After splitting a doubleheader in Sault Ste Marie, Michigan to the Sault High Blue Devils on Thursday, May 25th, the Soo U18 Black Sox hit the road to round out the week in Charlevoix, Michigan to meet the Chaelevoix Rayders in back to back games on Friday, May 26th.
In game one of the doubleheader, the U18 Soo Black Sox watched the game slip away early and couldn’t recover in a 4-0 loss to Charlevoix Varsity Rayders. Charlevoix Varsity Rayders took the lead on an error in the first inning.
Charlevoix Varsity Rayders got things moving in the first inning, when an error scored one run for Charlevoix Varsity Rayders.
One bright spot for U18 Soo Black Sox was a single by Jace Hill-Pine in the first inning.
Patrick Sterrett led the Charlevoix Varsity Rayders to victory on the pitcher’s mound. The pitcher lasted two innings, allowing two hits and zero runs while striking out three and walking one. Troy Nickel recorded the last 12 outs to earn the save for Charlevoix Varsity Rayders.
Nolan Toni took the loss for U18 Soo Black Sox. Toni went four innings, allowing three runs on five hits and striking out five.
Nickel started the game for Charlevoix Varsity Rayders. The righty lasted four innings, allowing one hit and zero runs while striking out four and walking zero
Keyton Mousseau, Lucas Carriere, and Hill-Pine each collected one hit to lead U18 Soo Black Sox.
After opening the afternoon with a 4 – 0 loss to the Rayders, the U18 Soo Black Sox returned to the diamond to fall 3-1 early in game two to loss to Charlevoix Varsity Rayders. Charlevoix Varsity Rayders took the lead on a single in the first inning.
The pitching was strong on both sides. Charlevoix Varsity Rayders pitchers struck out ten, while U18 Soo Black Sox sat down four.
Charlevoix Varsity Rayders got things moving in the first inning, when Owen Waha singled on a 2-1 count, scoring two runs.
Hunter Lemerand led the Charlevoix Varsity Rayders to victory on the pitcher’s mound. Lemerand lasted four innings, allowing three hits and zero runs while striking out eight and walking one. Emmett Bergmann and Aiden Speigl entered the game out of the bullpen and helped to close out the game in relief. Speigl recorded the last two outs to earn the save for Charlevoix Varsity Rayders.
Michael Hapanovich took the loss for U18 Soo Black Sox. The lefthander lasted four innings, allowing four hits and three runs while striking out three and walking one.
Connor Bruzas, Michael Starzomski, Keyton Mousseau, and Carter Young each collected one hit to lead U18 Soo Black Sox.
Charlevoix Varsity Rayders was sure-handed and didn’t commit a single error. Ryan Pearl made the most plays with 11.
Next up for the U18 Black Sox will be Tuesday, May 30th with back to back games in Cheboygan in 4:00 p.m and 6:00 p.m starts against the Cheboygan Varsity Chiefs.
