CADILLAC-Five days ago, Alec LeTourneau and Mitchell Day qualified for the Division 1 track and field state finals.

On Wednesday, they both earned the title of Big North Conference Champion.

LeTourneau won the pole vault during the Big North Championships in Cadillac with a height of 13-9. He is the first Alpena conference champion in pole vault since 2009 when Morgan Stenz won the event. LeTourneau also became the fourth male Alpena pole vaulter to win a conference title.

Day added to an already stellar track career with a win in the 3,200 run, finishing in 9:43.75 to become the first Alpena male to win a conference title in the event. Last year Day finished second in both events and finished second in the 1,600 run this year, crossing the line in 4:25.66.

Both LeTourneau and Day will compete in the pole vault and 3,200 run respectively next week during the state finals in Hudsonville.

Other top finishers for the Alpena boys were: Trevor Roznowski in the shot put (2nd, 49-9) and discus (3rd, 132-8); Andy Keskimaki in the pole vault (4th, 12-0); Randy Udell in the discus (4th, 127-2); the 3,200 relay team of Day, Kolin Ghidoni, Aden Smith and Josh Smith (2nd, 8:17.39) and the 800 relay team of Levi Goebel, Arar Sahawnek, Jayson Bebout and Wade Roznowski (3rd, 1:37.43).

Katie Mack came the closest to winning for the Alpena girls team, taking second in the high jump (5-0).

Faith Weide in the shot put (34-4), Taylor Foster in the 100 hurdles (17.54) and Savannah Thomson in the 300 hurdles (51.76) all took third place in their respective events.

Other top finishers for the Alpena girls were: Maddy Boyd in the 1,600 run (4th, 5:32.96); Thomson in the 100 hurdles (5th, 18.33); Foster in the 300 hurdles (4th, 52.38); the 400 relay team of Foster, Emma Jore, Olivia Custer and Autumn Oliver (5th, 57.12); Dakota Prevo in the shot put (5th, 33-7) and Katlyn Trelfa in the pole vault (4th, 7-6).

GIRLS SOCCER

Alpena 3, Tawas 0

TAWAS – The Alpena girls soccer team shut out Tawas on Wednesday, winning by a final score of 3-0. Taylor Tolsdorf, Isabelle O’Neil and Chloe Ferguson each collected a goal in the win. O’Neil and Kourtney Jones added an assist apiece and Maren Winter earned the shutout.

It was also the 500th career girls soccer victory for Alpena soccer coach Tim Storch.

“It’s really all a blur right now. To think back to when I played and to think about the time you’ve coached, it really all comes down to the relationships that I have formed over time that has made coaching so special to me,” Storch said.

The Wildcats are currently 6-14 overall and will be back in action on Friday when they play host to conference rival Petoskey as they hope Wednesday’s victory builds some momentum as the regular season comes to a close.

“The girls played outstanding tonight and I am very proud of how much we have grown. We continue to improve in all aspects and we just need to be able to do this and play this way against better competition,” Storch said.

GOLF

Alcona, RC qualify golfers for regionals

INDIAN RIVER-The Alcona boys golf team qualified for regionals in the Division 4 Tournament on Wednesday at Indian River Golf Club.

The Tigers had a team score of 392, fifth best among the six teams that qualified. Traverse City St. Francis won the district with a score of 337.

Hunter Clissold led Alcona with an 85 and Trevor Clissold added a 93. Seth Stelmachowske shot a 106, Matthew MacMaster shot a 108 and Lauren Yokom shot a 111.

Rogers City had a team score of 446, but qualified two individuals for the regional tournament. Bailey Budnik shot a 92 to qualify and Justin Robin qualified with a 101.

Alcona and Rogers City’s qualifiers will compete in the regional tournament next Wednesday at Thunder Bay’s Resort’s Wolverine Course.

SOFTBALL

Posen takes 2 from Harbor Springs

HARBOR SPRINGS-The Posen softball team closed out the regular season on a high note on Wednesday, beating Harbor Springs in a doubleheader 15-9 and 10-7.

In the opener, Posen trailed 5-2 after two innings and rallied to make it 5-4 after three. The Vikings (17-13) took control in the fourth inning as they scored six runs.

Jolene Reese pitched the first four innings for Posen, allowing seven runs on six hits with two walks and a strikeout. Arianne Chojnacki pitched 1 1/3 innings of relief and allowed two earned runs on four hits. Jenna Hincka pitched the final 2/3 of an inning and had one strikeout and induced a pop-up.

At the plate, Kayla Lenard was 3-for-5 for Posen with an RBI and Hincka was 1-for-4 with three RBI.

Posen held an 8-2 lead after two innings in the nightcap, but Harbor Springs managed to keep things close later in the game.

Hincka earned the win, pitching three innings in relief and allowed three runs (two earned) on three hits with three walks and three strikeouts.

Reese pitched the first two innings and allowed two earned runs on three hits with one walk. Chojnacki pitched the third inning and allowed two earned runs on four hits.

Hincka was 2-for-4 with a triple and three RBI; Kayla Lenard was 2-for-3 with two runs scored and Sam Lenard was 2-for-4 with two doubles and two RBI.

Cardinals sweep Cheboygan

CHEBOYGAN – The Onaway softball team swept a doubleheader against Cheboygan on Wednesday. It took the team until the top of the sixth inning, but the Cardinals scored twice and added three more in the seventh to take game one by a score of 5-0.

Calley Selke was the winning pitcher tossing a complete game, two-hit shutout, striking out 10 Cheboygan batters.

Offensively, Elissa Nash went 2-for-3 with two RBI, Taylor Ehrke was 2-for-4 with an RBI and two runs scored and Brittany Buczkowski added a hit and collected the other RBI. Jade Galer added two hits and Selke collected a hit and scored a run.

Onaway got off to a bit of a scary start in the nightcap, but eventually won by a final score of 10-5.

Kennedy Crawford pitched the first inning and a third before allowing two earned runs and being relieved by Selke who finished the game allowing three earned runs on five hits and struck out five to pick up the win.

Daria Domke had the big bat in game two going 2-for-3 with a run scored and three RBI. Elena Domke had a solo home run in the game. Nash was 2-for-3 with a double, two RBI and a run scored. Kayla Metty went 2-for-5 with a double, an RBI and two runs scored. Buczkowski scored a run, Selke scored and collected an RBI and Galer had a hit and scored two runs.

Onaway improves to 23-7 overall and will travel to Harbor Springs on Tuesday.

BASEBALL

Alcona routs Hale

LINCOLN-The Alcona baseball team easily took two games from Hale on Wednesday, beating the Eagles 11-0 and 16-1.

In the opener, Coda Gallagher allowed one hit, walked four and struck out seven for the Tigers (18-10-1, 16-3 North Star League). At the plate, Gallagher was 3-for-4 and Alex Stephenson was 2-for-3.

In the second game, Erik Davey earned the win, allowing a run on three hits with six strikeouts.

Davey was 2-for-3; Brock Franklin was 2-for-2 with a double and Nate Swinson was 2-for-3.

Alcona hosts Johannesburg-Lewiston on Friday at 4 p.m. as part of a tournament.

JV BASEBALL

Alpena splits with Titans

The Alpena High JV baseball team finished its season on Tuesday with a split against Traverse City West at home. Alpena lost the first game 10-8 and won the second game 2-0.

In the opener, Lucas Crosby started on the mound for the Wildcats (20-2-1, 10-2 Big North) and was relieved by Bruz Copping for the final two innings.

At the plate, Logan Guthrie was 2-for-3 for Alpena; Chris DeRocher was 4-for-4 with a double and Aidan Goike, Isaac Matzke and Anthony Berg each had a hit.

Copping was the winning pitcher in the second game, allowing two hits while walking two and striking out seven.

Copping, Guthrie and Owen Limback each had a hit for Alpena.