Win streak comes as Hurons prepare to host district tourney Saturday

Coach Howard Madsen?s Huron baseball team comes into the district tournament with a head of steam. Rogers City won all four of its games last week to head into Saturday?s district tournament at home with a 20-10 record. The Hurons face Onaway in the 10 a.m. game Saturday with the winner playing the winner of the noon game between Posen and Hillman.

Tuesday in Gaylord the Hurons took both games against the Blue Devils, 11-4 and 8-7. Senior Tyler Szumila went the first five innings for the win. He allowed six hits but didn?t walk any while striking out three. Alex Jozwiak closed, striking out one in the sixth inning. Rogers City banged out 14 hits with two each coming from Jozwiak, Jesse Wilbert, Ben Tulgestke, Matt Mertz and Erik Meharg.

The Hurons led 8-3 going into the bottom of the last inning, but a grand slam homer brought the hosts to within one. Tulgestke started and lasted four innings, giving up four hits and three walks while striking out four. Two of the runs he allowed were earned Jozwiak pitched the last two innings surrendering four runs on four hits and two walks. He struck out one batter.

Szumila and Meharg e

ach had two of their team?s eight hits. Last Thursday Rogers City swept Alcona, 12-2 and 7-0. The first game lasted five innings due to the mercy rule. Tulgestke went all five, allowing 13 hits. Wilbert, Tulgestke, Mertz and Levi Ellenberger each had two hits for the Hurons. Jozwiak kept the Tigers in check with a four-hit shutout. He didn?t walk a batter while striking out four. The Hurons played perfect defense behind the junior righthander. Mertz had a single and a double as Rogers City collected nine hits in the second game. Austin Brege had his first two hits as a varsity Huron, tripling in both games.

The winner of Saturday?s district goes on to play the winner of the Johannesburg-Lewiston district in the Pellston regional. Teams in the Johannesburg, in addition to the hosts, are Atlanta, Gaylord St. Mary, Inland Lakes and Wolverine. The Division 4 quarterfinals are set for Tuesday, June 15 at Traverse City West. The semifinals are June 18 at Bailey Park in Battle Creek with the state championship game scheduled for June 19 at Bailey Park.