News photo by Josh Jambor Seniors on the Alpena High School boy's baseball team pose for a photo on Seniors Night. Pictured from left to right are seniors Owen Kaiser, Aiden Olsen, Clark Weir, Aidan Aube, Cam Mcewen, Brady Chapman, Eli Tessmer.

ALPENA – The Alpena Wildcats varsity baseball team celebrated Senior Night by honoring their graduating players before Tuesday’s doubleheader, but came up short against Traverse City Central, falling 12-0 in the first game and 6-4 in the second.

In the opener, Alpena struggled to generate offense against a strong Trojans pitching performance. On the mound for Alpena, starter Colton Anderson went two innings, allowing two earned runs on four hits with two strikeouts. Reliever Blayze Most pitched two and a third innings, giving up one earned run on six hits with two strikeouts.

Alpena was held hitless in game one.

Game two was far more competitive, with Alpena battling back multiple times. The Wildcats tied the score in the bottom of the third on a passed ball and an error, then took a 3-2 lead in the fourth inning when Zach Orban drove in a run with a ground out.

After the Trojans regained the lead late, Alpena showed resilience again in the bottom of the ninth as Orban delivered a clutch single down the left field line to tie the game at 4-4 and force another inning of baseball.

Unfortunately, Traverse City Central pushed across two runs in the 10th inning to secure the 6-4 victory.

On the mound Orban delivered a strong performance pitching six strong innings, allowing just two runs while striking out four, and contributing two RBIs at the plate, going 1-for-4. Owen Kaiser and Bryson Collegnon each recorded two hits to pace the Wildcats’ offense.

Alpena Head Coach Eric MacKenzie said he was proud of how his team rebounded in the second game of the doubleheader.

“The first game didn’t go as we planned, we came back in the second game and competed and played better,” MacKenzie said,

MacKenzie also spoke about the impact the seniors have had on the program.

“The seven seniors have been a part of our program for four years. Every single one of these kids are great, great teammates, and great student athletes that mean a lot to our program,” MacKenzie said. “They will be missed, and we wish them nothing but the best of luck on their future plans.”

The Wildcats will look to rebound this Saturday when they travel to Traverse City to face the Marquette Sentinels in the first game of Districts.