays up the middle that set the tone for us. Whitsitt pitched phenomenal against tough competition in his first extended varsity action,” said coach Crull.
LAST THURSDAY the Cardinals hosted the Newberry Indians and won both games of the double header. Onaway won 5-2 in game one behind solid pitching by Prow who went five innings allowing one earned run on three hits while striking out five and walking none.
Tollini earned the win in game two going five innings allowing just one hit and no runs striking out four and walking three. The Cardinals won the game 1-0. Prow, Whitsitt and Tollini each had one hit for the Cardinals and Nave scored the teams’ only run.
The Cardinals were at Inland Lakes Thursday (after press time) to open the Ski Valley Conference season and will be at Rogers City Saturday with games at noon and 2 p.m.