Game 1: Alpena 2, Traverse City Central 1

In a closely contested opener, Alpena secured a 2-1 win with a walk-off walk in the bottom of the seventh inning. With the game tied at one, Brady Chapman drew a bases-loaded walk that brought home the winning run.

Pitching was a key factor for both teams. Alpena’s Jase Kollen threw a complete game, allowing just four hits and one unearned run while striking out 10 and walking only one.

Traverse City’s Grant Sivier also went the distance, recording seven strikeouts and surrendering two runs over six and two-thirds innings.

News Photo by Leslianne Johns Owen Kaiser (2) prepares to steal third base in a baseball game in Alpena on Tuesday. Alpena plays next on Thursday in Rogers City.

Offensively, Alpena scattered four hits, with Chapman, Owen Kaiser (4), Michael Kreis, and Clark Weir each collecting one. Nathan Southard drove in Alpena’s first run with a groundout in the sixth inning to tie the game at 1-1.

Game 2: Traverse City Central 8, Alpena 5

The Wildcats came out with momentum in game two, but a six-run seventh inning from Traverse City Central turned the tide in an 8-5 loss for Alpena.

Traverse City opened the scoring in the top of the first with two runs, but Alpena responded quickly.

Kreis’s RBI single helped tie the game in the bottom of the first, and a double by Cam McEwen in the second gave Alpena a 3-2 lead.

News Photo by Leslianne Johns Owen Kaiser (4) runs to first base on Tuesday in a game against Traverse City Central. The Wildcats split the doubleheader with the Trojans, winning the first game but losing the second.

Starting pitcher Connor Cameron held Traverse City to four runs over six innings, striking out five and allowing five hits. However, Traverse City capitalized on late opportunities in the seventh, scoring six runs on three hits.

Despite the loss, Alpena out-hit Traverse City 9-7. Kreis led the offense with a two-for-three performance and three RBIs. Kaiser, Kollen, and Kreis each collected two hits. Chapman also stole two bases for the Wildcats.

Alpena will return to Thursday as they travel to Rogers City.