Epic return: Back from injury, Bent nets hat trick, sparks Cheboygan soccer at Roscommon
ROSCOMMON – There was uncertainty on whether Taylor Bent would be able to return to soccer action this season.
But thankfully for her coach and teammates, the Cheboygan senior star was back on Tuesday and made an immediate impact, netting a hat trick and lifting the Chiefs to a 6-0 victory at Roscommon.
Bent, who was out multiple weeks due to an injury, opened Cheboygan’s scoring with a goal in the first half then added another to put the Chiefs (7-2-2, 7-2-2 Northern Michigan Soccer League) up 3-0. Cheboygan, which also received goals from Jillian McKinley and Addy Baldwin, held a commanding 4-0 advantage at the break.
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Bent recorded her hat trick when she made it 5-0 in the second half, then Morgan Davis finished off an excellent Cheboygan performance with a goal. Providing assists for the Chiefs were Addy Baldwin (two) and Ava Baldwin.
“It’s wonderful to have Taylor (Bent) back,” Cheboygan coach Tom Markham said. “We’ve been working on finishing and got the job tonight. Hopefully we can keep it going, playing with intensity, winning some balls. We strung some nice passes together and got some good opportunities.”
Cheboygan hosts Oscoda in its cancer awareness game at 5 p.m. on Wednesday.
Onaway softball drops two to Hillman
ONAWAY – The Onaway softball team was swept by Hillman, losing 7-0 and 22-4 contests on Tuesday.
Marley Szymoniak’s two hits led the Cardinals (7-9) in game one. Charlotte Box was the losing pitcher, striking out two, allowing eight hits and walking six in six innings.
In game two, Carley Karsten (double, RBI, run) and Charlotte Box (double, run) had two hits apiece for the Cardinals, who received a hit and a run scored from Szymoniak. Natalie Hyde added an RBI and Kailyn George scored a run. Layla Box took the loss on the mound, striking out one, allowing 12 hits and walking four in 5 1/3 innings.
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Cheboygan golf's Stead shoots personal best in Petoskey
PETOSKEY – The Cheboygan boys golf team shot a score of 388 at the Petoskey Invitational at Bay View Country Club on Monday.
Leading Cheboygan with a personal-best score was Tristan Stead, who posted an 85 and took 31st. Gavin Rose (40th, 90), Jacob Pluszczynski (72nd, 102), Alex Hudson (84th, 111) and Jesse Harbison (94th, 130) also played for the Chiefs.
Traverse City West (289) won the team title, while Traverse City Central (299) placed second.
Mackinaw City baseball avenges early defeat, beats Hornets
PELLSTON – The Mackinaw City baseball team recovered from a 6-0 loss to Harbor Light by earning a 9-6 victory over Pellston in its final game at the Pellston Icebox Invitational on Saturday, May 4.
In the win over Pellston, Trystan Swanson went 2-for-4 with an RBI and two runs scored. Mackinaw City players recording hits were Nick Vieau (three RBIs), and Sabastian Pierce. Braylon Currie (RBI, run), Ben Strittmatter (two runs), Connor Birchfield (run), Jacob Sroka (run) and Tyler Hingston (run) also contributed.
Hingston was the winning pitcher, striking out three, allowing three hits and walking four in five innings.
Swanson took the loss on the mound in the opener, striking out five, scattering five hits and walking four in six innings. Nick Vieau recorded a hit for the Comets.
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Against Mackinaw City, Jack Schmalzried paced the Hornets (0-10) with two hits, an RBI and two runs scored, while Ethan Hickman had a hit and two RBIs. Recording a hit apiece were Lucas Livermore (two RBIs), Brady Bonter (two runs) and Brett Bonter (run). Noah Hansen and Donovan O’Rourke each registered an RBI. Brett Bonter was the losing pitcher, striking out six, walking six and allowing four hits in 3 2/3 innings pitched. Jack Lane pitched 1 1/3 relief innings, striking out five, walking three and surrendering one hit.
In a 12-2 loss to Brimley in their first game, the Hornets received a hit apiece from Brett Bonter, O’Rourke and Charlie Parks. Schmalzried took the loss on the mound, striking out nine, walking seven and scattering five hits in 4 1/3 innings. Lane came on in relief and struck out a pair of batters.
JV softball Chiefs earn sweep in Gaylord
GAYLORD – The Cheboygan junior varsity softball team captured 15-14 and 18-16 victories at Gaylord on Monday.
Bea Schulz’s three hits and four RBIs lifted the Chiefs in game one, while Aubrey Mastin, Jenna Dodder and Addison Ptasnik each recorded a hit. Amber Gahn was the winning pitcher, striking out one and allowing 13 hits in four innings.
In the nightcap, Caleigh Easter led with three hits and three RBIs, Nataleigh Blaisdell tallied two hits and four RBIs, Dodder had two hits, and Laney Marsh, Makaela Steiner, Mackenzie Stockman and Schulz chipped in with a hit apiece. Avery Crawford earned the pitching win, striking out two, scattering 11 hits and walking four in five innings.
Cheboygan JV baseball drops two at Gaylord
GAYLORD – The Cheboygan junior varsity baseball team suffered 5-2 and 7-6 losses in a doubleheader at Gaylord on Monday.
Mark Munger and Ben Lockwood both led Cheboygan with two singles apiece in the opener. Carson Kiefer, Andrew Kiefer and Quin Hatt each singled. Drake Dotski was the losing pitcher, striking out seven, allowing two hits and walking four.
In game two, Josh Clark singled for the Chiefs. Carson Kiefer took the loss on the mound, striking out seven, scattering six hits and walking two.
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: Cheboygan's Bent nets hat trick in return, Stead leads Chiefs golf in Petoskey
