Inland Lakes baseball opens Ski Valley title defense with sweep at Onaway

Jared Greenleaf, Cheboygan Daily Tribune
Updated ·4 min read
Inland Lakes junior Connor Wallace throws a pitch during game one of a baseball doubleheader at Onaway on Tuesday.
Inland Lakes junior Connor Wallace throws a pitch during game one of a baseball doubleheader at Onaway on Tuesday.

ONAWAY – Winning the Ski Valley championship meant so much to the Inland Lakes baseball team a season ago.

But if you think the Bulldogs are satisfied with one title, they’re not.

The Bulldogs are going to fight every single day to defend the crown they won so impressively under head coach Josh Vieau in 2022.

In their conference opener at rival Onaway on Tuesday, the Bulldogs delivered a statement of intent by sweeping the Cardinals with victories of 17-4 and 12-0.

“It was two big wins, the team played well,” said Vieau. “Obviously, with it being this early in the year, we’ve got a ton to work on. We’re pretty young, actually. With one senior, we’re young. We ran the bases well, we played defense, and Connor (Wallace) and Kaden (Hansel) pounded the (strike) zone. That’s what you’ve got to have.”

Inland Lakes freshman Ty Kolly (2) gets a pat on the shoulder from head coach Josh Vieau after getting over to third base in game one on Tuesday. Kolly delivered a hit for the Bulldogs earlier in the inning.
Inland Lakes freshman Ty Kolly (2) gets a pat on the shoulder from head coach Josh Vieau after getting over to third base in game one on Tuesday. Kolly delivered a hit for the Bulldogs earlier in the inning.

Keyed by the pitching duo of Wallace and Hansel, as well as a strong hitting attack, the Bulldogs (4-0, 2-0 Ski Valley) overwhelmed the Cardinals (1-3, 0-2) during the doubleheader.

The Bulldogs scored eight runs in the top of the second and added three more in the third to build an 11-0 lead in game one. While the Cardinals trimmed the I-L advantage to 11-4, the Bulldogs responded with six runs in the fifth to put the game out of reach.

Wallace, who tripled, finished with two hits, knocked in three runs and scored two runs, while Hansel tallied two hits, three RBI and two runs scored, and Cash DePauw, who doubled, had two hits, two RBI and two runs scored. Ty Kolly doubled, knocked in a run and scored once, and Aidan Fenstermaker chipped in with a hit and two runs scored.

“I can’t say enough about the young guys like Ty Kolly,” Vieau said. “Ty Kolly is inching his way up the lineup. For a freshman to come up here, he’s just a scrapper. He’s a bulldog, man, and he keeps his head down, he goes to work every day, and I can’t say enough about that kid. I was super proud of Ty and these young guys on the team."

Onaway junior Dylan Szymoniak fires a pitch during game one of a home doubleheader against Inland Lakes on Tuesday.
Onaway junior Dylan Szymoniak fires a pitch during game one of a home doubleheader against Inland Lakes on Tuesday.

Wallace, who earned the win on the mound, struck out 10, walked five, allowed one earned run and surrendered no hits in 3 2/3 innings pitched. Fenstermaker tossed 1 1/3 innings of relief, striking out three and walking three.

The Cardinals were led by Cole Selke, who had an RBI and scored a run. Jackson Chaskey, Austin Veal and Jack Morgan each scored a run.

Onaway junior first baseman Austin Veal fields a ground ball and gets an out during game one against Inland Lakes.
Onaway junior first baseman Austin Veal fields a ground ball and gets an out during game one against Inland Lakes.

Cole Selke was the losing pitcher, striking out one, walking four and allowing four hits over two innings. Dylan Szymoniak, who came on in relief, struck out two, allowed six hits and walked five in 2 1/3 innings.

“I thought it would be a little rough seeing (Inland Lakes) so early in the season, but I wasn’t expecting that,” said Onaway coach Rick Price. “I knew they had some really good pitchers, but I thought we hit the ball a lot better than that. Hats off to them. They are a good team. We will regroup and see Grayling on Thursday.”

Inland Lakes junior Payton Teuthorn heads for third base during game one against Onaway on Tuesday.
Inland Lakes junior Payton Teuthorn heads for third base during game one against Onaway on Tuesday.

Wallace came up with three hits, including a double, knocked in two runs and scored three times in Inland Lakes’ shutout win in the nightcap. Jake Willey, who homered, finished with two RBI and two runs scored, while Payton Teuthorn had two hits and scored a run, Logan McMullen added a hit, RBI and two runs scored, Grant Blumke recorded a hit, RBI and a run scored, Kolly had a hit and an RBI, and Fenstermaker registered a hit and a run scored.

“We know we’ve got a lot to work on,” Vieau said. “People forget sometimes about how young we are. We’re super young. Grant (Blumke), he hasn’t played baseball in a year. We pride ourselves on being aggressive, running the bases well, and we’ve got a lot of work to do. We really do, but it was a good start to the season.”

Onaway junior Cole Selke awaits a pitch during game one against Inland Lakes.
Onaway junior Cole Selke awaits a pitch during game one against Inland Lakes.

Hansel was I-L's winning pitcher, striking out eight and allowing just one hit in three shutout innings of work.

Luke Lovelace registered the lone Onaway hit in game two.

Veal took the pitching loss for Onaway, striking out two, scattering six hits and walking two over two innings. Jadin Mix, who pitched one inning of relief, struck out two, allowed four hits and walked one.

Inland Lakes hosts Pickford in a non-conference doubleheader on Thursday, while Onaway travels to Grayling on Thursday.

This article originally appeared on Cheboygan Daily Tribune: Inland Lakes baseball opens Ski Valley title defense with sweep at Onaway