Baseball team posts victories vs. McBain, Roscommon, and Houghton Lake to earn district championship

The varsity baseball squad from Grayling High School won the District 68-3 tournament championship with victories vs. Roscommon and Houghton Lake on Saturday and a win vs. McBain on Tuesday night.

Houghton Lake High School hosted the District 68-3 tournament. The bracket featured five teams: Grayling, Houghton Lake, Roscommon, Lake City, and McBain.

On Tuesday, in a round one District 68-3 contest, the Grayling Vikings played against the McBain Ramblers.

The Vikings scored three runs during the bottom of the first inning to lead 3-0. Neither squad scored during the second inning or the third inning. McBain scored one run during the top of the fourth and Grayling responded with one run during the bottom of the fourth.

The Ramblers pulled within two with one run in the top of the fifth. Neither squad scored the rest of the way and the Vikings won by a final score of 4-2.

At the plate for Grayling, Owen Triebold was 1 for 2 with one run scored. Corbin Allen was 1 for 2 with one RBI, one run scored, and two stolen bases. Trevor Cvitkovich was 2 for 3 with a double, one stolen base, and one run scored. Jake Hartman was 1 for 2 with one RBI. Austin Schwartz was 1 for 3. Jake Huspen walked, scored a run, and had one stolen base. Cole Dickie had one RBI.

Allen pitched the first five innings for Grayling; he allowed three hits, two walks, and he struck out six. Dickie closed the game for the Vikings; he struck out three and did not allow a hit or a walk in two innings of work.

On Saturday, the tournament resumed with a semifinal match featuring Lake City and Houghton Lake. The Bobcats won the contest – a game that went into extra innings – by a final score of 10-9 (in 10 innings).

In the second semifinal match of the day, the Vikings battled the Roscommon Bucks.

Grayling scored two runs during the top of the first inning. Roscommon scored one run during the bottom of the first. The Vikings added another run in the top of the second.

Neither squad was able to plate a run during the third, fourth, fifth, or sixth innings, and Grayling led 3-1 going into the seventh (final) inning.

The Vikings scored four runs during the top of the seventh to lead 7-2. Roscommon scored one run during the bottom of the seventh.

Grayling won 7-3 to clinch the other spot in the District 68-3 championship game.

For the Vikings, Triebold was 2 for 4 with two runs scored. Allen was 1 for 1  with a walk and two runs scored. Huspen was 1 for 4 with two RBIs and one run scored. Dickie was 1 for 4 with one run scored. Schwartz was 1 for 4 with two runs scored. Logan Malonen had one RBI and Hartman scored a run.

Dickie pitched all seven innings for Grayling. He allowed five hits, two walks, and he struck out seven.

In the district title game vs. Houghton Lake, the Vikings won 12-2 in five innings with the contest ending early due to run differential rules.

Brodie Gross was 2 for 3 with a double, two runs scored, and three RBIs. Triebold was 1 for 2 with one RBI and three runs scored. Allen was 1 for 2 with one RBI, two runs scored, and two stolen bases. Dickie was 1 for 4 with two RBIs and one run scored. 

Allen pitched all five innings for Grayling. He struck out four and allowed one earned run on five hits and one walk.

“Saturday was a long day as 10 a.m. game started at 10:30 a.m. and went 10 innings.  Our noon game started well after 2 p.m., possibly after 3 p.m.,” Coach Caleb Allen said. “Cole Dickie pitched a very nice game against Roscommon. The senior asked for the ball for this game;  he did not disappoint. Cole also recorded a save in the Tuesday game versus McBain.”

“Corbin Allen had a district run to remember. Hit .600 with an .818 OBP. Owen Triebold shook off a late season slump and showed up for districts. Corbin and Owen never struck out in three district games,” Coach Allen said.

Coach Allen said catcher Jake Huspen was “amazing behind the plate yet again.”

“Jake battled brutal heat over three district games and caught three gems,” Coach Allen said.

The Vikings will play against the Charlevoix Rayders on June 7 at Charlevoix during the Region 18-3 tournament semifinals. The winner will play Standish-Sterling Central or Clare in the regional finals on June 10, according to the MHSAA.