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Bay County prep roundup: Final-swing dramatics turn defeat into triumph
@Source: mlive.com
BAY CITY, MI – A look at the high school sports scene in Bay County for April 22, 2025. Bay County coaches are asked to submit results, highlights and comments the night of each event by emailing lthomps2@mlive.com.
BASEBALL: DUKES DELIVER IN EXTRAS
Essexville Garber was down to its final out.
But one last chance was all the Dukes needed.
Freshman Dakota Inda delivered the biggest hit of his young varsity career, lacing a two-out, two-run double down the right field line to give Garber a 5-4 extra-inning victory over Freeland.
“We didn’t give up after giving up the lead,” Garber coach Eric Debo said. “We showed some real mental toughness. It was a gutsy win and the team showed some real heart.”
In a game that began as a pitching duel between Garber’s Camden Parker and Freeland’s Tucker Hileman, the Dukes struck first with a three-run fourth inning. But Freeland scratched out two in the sixth and one in the seventh to force extra innings.
And when the Falcons plated a run in the top of the eighth, the Dukes were in must-score mode. Matthew Pawlaczyk and Anthony Solinski drew walks in the bottom of the eighth, but with two outs, it all came down a left-handed hitting freshman in the No. 8 spot.
But Inda never hesitated, rifling the first pitch down the line, sending the runners dashing home for a thrilling Tri-Valley Conference Red triumph.
Ryan Brey had two hits in the win while Charlie Maze also doubled for the Dukes. Parker allowed six hits over seven gritty innings. He worked out of a two-on, one-out jam in the seventh that kept the game tied. Inda pitched the eighth, allowing one unearned run to register the win.
Freeland won the second game 3-0, scoring two in the third inning and one in the fourth. Garber (7-3, 3-2) got five hits from five different batters but couldn’t string anything together. Nathan Foret allowed two earned runs in four innings in the loss.
BASEBALL: GLENN CAN’T HOLD OFF ‘MUTH
John Glenn took a one-run lead in the second inning and nearly made it last.
But Frankenmuth scratched out one in the sixth and one in the seventh for a 2-1 walkoff victory in their Tri-Valley Conference Red matchup.
Remington Ranck singled and scored on an RBI single by Garrett Hilborn for Glenn’s early 1-0 lead. But the Bobcats couldn’t put any more runs on the board, leaving the door open for the Eagles to turn the tide. Andrew Shufelt delivered a complete-game performance on the mound for Glenn.
Frankenmuth kept the momentum rolling with an 8-0 win in Game 2. Hilborn, Ranck, Cameron Burch and Nick Naylor each had hits for Glenn (8-3, 2-2).
BASEBALL: STELLAR PITCHING CAN’T LIFT PINCONNING
Pinconning got a pair of strong pitching performances, but Shepherd was even sharper for matching 3-1 victories in their Jack Pine Conference doubleheader.
Isaiah Hoffman struck out four over six sold innings in Game 1 for the Spartans while Zach Laures spun a three hitter with four Ks in Game 2. But Pinconning managed just five hits over the two games.
Landen Enciso and Calvin Holland delivered the lone hits in Game 1 while Enciso, Ryan Kowalczyk and Alex Rivard had hits in Game 2 for the Spartans (6-7).
BASEBALL: KANN MOWS ‘EM DOWN FOR SSC
Preston Kann faced 17 batters and struck out 15, starting No. 5-ranked Standish-Sterling toward an 11-0 and 13-3 sweep of Ogemaw Heights in Jack Pine Conference action.
Kann struck out four batters in one inning to highlight his 15-strikeout, five-inning no-hitter that was nearly perfect.
Sam Briggs sparked the offense with two hits, including a home run and three RBIs. Ben Briggs drove in three runs and Caleb Emans brought home two.
The Panthers (10-0) remained unbeaten on the year with the Game 2 romp, scoring nine runs in the fourth inning. Sam Briggs, Trace Collins and Carson Koin each knocked two hits while Ben Briggs, Sam Briggs, Kann and Kasen Wendel each drove in two runs.
Emans allowed three hits while striking out six in five innings on the hill.
SOFTBALL: DUKES DROP DOUBLEHEADER
Essexville Garber picked a bad time to be off its game, dropping a crucial Tri-Valley Conference Red twinbill to Freeland, 6-2 and 8-3.
Freeland took the Game 1 lead with two runs in the fourth then tacked on two in the seventh. J.J. Shooltz knocked three hits with a double for Garber while Kara Kotenko struck out 10 from the circle.
Freeland broke open Game 2 with a four-run sixth inning. Ella Wagner drove in two runs for Garber and joined Shooltz and Claire Adamowski with two hits.
Garber pitchers had zero strikeouts in Game 2 and issued 14 walks on the day.
SOFTBALL: STANDISH SETTLES FOR SPLIT
Standish-Sterling powered past Ogemaw Heights 10-0 in their Jack Pine Conference clash, but the Panthers couldn’t complete the sweep. Ogemaw countered with a 13-7 win in Game 2 to call it even.
Addi Fetters fired a two-hitter in the opener and got plenty of offensive support from Keeley Peace, who tagged two doubles and a triple. Jaylynn Yenna added two hits and joined Anna Briggs with a pair of RBIs.
Ogemaw put seven runs on the board in the first two innings to take charge in Game 2. Peace had three more hits with a home run and a double. Yenna, Fetters, Paige Vallad and Emma Proctor tallied two hits each in the loss.
SOFTBALL: SPARTANS BATTLE FOR SPLIT
Pinconning showed its resiliency, shaking off a 15-5 loss to Shepherd in Game 1 to score an 8-4 win in Game 2 and earn the Jack Pine Conference split.
The Spartans trailed 4-3 through three innings before tying it in the fourth then taking the lead in the sixth. Layla Foco led the way with two doubles and two RBIs while Emma McQuarter, Kailee Rugenstein, Laken Gibala, Elizabeth Sylvester and Emily Breza all tallied two hits in the win. Ella Hunter pitched a complete game for the victory.
Shepherd erupted in the early innings of Game 1. Pinconning got three hits from Elley Shoultes and two apiece from Leeya Rezler and Rugenstein.
SOFTBALL: NO MAGIC THIS TIME FOR BCW
One day after delivering perhaps the greatest comeback in program history, Bay City Western couldn’t complete the sweep as Midland Dow scored a 9-6 win in Game 2 of the Saginaw Valley League twinbill.
Western (6-3, 4-2) rallied from a 5-0 deficit with a five-run third, but Dow broke the deadlock with a three-run sixth.
Western’s Leah Schumann showed why she was intentionally walked twice in Game 1 on Monday, ripping four hits with two RBIs in Game 2. Kyra Smith drove in two runs for the Warriors and matched Abbey Berger with two hits.
SOFTBALL: GLENN CAN’T MATCH ‘MUTH
Frankenmuth had too much firepower for John Glenn, steaming to 12-0 and 11-2 wins in the Tri-Valley Conference Red doubleheader.
Frankenmuth went on the attack early in each game and Glenn couldn’t recover. The Bobcats (5-5, 2-2) managed just five hits on the day, including three by Drue Busch.
Kate Cataline and Rylee Vincent also collected hits.
LACROSSE: FOUR IN A ROW FOR BCC
Bay City Central reached the four-win mark for the first time in 17 years, downing Lapeer 11-5 in Saginaw Valley League action.
The Wolves (4-2) have rattled off four consecutive victories, including a pair of conference wins in what is already shaping up to be a breakthrough season.
“Four wins in a row is a big deal for these players,” Central coach Eric Anderson said. “They are challenging themselves and taking this very seriously. And it is showing.”
John Britton came through with a five-goal game for Central while Max Miller and Byron Wilson scored two goals apiece. Ethan Weathers and Kaiden DuRussel each added one goal in the win.
Central hosts Midland Dow at Engel Stadium on Thursday.
SOCCER: TVC LEADERS BATTLE TO DRAW
Essexville Garber’s record is no longer perfect, but the Dukes still refused to lose, battling Frankenmuth to a 1-1 tie in a clash of Tri-Valley Conference Red leaders.
Garber got its lone goal on a long-range shot by Claire Arnold. Natalie Fodrey loomed large in goal for the Dukes (7-0-1, 5-0-1), making a series of game-saving stops.
“Both teams battled hard in this game,” Garber coach Brent Betzold said. “We had several good chances to win the game but ultimately couldn’t get the second goal we needed. I’m happy with the intensity and effort of the girls, but we need to learn to stay dialed in for a complete game.”
With the draw, Garber maintains a slim lead in the standings over Frankenmuth (5-0-2, 3-0-2).
SOCCER: STANDISH GETS HOT FOR WIN
Standish-Sterling put the pedal to the metal, roaring past Shepherd 8-0 in Jack Pine Conference action.
Lily Thurlow and Analeis Ming each delivered hat tricks in the win while Taylor Chaffin and Kennedy Kuberski added one goal apiece. Charlotte Ming registered five assists in the victory.
Lydia Arbuckle not only notched three saves for the Panthers but delivered an assist, as did Karlie Buckler.
“This team amazes me with their leadership and family mentality,” coach Kacey Bentley said. “We were able to get more playing time for the girls on the back end of the roster. The enthusiasm and encouragement for those players from the starters was phenomenal.”
SOCCER: SPARTANS CLOSE BUT NOT QUITE
Pinconning battled Gladwin on near-equal terms, coming up just shy in a 2-1 loss in Jack Pine Conference action.
Pinconning scored in the first half to knot the game at 1-1 when Chloe Drouse scored on a rebound that came from an Elizabeth VanHorn corner kick. But the Flying G’s got the go-ahead goal midway through the second half and held on.
“We had plenty of chances to score throughout the second half,” Pinconning coach Kaylee Meisner said. “We’ve just been struggling to shoot on net or find the back of it this season. I can just feel once we break through that we will start winning more games.”
Josie Wieland notched two shots on goal for the Spartans.
TENNIS: THREE-SETTERS SPARK GARBER
Essexville Garber won two of the three matches that went the distance, enough to tip the scales in a 5-3 win over Frankenmuth.
The Dukes needed to win the final match of the day to avoid a tie and No. 4 doubles Addy Causley and Aubree Gross made it happen.
Garber also got doubles wins from Justice Dawkins and Jessica Goik as well as Sienna Sanchez and Lucy Houghteling. Josie Reyes and Ella McCauley scored singles wins for Garber.
Sports Calendar
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 23
Standish-Sterling at Essexville Garber, 4 p.m.
Whittemore-Prescott at All Saints, 4 p.m.
All Saints at Au Gres, 4 p.m.
John Glenn at Vassar, 4 p.m.
Girls Soccer
Bay City Central at Flint Powers, 6 p.m.
Mount Pleasant at Bay City Western, 5:30 p.m.
John Glenn at Essexville Garber, 9 a.m.
THURSDAY, APRIL 24
Bay City Western at Flint Powers, 4 p.m.
Caseville at All Saints, 4 p.m.
Croswell-Lexington at John Glenn, 4 p.m.
Davison at Bay City Central, 4 p.m.
Farwell at Pinconning, 4 p.m.
Bay City Central at Davison, 4 p.m.
Caseville at All Saints, 4 p.m.
Farwell at Pinconning, 4 p.m.
Flint Powers at Bay City Western, 4 p.m.
John Glenn at Ann Arbor Greenhills, 4:30 p.m.
Girls Soccer
Essexville Garber at Midland, 7:15 p.m.
Ogemaw Heights at Pinconning, 5 p.m.
Swan Valley at John Glenn, 6 p.m.
Boys Lacrosse
John Glenn at Midland, 7 p.m.
Midland Dow at Bay City Central, 6 p.m.
Saginaw Heritage at Bay City Western, 7 p.m.
FRIDAY, APRIL 25
Pinconning at Tawas, 4 p.m.
Clio at Essexville Garber, 4 p.m.
Pinconning at Tawas, 4 p.m.
Girls Soccer
Flushing at John Glenn, 8 p.m.
Pinconning at Unionville-Sebewaing, 5 p.m.
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