Hurons claim key sweep over Onaway

By CHRIS DOBROWOLSKI
ROGERS CITY — Because they’ve played a hard schedule, Rogers City doesn’t have a record as sterling as some of the other teams in its upcoming district.

The Hurons also have been outshined by two of those teams earlier this year — getting swept by Hillman and seeing Posen take the title of the Rogers City Invitational.

But don’t sleep on the Hurons just yet.

Rogers City (12-10) looked sharp in sweeping a doubleheader from another of those tough district foes, Onaway, 5-3 and 7-0 on Thursday in Rogers City.

Air tight defense and stellar pitched highlighted both of the Hurons’ wins.

“We played very well today,” said Rogers City coach Karl Grambau. “I think our team is coming together. These were big wins for us. We needed these games. We needed to beat a team with a record like that.”

The Cardinals (16-4) had been cruising for much of the season, and moved into the 10th spot in the latest Division IV rankings, but had their potent offense quieted in both games.

Chelsey Plume scattered four hits in the opener. She struck out eight and walked none. Onaway’s runs came over two innings where Rogers City committed a total of four errors, one of the only times the Hurons’ defense wasn’t able to make plays.

In the second game Elly Plath stymied the Cardinals, holding them to two hits, walking none and striking out eight. Plath had a perfect game going until the sixth inning.

“I’m proud of our pitchers,” said Grambau. “They did a nice job of keeping their hitters off balance. They have a good hitting lineup.”

Conversely, Onaway coach Jodi Brewbaker was wondering what happened to her team, which had been scoring runs at a reckless pace all season.

“We couldn’t hit,” said Brewbaker. “Our bats went dead. Of all the nights to have our bats go dead. We’ve seen pitchers better than that. We were ripping the Mount Morris pitcher. She was the best we’ve seen. Against Birch Run we hit her solid, too. For some reason tonight we were dipping and we couldn’t get the job done.”

Amanda Pomranke took the loss in the first game, allowing six hits, walking six and striking out seven. She overcame a tough start where she walked four of the first five batters she faced. That, combined with an error, allowed Rogers City to take a 2-0 lead after one inning. The Hurons made it 3-0 in the second, but Onaway tied it up with two runs in the third and one in the fourth. The Hurons plated the deciding runs in the bottom of the fourth.

Moni Cercone led Rogers City with three hits, including an RBI double and a triple. Katie Tulgestke and Jenny Fleming added RBI hits and Lauren Hanson had the other hit for the Hurons.

Kate Chapman and Danielle Cleaver had RBI hits for Onaway. Pomranke and Kourtni Hyde had the other hits off Plume.

Christine Pomranke suffered the loss in the second game. She allowed nine hits, walked four and struck out three.

The second game was scoreless until the third inning as Rogers City scored four runs on two hits and two Onaway errors. Sammie Brege singled in a run and Mary Smuda brought two home with another single.

Tulgestke doubled home two runs in the fourth, putting Rogers City in front 6-0 and the Hurons added another insurance run in the sixth.

Cercone, Fleming and Smuda led the Hurons with two hits each. Logan Schuiteman had the other Rogers City hit in that game.

Kate Chapman broke up Plath’s perfect game with a single to lead off the sixth. Danielle Chapman smacked a double for the other Onaway hit.

Although the disappointment of the two losses was evident, Brewbaker didn’t think her team would have trouble shaking off the defeats, which marked the first time Onaway had been swept this year.

“These girls don’t like to lose,” she said. “It won’t be hard to bounce back at all.”