Cheboygan splits with Hurons after game-winning home run
by Richard Lamb, Advance Editor
A split with Cheboygan left the Hurons 13-8 record heading into the homestretch of the regular season. In the second game of Tuesday?s doubleheader, a 2-1 lead slipped away in the fifth inning, but nearly got out of hand. With a run already in, starting pitcher Jordan Zempel walked the next batter and then an error loaded the bases. On the next batter, Zempel made a leaping snag of a ball hit up the middle, came down whipped a throw to catcher Pat Quaine for the force out at home.
He got the next batter to pop out to second baseman Josh Curtis to get out of the inning. In the sixth, the Hurons wasted a sharp one-out single by pinch-hitter Taylor Kowalewsky as the next two batters made out. With a chance to win it in the bottom of the sixth inning, Cheboygan went out 1-2-3. The first out came on a terrific diving catch in left center field by senior center fielder Devon Ferris. Zempel struck out the next batter and third baseman Matt Mertz squeezed a pop foul for the third out.
In the top of the seventh, Tyler Szumila led off with a single up the middle. Zempel struck out for the first out of the inning, and Scott Grulke hit a line drive to the first baseman, who stepped on the bag for an inning-ending double play. CHEBOYGAN WON it in the bottom half of the frame. After Zempel struck out the first two batters, one swinging and the second one looking, the third Chief hitter reached on an error. Then the next batter blasted a home run to win the game 4-2. Zempel allowed seven hits, walked two and struck out four. He also knocked in a run with an RBI single. Szumila had the other RBI with a fielder
?They played us tough, a lot tougher than they played us the first time,? said coach Howard Madsen. ?Shows they have improved more than we did.? SZUMILA GOT the win on the mound in game one, a 6-4 win over Cheboygan. He worked all six innings in a very quick game one, allowing five hits and two walks while striking out six. Grulke?s three-run homer in the fourth inning gave the Hurons a lead they would not give up. Right fielder Ben Tulgestke had two hits in the contest and scored two runs from the lead-off position.
The Hurons play in Posen Thursday then travel to the Glen Lake Invitational to play Clare, Leroy Pine River and Glen Lake on Saturday. They host Newberry on Tuesday.