RC starts season with two sweeps
The Huron baseball team roared off to a 4-0 start with doubleheader wins over Alcona last Thursday and Cheboygan Tuesday. At Cheboygan in the warmest day of the spring season so far, the Hurons? bats were hot as they swept the Chiefs 14-7 and 7-5. A nine-run fifth inning highlighted a 10-hit attack for Rogers City. Scott Grulke smacked a triple and a home run, and Ben Tulgestke had two singles. Jordan Zempel had the big blow with a base-leaded triple.
Grulke started and went the first two innings, with Tyler Szumila working the last three. They combined to allow six hits, seven runs and four walks. Game two went to Rogers City as again they collected 10 hits. Grulke had three of them, two singles and a double. Tulgestke had two doubles and Matt Mertz added two singles. Tulgestke went five innings, walked four, and allowed two hits while striking out six. Cody Elowsky closed out, going one inning with a strikeout and walk while allowing two runs.
Last Thursday the Hurons got outside for their first games of the season and took both ends of a doubleheader at Alcona. Coach Howard Madsen said shortstop Zempel was the big show, going four-for-four in the first game with two doubles and two triples. A stiff wind blowing in might have kept two of his shots from leaving the yard.
Grulke went five and two-thirds innings, surrendering six hits and three runs while striking out four. He needed relief help from Szumila, who struck out a batter in the last inning to preserve the 9-3 Huron win.
In game two, the Hurons took a 9-1 win over the Tigers with Szumila getting the start and the win. He pitched three innings, allowed one hit and one walk and struck out five. Tulgestke went the last two innings striking out two while not allowing a walk, hit or run.
Rogers City had eight hits in the contest led by Zempel with two singles and three runs batted in. Szumila and Tulgestke each had two hits for Rogers City. The Hurons play at Gaylord today (Thursday), host Hillman Friday and play at Rudyard Tuesday.