Chiller becomes thriller in 13-inning win
A cold, blustery day proved to be an ideal setting for a classic baseball game between the Rogers City Hurons and the Cheboygan Chiefs. Two of the top teams in the Straits Area Conference locked up in a great battle Tuesday in Cheboygan. Some three hours and 13 innings after it began, the Hurons were happy to get out of town in a 5-3 win. In the deciding 13th inning, senior shortstop Erik Meharg singled and stole second base. Sidney Marx bunted him to third and Meharg scored on a passed ball.
Ben Tulgestke walked and stole second base, then moved to third on another passed ball. Tyler Szumila lofted a sacrifice fly to left to score Tulgestke with the second run of the inning for a two-run margin. But Cheboygan had last at bat. Tulgestke, in relief of Szumila, walked the leadoff man to start the bottom of the 13th. The next three batters made out to preserve the Huron win. With the game ending after 7:30 p.m., the second game was postponed due to darkness. Szumila did all he could in 10 innings of pitching. Cheboygan managed just five hits off him and he walked just two batters. Only one of Cheboygan?s runs was earned. ?I?m pretty happy with so few walks under such poor conditions,? said coach Howard Madsen.
Rogers City had 12 hits but stranded seven runners in scoring position. Szumila had three hits while Matt Mertz, Levi Ellenberger and Alex Jozwiak each had two hits. Last Thursday the Hurons took a pair from the visiting Onaway Cardinals, winning 6-1 in game one and 8-1 in the second game. In game one, Ellenberger held the Cards in check by scattering seven hits over five innings. He walked three and struck out three. Alex Lemmon pitched a scoreless sixth inning in relief.
Rogers City had nine hits led by Pat Quaine, Meharg and Jozwiak with two each. Jozwiak pitched the second game allowing three hits, one walk while notching two strikeouts. Jared Delekta pitched the final frame allowing one hit. Mertz, Jozwiak and Marx each had two of the Hurons nine hits. The Hurons (11-8) host Posen today (Thursday) and play in Newberry Tuesday. They host Rudyard in critical conference game May 20.