Breakthrough day: Onaway baseball edges Hillman, wins first district title since 2018

HILLMAN – If there’s a knock with Onaway baseball in recent years, it’s been an inability to win the big game.

But that all ended Saturday.

Fueled by several key contributors, the Cardinals ended a six-year district title drought by capturing a thrilling 4-3 victory over Hillman in a MHSAA Division 4 final at Hillman.

“They wanted it,” Onaway coach Rick Price said of his team. “We had kids pick each other up. We had kids that were sick that are normally locked in, so it was great to see some of those guys step up and get big hits in a big game.”

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Among those clutch performers was Andrew Gulley, who smacked a home run to give the Cardinals (21-7) an early lead. Leading Onaway with three hits apiece were Dylan Szymoniak (RBI) and Luke Lovelace (two runs), while Austin Veal (RBI) recorded two hits, and Gavin Green (RBI) also added a hit. Justin Kramer-St. Germain knocked in a run.

Szymoniak started on the mound, striking out eight, allowing three hits and walking five in five innings. Veal, who earned the win, struck out five and scattered five hits over two innings.

“The cards were stacked against us, Hillman played outstanding, and for us to shut them down shows the maturity of our team,” Price said.

Champions of their district for the first time since 2018, the Cardinals advance to face Alcona in a 4:30 p.m. regional semifinal on Wednesday in Rogers City.

Onaway started its day with a 16-0 victory over Posen in a semifinal clash. Earning the pitching win was Cole Selke, who struck out four, allowed one hit and walked one in three innings.

Szymoniak’s three hits and three RBIs lifted the Cardinals, who received two hits from Kramer-St. Germain (triple, RBI, three runs). Selke (double, two RBIs, run), Lovelace (double, RBI, run), Green (RBI, two runs) and Jackson Chaskey (run) each added a hit. Scoring runs were Gulley (three), Veal (two) and Santiago (one).

With a win over Alcona, the Cardinals would face rival Inland Lakes in the regional final if the Bulldogs win their semifinal over East Jordan on Wednesday in Gaylord.

As for Saturday, it was a breakthrough moment for an Onaway team that’s made strides all spring.

“It’s just really cool for this group of seniors, especially,” Price said. “We’ve always known the talent was there, we just couldn’t put it all together at the right time, and they finally did. We’ve won a district and now we’re going after a regional now.”

Comets bow out to Rudyard in semifinals

RUDYARD – An excellent season for Mackinaw City baseball ended against an excellent program.

While the Comets put up a fight, they couldn’t overcome multiple miscues and suffered a 9-4 loss to host Rudyard in a MHSAA Division 4 district semifinal on Friday.

“Rudyard is talented, well coached, and an excellent program,” Mackinaw City coach Elijah May said. “For us to finish this game error free would have been the scenario where we had a chance to beat them, and we just couldn’t make it happen.”

Leading the Comets (22-11) with three hits and a run scored was Sabastian Pierce, while Tyler Hingston recorded two hits and scored a run. Others adding hits were Tanyon Pierce (two RBIs), Nick Vieau (two runs), Trystan Swanson and Braylon Currie.

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Currie was the losing pitcher, striking out three, allowing four hits and walking three in four innings. Sabastian Pierce pitched two innings in relief, striking out one, scattering three hits and walking one.

“I was extremely happy with our pitching and our at-bats,” May said. “My seniors played well, and we will miss those four players greatly.”

Mackinaw City seniors playing their last game included Trystan Swanson, Lucas Bergstrom, Sabastian Pierce and Nick Vieau. The Comets captured their first Northern Lakes Conference crown since 2021 this spring.

Rudyard won the district title with a 9-5 victory over Brimley in the final later in the day.

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: Breakthrough day: Onaway baseball edges Hillman, wins first district title since 2018