News Photo by James Andersen Alpena second baseman Sydney Hitzelberger (9) flips a ball to first baseman Avery Dubey for an out during the first game of a doubleheader against Petoskey on Thursday.

ALPENA — The Alpena softball team picked up a pair of Big North Conference wins on Thursday at home, beating Petoskey 10-5 and 18-7.

Alpena improves to 17-9 overall and plays at Mt. Pleasant today.

Hillman clinches Little Dipper

HILLMAN — The Hillman softball team used good offense and good pitching to clinch the North Star League’s Little Dipper division on Thursday, beating Posen 15-0 and 17-0.

In the opener, Nicole Barbeau struck out eight batters in three innings. At the plate, Hillman pulled ahead early after a nine-run first inning. Saige Flaugher was 2-for-2 with a grand slam; Cassidy Benac was 2-for-2 (both doubles), Autumn Lis was 2-for-3, including a two run blast over the fence; and Gretchen Weiland was 2-for-3 with a double.

In the second game, Weiland racked up 10 strikeouts while only allowing two hits. At the plate, Flaugher was 2-for-3 (double and a triple), Cassidy Benac 2-4 (double), Autumn Lis 3-4, Gretchen Weiland 3-4 with a double and a 3 run homer, Isabel Schultz 2-4, and Brooke Bennett 2-3 (double).

Alcona wins big vs. Charlton Heston

ST. HELEN — The Alcona softball team improved to 19-3 on Thursday with a pair of wins over Charlton Heston, 20-4 and 15-0.

Alcona scored 11 runs to start the game and kept control of the lead from there. Saige Gauthier led Alcona with two doubles among three hits, an RBI and three runs scored; Riley Tracy had a double among two hits, 5 RBI and a run scored; Hannah Renchenski had two hits, an RBI and two runs scored.

Addison Beatty got the win for Alcona, pitching in relief of Miah Schopfer, who pitched the first 2 1/3 innings.

Schopfer threw a one-hit shutout in the nightcap and struck out six. At the plate, Alcona plated 10 runs in the bottom of the first inning and never looked back. Rylee Kroon had three hits, two RBI and two runs scored for Alcona; Gauthier had two hits, three RBI and three runs scored; Jena Wambold had two hits, an RBI and a run scored; and Tracy and Beatty each had a hit and two RBI.

BASEBALL

Hillman clinches Little Dipper

HILLMAN — The Hillman baseball team added another trophy to its trophy case Thursday, beating Posen 16-0 and 20-5 to clinch its fifth straight North Star League Little Dipper Championship.

In the opener, Hillman (19-8, 8-0 NSL) scored four runs in the first inning and tackled on 12 in the second inning.

AJ Jones got the win, allowing no runs and no hits with a walk and five strikeouts in two innings. At the plate, Edwin Hardies had two doubles and four RBI for Hillman; Evan Crane had two doubles and two RBI; Trenton Taratuta had two hits and two RBI and Jones had a hit and three RBI.

Both teams played a closer second game and Posen scored three runs in the bottom of the third to briefly take a 4-3 lead. Hillman however responded with 11 runs in the top of the fourth inning to take control of the game.

Andrew Budnick led Posen with two hits.

Jones had two doubles and five RBI for Hillman; Taratuta had two hits and an RBI; Brenden Rouleau had a triple and an RBI; and Hardies had a hit and two RBI.

Braylon Firman got the win, allowing four runs (one earned) on four hits with two walks and five strikeouts in two innings.

Alpena drops 2 to TC West

TRAVERSE CITY — The Alpena baseball team dropped a pair of games against Traverse City West Thursday in Big North Conference action, 2-0 and 8-2.

In the opener, Alpena (16-8-1) was limited to three hits and West scored a run in both the fourth and fifth innings to win.

Gabe Glawe, Hunter Cohoon, and Brady Niedzwiecki each had a hit for Alpena.

Alpena took an early 2-0 lead in the first inning of the second game, but was held scoreless from there as West scored two runs in both the third and fourth innings and four more in the sixth.

Cohoon had a hit, an RBI and scored a run; Brady Pagels had two hits and scored a run and Brady Kollen had two hits.

Alcona sweeps Charlton Heston

ST. HELEN — The Alcona baseball team got back on a winning track on Thursday, beating Charlton Heston 19-2 and 16-3.

In the opener, Alcona broke the game open with a 16-run second inning. Evan Borsvold had two hits and two RBI for Alcona; Nathan Nardi had two hits and an RBI and Gavin Dellar had a hit and four RBI.

Owen Borsvold got the win, allowing two runs on one hit with nine strikeouts in three innings.

Alcona scored three runs in the first inning of the nightcap and kept adding to its lead from there. Jordan Benac had two hits, an RBI and four runs scored for Alcona; Owen Borsvold had a hit and two RBI. Owen Borsvold got the win, allowing three runs on one hit with six strikeouts and a walk in three innings.

On Monday, Alcona dropped a North Star League doubleheader against Rogers City 11-1 and 19-1.