Hillman too much for Onaway in MHSAA D4 regional softball three-peat

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ROGERS CITY — On a long day in Rogers City, one MHSAA Division 4 softball powerhouse proved too much for the rest of the contenders on hand.

For a third consecutive season, the Hillman Tigers reigned supreme as they earned another regional championship by capturing a 7-1 victory over the Onaway Cardinals in Rogers City on Saturday, June 6.

Here’s some takeaways from Saturday’s final and semifinal games.

After rolling to a 15-1 victory over Rudyard in their semifinal, the Cardinals set up a regional title rematch with the high-powered Tigers, who cruised past Pellston 16-1 in their semifinal.

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But just like last year, Onaway had trouble generating runs against senior pitcher and Alma College softball signee Gretchen Weiland, who tossed another big-game gem that featured 13 strikeouts – including nine over the first three innings – with just three hits allowed across seven innings.

By the final out, it was a surreal feeling for Hillman coach Jason Weiland and his squad, who continue to win championships behind his daughter’s pitching excellence and a balanced and powerful offensive lineup that grinds opposing pitchers down consistently.

“To do that three times in a row is quite something,” coach Weiland said. “We made some changes late in the season, and I think our defensive abilities became stronger. We knew having Gretchen on the mound for four years is an amazing thing, and it’s hard to brag on your own kid, but she’s a game changer.”

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Madelyn Oswald led Hillman’s offense by going 3-for-4, while Weiland and Peyton Szlag added a hit and an RBI apiece. Aubrey Weiland, Brook Linseman and Peyton Banks chipped in with a hit each.

Hillman takes on Norway in a 4:30 p.m. state quarterfinal at Cedarville on Tuesday, June 9.

After being defeated soundly by Hillman in last season’s regional final at Harbor Springs, Onaway held its own against one of the best D4 programs in the state.

While the Cardinals trailed 3-0 in the bottom of the fourth, they refused to quit as Jerzie Garms laced an RBI single that scored senior Carley Karsten, who finished 2-for-3 in her final game as a Cardinal.

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However, Hillman’s offense hit back with two runs in the top of the fifth to regain control and give a nice cushion to Weiland, who took the Tigers home and sealed another title-winning day.

As strong as Weiland’s pitching was, Garms battled all afternoon against the dangerous Hillman lineup, striking out four, scattering eight hits and allowing just two earned runs in seven innings.

“As long as we made it a game, I would consider it a win from last year, especially with the way we started out the season, and the way we finished off the season,” Onaway coach Lonny Metty said. “I couldn’t be prouder of them. They hit the ball really well throughout the last few weeks, and I knew if we hit the ball today that we’d be stronger. It took us a little bit too long to get on the ball, but all the props to Hillman. They’re a top-ranked team.”

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Brooklyn Boughner led Onaway in the semifinal win, going 3-for-4 with an RBI, while Natalee Hyde ripped two doubles and scored three runs, and Layla Box finished 2-for-3 with two RBIs and two runs scored. Shawny Shepard (two RBIs) and Aubrey Havel RBI, two runs) added a hit apiece.

Saturday also marked the end of the season for the Pellston Hornets, who lost 16-1 to Hillman in the first semifinal of the day. Brinn Schlappi and Makayla Turbin registered the only hits for the Hornets.

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It was the final game for several Pellston seniors, including Ella Klungle, Breanna Willis, Allie Cameron and Lanie Irwin, who were all instrumental in lifting the Hornets to a district title last week.

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“We came in knowing that we were going to be facing Hillman and it was going to be a struggle,” Klungle said. “Offensively, our bats weren’t there, and we knew it was going to be tough ahead of time.”

Contact sports editor Jared Greenleaf at jgreenleaf@gannett.com. Follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter @sportsCDT

This article originally appeared on Cheboygan Daily Tribune: Hillman defeats Onaway for third straight D4 regional softball title