UPDATED: Wednesday, May 7, 2008
SUB: Top Blazers, Elks at tri-meet Ê By Chip Corwin Sports Editor Ê BELLAIRE - The newly-christened Bellaire Memorial Invitational got off to a cold and slow start last Monday night as long delays and temperatures hovering around freezing were a constant distraction.

UPDATED: Wednesday, May 7, 2008
Rambler girls tennis showing continued improvement Ê By Greg Gielczyk Sports Writer Ê BOYNE CITY - Rain washed out the Boyne Invitational girls tennis tournament on April 25. It has been rescheduled for May 19, when the matches that were in progress will be picked up at that point. Hopefully, the weather will cooperate and they'll be able to finish it. The Ramblers hosted Traverse City Christian on April 28. Coach Susan Lahti was pleased with the team's performance.

UPDATED: Wednesday, May 7, 2008
Ê By Greg Gielczyk Sports Writer Ê KALKASKA - They needed a sweep.

UPDATED: Wednesday, May 7, 2008
EAST JORDAN - The defense is where it needs to be. Now if the offense could just put some goals in the back of the net, East Jordan might be able to add to their win column.

UPDATED: Wednesday, May 7, 2008
EAST JORDAN - Consecutive shutouts over the Elk Rapids Elks last Tuesday brought the East Jordan softball team back to a .500 record at 4-4, and they improved to 4-2 in the Lake Michigan Conference. The Elks kept the first game close until East Jordan exploded for eight runs in the bottom of the fourth inning to take a 10-0 lead, which would hold up as the final score. Six Red Devils hit safely in the contest with Cassy Crick and Ashley Warrington each picking up two RBI to lead the offense. Clancey Garland also had two singles. Shaina Peters picked up the win in the circle. She gave up three walks, two hits, and struck out seven over five innings. "This was a great win," East Jordan head coach Meg Kitson said. "Our defense played as a cohesive unit and our pitchers pitched well. "It was a lot of fun because everyone had input in the outcome." Game two provided more fun for the Red Devils as they scored four runs in the first inning en route to a 5-0 victory. Randi McFall pitched a one-hit, one-walk shutout in the circle. She struck out two batters. In the batter's box, Red Devil hitters dinged up Elk starter Courtney Isenhart for five hits and drew two walks while only striking out twice. Alex Snowden had a double for East Jordan's only extra-base hit. Alyssa Bellant, Andi Chew and Peters each had RBI singles. Kitson again praised the defense. "(It was) a great defensive effort," she said, "especially by Cassy Crick at second base." The good times continued to roll last Thursday, April 24, as the Red Devils traveled to Pellston for a non-conference twinbill. East Jordan took the first game 5-1 behind another gem from Peters, who struck out nine and only allowed two base runners over six innings. Mary Gocha had two singles to lead the offense, which didn't score until the fifth inning to go ahead 2-1 before adding three insurance runs in the sixth.

UPDATED: Wednesday, May 7, 2008
Loggers play to one win, two ties Ê By Phil Trombley Sports Writer Ê BOYNE FALLS Ð Jared Mathers scattered five hits over six innings and picked up the win when the Boyne Falls boys varsity baseball downed Vanderbilt 7-4 at home on Thursday, Apr. 24. Mathers struck out 10 and walked just two. "We did just enough to win. Take nothing away from Vanderbilt, but we did not play one of our better ball games," said Boyne Falls coach Chris Fiel. Chad Deming went two for two to lead Boyne Falls, which made the best of its four hits for the game. Ryan Matelski added a double, while Devin Simon singled for the Loggers. The second game was called a 10-10 tie after seven innings. Boyne Falls scored two runs in the second inning, one each in the third, fourth and fifth frames and then added two in the sixth and three in the seventh. Vanderbilt tallied one in the first, six in the sixth and three in the seventh. Anthony Carpenter started for the Loggers and pitched six innings with six strikeouts, two walks and seven hits. Mathers tossed one inning with one strikeout, one walk and four hits. Ê Deming went three for five with two RBI, Reggie Fiel was three for five with one RBI and Justin Aytes was two for four with two RBI to pace the Logger hitting. Ê Swordsmen cut Loggers Ê Mathers fanned seven batters, walked one and gave up five hits in six innings of work, but he was hit with the loss when Harbor Light Christian defeated Boyne Falls 7-2 in the first game on Monday, Apr. 21. The Swordsmen scored four runs in the opening inning and added three more in the fifth to gain the win. Boyne Falls scored one in the first and one in the fifth. "Offensively I think we did a good job of hitting and moving runners when we had the chance. Harbor Light has some pretty fine pitching," said Fiel. "Defensively we had three errors that really hurt. They did not have an earned run against us." Patrick Hood was two for three with a triple and two RBI, while Mathers went one for three with a double to lead the Boyne Falls hitters.