BOYNE FALLS — The East Jordan baseball team has larger goals on the list than a Division 4 district championship in 2025.
But, that was at least step one.
That first goal was checked off on Saturday, May 31 in a Boyne Falls hosted Division 4 district tournament, where, as expected, the Red Devils steamrolled their way to a third consecutive district trophy.
After an 11-0 win over Central Lake in the district opener earlier in the week, East Jordan earned an 18-0 win over Ellsworth, then an 18-1 victory in the championship over Bellaire.
The wins moved EJ to 25-8 overall and brought them to 13 consecutive victories.
East Jordan needed just three innings to get past Ellsworth in the opener, with Ryder Malpass perfect through those three, while striking out seven.
Korbyn Russell went 3 for 3 with three triples and five RBIs, Jacob Haley was 3 for 3 with three RBIs and two doubles and Brenden Aenis also doubled in a run.
William Webb, missing out on the Division 4 track finals on the day, also went 2 for 2 with a double and three RBIs.
In game two against Bellaire, Russell went five innings with a hit and three walks allowed, while striking out eight. He also homered in the game and drove in three.
Aenis then doubled and tripled, Webb was 3 for 4 with two RBIs and Malpass and Haley each had a pair of hits.
The wins set up a Ski Valley rematch with Inland Lakes in a Division 4 regional semifinal in Rogers City at 4:30 p.m., Wednesday, June 4.
A win in that one would send them to Rudyard on Saturday, June 7 against Gaylord St. Mary or Alcona in a regional final.
DIVISION 4
Mackinaw City hosted district
MACKINAW CITY — If you’re scouring the baseball archives, you won’t find a Harbor Light Christian baseball district championship team anytime recently.
But, that’s changed.
Look no further than Saturday, May 31 in Mackinaw City.
The champions of the Northern Shores Conference proved their power once again by claiming a Division 4 district title in Mackinaw.
The Swordsmen pulled in back to back 11-1 wins over Pellston and Mackinaw City to earn the championship.
The day for Harbor Light came with impressive pitching performances by Daniel Urman and Will Paulus.
Urman went six innings with just two hits allowed and 10 strikeouts against Pellston, then Paulus finished with five innings, a lone hit allowed and 10 strikeouts against Mackinaw.
At the plate against Pellston, Paulus doubled twice and went 2 for 3 with three RBIs, then Urman was 3 for 4 with five RBIs and a triple.
Brett Bonter also doubled for Pellston, one of the two hits.
Against Mackinaw City, Garrit Boerman went 3 for 3 with three RBIs, Ayden Burns doubled and drove in two, then CJ DuBois and Paulus each doubled.
Braylon Currie had the lone hit for the Comets, while adding an RBI.
Now 24-4 on the season, Harbor Light next meets Pickford at 4 p.m., Wednesday, June 4 in Rudyard. They’ll stay in Rudyard for the final if they win on Saturday, June 7 against either Norway or Painesdale Jeffers.
The Swordsmen haven’t fallen against a Division 4 team yet this season, dropping games only to Harbor Springs, Boyne City and twice against Gaylord.
DIVISION 3
Mancelona hosted district
MANCELONA — There will be no repeat run through the Division 3 postseason tournament for the Charlevoix baseball team or any Charlevoix County team in 2025 for that matter.
Though, Boyne City gave it about as good of a run as possible.
Playing in a Mancelona hosted Division 3 tournament, Boyne City earned a 5-2 win over Charlevoix, but then came up short in a 3-2 district final loss to Elk Rapids.
In the semifinal opener between the Rayders and Ramblers, Cal Royce and Jack Paquette put Boyne on their backs, with Royce going 4 for 4 with three doubles and two RBIs and Paquette driving in two runs and striking out 11.
Paquette went the full seven innings with three hits and walk issued as well. Owen Hewitt also stole four bases and singled.
For Charlevoix, Hunter Lemerand closed out a strong career with an RBI double and six strikeouts, though allowed five hits and two walks over 4 2/3 innings. Ryan Pearl then came on four two innings of relief.
In the final, Royce pitched six frame, struck out eight and gave up three hits and five walks. Royce and Paquette then had the two lone hits for Boyne.
It ended a 14-20-3 season for Boyne City, while Charlevoix finished up 15-18, dropping seven straight down the stretch.
Contact or send game stats/info to Sports Editor Drew Kochanny at [email protected]. Follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter, @DrewKochanny, and Instagram, @drewkochanny
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