East Jordan's Russell, Petoskey's Thomas highlight area's top performances

Here are the top high school sports performances from Friday through Monday around Emmet and Charlevoix counties.

There won’t be a set number of players chosen in each sport in a given week, just including performances which stood out and deserve recognition.

Check for another installment of top performers later this week.

BASEBALL

Korbyn Russell, East Jordan: Russell’s dominant season continued in full fashion Monday when EJ earned wins of 15-0 and 11-1 over Ellsworth. Russell went 5 for 7 with two doubles, a home run and four RBIs. He also struck out 13 pitching over five innings, with no walks or hits allowed.

AJ Speigl, Charlevoix: Speigl had a big opener against Beal City, a 6-2 loss for the Rayders Monday. He went 2 for 3 with a triple, home run, two RBI and run scored. He also had an RBI in a 3-2 game-two win.

Kacey Gray, Boyne City: In his first start on the mound this season, Gray went five innings with just four hits, one earned run and no walks allowed against Inland Lakes Monday, while striking out 10. The Ramblers dropped both games to the Bulldogs, 7-1 and 14-0.

Troy Nickel, Charlevoix: Nickel helped the Rayders to a small-ball 3-2 win in game two against Beal City Monday, going 2 for 4 at the plate, while also striking out five over three innings, with just a hit and two walks issued.

Lucas Stone, East Jordan: In a 15-0 win over Ellsworth Monday, Stone earned a three-inning win with six strikeouts and just a lone hit allowed. He also went 3 for 3 with an RBI and two runs scored.

Gavin Ellis, Harbor Springs: The Rams earned their first two wins of the season Monday over Newberry in wins of 13-0 and 12-2. Ellis earned the victory over three innings in the opener behind four strikeouts. He was also 1 for 1 with two RBIs in game two.

Brendan Aenis, East Jordan: Aenis swung a strong bat Monday against Ellsworth with a solo home run and three runs scored in game two and an RBI single in game one.

SOFTBALL

Sidney Bush, Boyne City: Only a freshman, Bush went 4 for 4 between a pair of wins over Inland Lakes in the home opener Monday. She added four runs scored, an RBI and a double. She also struck out six pitching 4.1 innings in a 5-4 win.

Kaylin Samyn, Harbor Springs: In a 13-12 win over Boyne Falls Monday, Samyn went 3 for 4 with a triple, four RBI s and two runs scored. She also struck out five pitching over two innings. Harbor Springs moved to a 6-0 with a 23-4 win as well.

Avery Leist, Petoskey: Leist helped Petoskey to its first win of the season Saturday in a 10-6 final over Ovid-Elsie. She went 2 for 3 with an RBI, three runs scored and a steal, then was also the winning pitcher over 2 2/3 with three strikeouts. She also went 3 for 4 with three RBIs and a double against Swartz Creek (L, 10-9) and doubled and had an RBI against Portland (L, 18-3).

Morgan Erickson, Boyne City: Erickson went 4 for 6 from the leadoff spot Monday vs. Inland Lakes, adding an RBI and a run scored. She also drove in the game-winning run on an infield hit in game two.

Katie Hansen, Petoskey: Petoskey took a 10-9 loss against Swartz Creek Saturday, though Hansen went 4 for 4 with a double, an RBI and run scored.

Avery Strange, Ellsworth: In wins of 8-0 and 8-1 over East Jordan Monday, Strange stood out with two doubles and an RBI, along with five strikeouts over two innings in game two. She also struck out 13 across six innings and scored a pair of runs in the opener.

Danyelle Cadarette, Petoskey: Petoskey went 1-2 over the weekend in Portland, though Cadarette stayed solid overall, going 5 for 10 with a double, triple, three RBIs and four runs scored across the trio of games.

LACROSSE

Charlie Thomas, Petoskey: Petoskey lacrosse is off to a 4-0 start to the season, picking up a 14-1 win over Midland and 13-3 win over Saginaw Heritage of late. Thomas has been a huge part, with 12 goals and 10 assists in those games.

Will Mastin, Petoskey: Mastin had three-goal games against both Midland High and Saginaw Heritage, with three assists in each as well.

Brandon Klingelsmith, Petoskey: In wins over Midland and Saginaw Heritage Friday and Saturday, Klingelsmith totaled four goals and five assists.

TRACK & FIELD

Madeline Loe, Petoskey: Loe kept her strong season going in the Freeland Invite, while helping the PHS girls to an overall win with 132 points. She won the 100 (12.89) then helped the 4x100 team to a win (50.73) and 4x200 team to a win (1:50.54).

Alexandra Petok, Petoskey: Only a freshman, Petok is making her presence known in the hurdles and placed second in the 300 meter event (49.80) and sixth in the 100 (18.38), setting PRs in both.

Braylin Adair, Petoskey: Adair earned another victory in the high jump in Freeland with a new personal best height of 5-feet, 2-inches.

Korbin Sulitis, Petoskey: Sulitis – who placed top 10 in D2 last season in the discus – set a new PR in Freeland with a second place 158-feet even.

Contact or send game stats/info to Sports Editor Drew Kochanny at dkochanny@petoskeynews.com. Follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter, @DrewKochanny, and Instagram, @drewkochanny

This article originally appeared on The Petoskey News-Review: Top performances around the Petoskey area, April 12-15