'Everything was clicking tonight': Cheboygan softball's offense lights up Boyne City

CHEBOYGAN – The Cheboygan softball team knows it let one get away after an 8-7 loss to Boyne City last Saturday.

So, the Chiefs were out for revenge on Tuesday – and they got it in a big way. Paced by powerful hitting and terrific pitching, the Chiefs swept through the Ramblers with 7-4 and 17-1 victories in a home doubleheader.

Here’s some takeaways from the two games.

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Key in the clutch

Once again, the Chiefs (12-7) had to battle through windy conditions. However, it didn’t seem to bother a group of players who came up with clutch hits when needed. As a result, the Chiefs built a 7-0 lead after five innings. While the Ramblers rallied to cut the deficit to 7-4 in the top of the sixth, Cheboygan senior pitcher Libby VanFleet recorded the final out and helped the Chiefs win the opener. VanFleet put on a strong pitching performance, striking out 11 and allowing six hits against a potent Boyne City offense.

“The rise ball was working and the fastball outside,” VanFleet said after the win. “It was really nice to beat them, especially after going eight innings with them on Saturday.”

As for that clutch offense, Emerson Eustice doubled, knocked in a run and scored a run for the Chiefs, who received a double and a run scored from Presley Chamberlain, a hit, an RBI and two runs scored from Amelia Johnson, a hit and two RBIs from Tessa Lake, a hit and a run scored from Emily Clark, and two runs scored by VanFleet.

“I was really happy with the way the girls hustled,” Cheboygan coach Mike LaLonde said. “Everything was clicking tonight. What I was really happy with is that we got runners in scoring position and got that clutch hit all night.”

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Erupting in the nightcap

Cheboygan’s offense put on a clinic in game two, receiving 3-for-3 games from Jordan Ashley (double, five RBIs, run), Chamberlain (triple, three RBIs, two runs) and Clark (four runs). VanFleet tallied two hits, an RBI and scored two runs. Others adding hits were Lake (two RBIs, run), Johnson (RBI, three runs), Ella Kosanke (RBI, run) and Eustice (RBI, run). Marley Couture had an RBI and scored two runs.

Eustice earned the win on the mound, striking out one and allowing four hits in three innings.

“(Our players) were talking about how they were after Boyne tonight,” LaLonde said. “That (Saturday loss) left a sour taste in their mouth in that tournament, and they definitely stepped up tonight."

A unique rivalry

Although the Chiefs got the upper hand twice on Tuesday, their matchups between the Ramblers have been highly competitive in recent years. Next spring, it’ll likely heat up even more between two squads who will be members of the new Northern Shores Conference.

“It’s been a rivalry, I play travel ball with some of the girls on their team, so it’s always been fun to play them,” VanFleet said. “They’re a very good team, but I feel like we match up well together.”

Winners of four straight, Cheboygan heads up to Rudyard for a Straits Area Conference doubleheader on Thursday.

JV squad also tops Boyne City

The Cheboygan junior varsity team was also victorious on Tuesday, claiming 12-11 and 17-2 wins at Boyne City.

In the opener, Amber Gahn was the winning pitcher, striking out seven in five innings. Makaela Steiner led the Chiefs with two hits. Mackenzie Stockman, Bea Schulz, Jenna Dodder and Gahn each had a hit.

Avery Crawford won on the mound in game two, striking out six in four innings. Addison Ptasnik, Laney Marsh and Stockman tallied a hit apiece.

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 softball team rolls to sweep over Boyne City