On Saturday, May 4th, the Soo U18 Black Sox headed south of the border to face the Alpena Varsity Wildcats in a doubleheader in Alpena, Michigan.
A wild pitch put the Black Sox on the board in the top of the first while the Wildcats made the score 3 – 2 in the bottom of the first after Kaleb Donajkowski doubled, scoring two runs and a wild pitch scored one more run.
Alpena added to their early lead in the bottom of the second when Brady Chapman doubled, scoring one run while Donjakowski singled, scoring two runs for the Wildcats. Alpena added to their lead in the bottom of the third inning after the Soo dropped a third strike with Chapman hitting a sacrifice fly, and the Black Sox committed an error, each scoring one run. Donjakowski earned the win for the Wildcats. They left surrendered one hit and two runs (one earned) over three innings, striking out seven and walking three. Thomas Keough took the loss for the Black Sox. The Soo went three innings, allowing nine runs (five earned) on six hits, striking out two and walking none. Keyton Mousseau went 1 for 3 at the plate to the visitors in hits.
Alpena amassed ten hits in the game. Jake Zann, Tucker Bright, Donjakowski, and Nathan Southard each collected two hits for the Wildcats. Donjakowski and Chapman each drover in two runs for the hosts. Gabe Glawe stole three bases. Alpena were surehanded in the field and didn’t commit a single error. Jon Rensberry had the most chances in the field with twelve.
In the second game of the afternoon, the Wildcats defeated the Black Sox with a 15 – 0 shutout win in Alpena. The Wildcats got on board in the bottom of the first after a Jake Zann triple, scoring one run, Kaleb Donjakowski doubling and scoring one run for the Wildcats. Hunter Cahoon doubled, scoring one run while Tucker Bright doubled and scored one run followed by Gabe Glawe hitting a sacrificed fly bringing in one more run for the Wildcats.
Alpena scored five runs on five hits in the bottom of the second. Lucas Weir singled adding another run, Bright singled, scoring one run along with Glawe singling adding one more run in the inning with an error scoring two runs. The Wildcats added to their early lead in the bottom of the third after Grant Jarema hitting a single while Nathan Southard walked adding more more run to the innings total. Connor Cameron earned the win for Alpena. The right handed pitcher for the Wildcats with surrendering no hits and zero runs over one inning, striking out one and walking none.
Black Sox Lucas Carriere took the loss with surrendering twelve runs (nine earned) on eleven hots, striking out three and walking one. Caleb McEwen started the game for Alpena with the Wildcat pitcher giving up zero hits and zero runs over two innings, striking out three and walking none. Alpena collected fourteen hits in the afternoon doubleheader at home. Bright, the number eight hitter for the Wildcats led the way with four wins batted in. The Wildcats went two for two on the day with Weir, Bright, Glawe, Cahoon, and Larema each collecting two hits apiece. Alpena were sure-handed and didn’t commit a single error in game two of the day. Cahoon made the most plays with five.
The Black Sox are back in action when they head back to Michigan to face the Pickford Panthers on Monday, May 6th with game times of 4:15 and 6:15 p.m in Pickford.
