Portagers
sweep Cardinals |
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Jake threw out the
first pitch to his brother Spencer |
ONEKAMA — Friday, May 24, was
about more than baseball in Onekama, but that didn’t stop
the Portagers from playing pretty well on the field too.
Onekama improved to 19-9 on
the season with a pair of non-West Michigan D League wins
over Mason County Eastern, topping the Cardinals 10-1 in the
opener and 12-3 in the nightcap.
The series started
ceremoniously as fourth grader Jake Petrosky, who is
battling lymphoblastic leukemia, threw out the first pitch
to his brother and varsity player Spencer. The Portagers
also wore specialized orange “Team Jake” jerseys in support
of Petrosky.
“It was a real honor for us to
play today, and of course we’re thinking about Jake,” said
Onekama coach John Neph. “Dressing in the orange, and
everything, was special. I’m appreciative to the Mason
County Eastern team for letting us organize something like
this and coming up to play, and thank our school too.”
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The Portagers scored steadily throughout.
In the opener, Onekama plated three runs
apiece in the first and second, and two each in the third and fourth.
Joe Eno dominated on the mound, allowing
just four hits with 12 strikeouts, while he, Curtis McKenney, Tyler
Johnson, and Jon Acton each knocked a double.
Spencer Petrosky was inserted into the
order as a pinch hitter, and batted in a run to cap a special day.
“I thought it was really cool that
everyone came out, showed support today,” Spencer said. “It was really
fun, very special.”
Onekama’s offense didn’t slow down in the
nightcap, as Eno and Dallas Hearit each paced the Portagers with two
hits apiece and Jon Eno knocked a three-run triple.
Hearit was solid in his start, allowing
just four hits with eight strikeouts.
“Our guys played well, and got two more
wins,” Neph said. “We were able to get some breaks, and then some hits
following breaks, and that helped us put together some really big
innings.
“Overall, it was just a fun day.”
Posted by Dylan Savela,
Manistee News Advocate
May 24, 2013 |
| Onekama
Shows Strong Support for Jake
Portagers wore orange “Team Jake” jerseys
and made a "tunnel" for Jake as he came on the field. |
Jake Petrosky will one day
play varsity baseball at Onekama. By all indications, he’ll be
the team’s leader too.
The fourth grader exhibits
qualities well beyond his years; with a calm demeanor and
positive attitude, he beams with bravery.
At the same time, he’s still a
kid. Loves the Portagers. Loves the Tigers. Loves the game
of baseball.
When the time comes, Onekama
will welcome such a leader with open arms, but on Friday the
team let Petrosky put his first pitch in the books.
“It was pretty cool to go out
with the team and throw it,” he said after delivering a
ceremonial strike to his brother, and varsity player,
Spencer. “It’s pretty cool to see all the people come out,
and to see all the support.”
On March 29, Jake was
diagnosed with lymphoblastic leukemia. He’s currently in his
second phase of chemotherapy.
(See also
Shear Support as
Portagers of all
ages choose to lose their hair)
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In a strong show
of support, Onekama’s baseball and softball teams rallied around the
soon-to-be fifth grader, and dedicated their doubleheaders against Mason
County Eastern to him. “It’s
awesome,” Jake’s mother Laura said. “The support is just overwhelming; I
mean, we can’t believe the amount of community support and the support
from the school.”
In specialized orange “Team Jake” jerseys,
the baseball players created a tunnel for Petrosky to trot through, and
when he reached the mound, the softball players lining the fence cheered
the loudest.
Jake plans to be a Portager one day, and
said he hopes to pitch or play first base. Friday’s solid strike down
the pipe proved he certainly has an arm for the former.
Then, Jake did what children do on Friday,
and could be found playing in the woods between the ball fields with his
friends. However, he’s currently locked in a battle no child should have
to face.
“It’s a long road — about a
three-and-half-year process of chemo and possible radiation,” Laura
said, “but he’s doing really well.”
Beaming with bravery, Jake calmly took the
mound for the first of many times Friday to deliver the first of many
pitches with a legion of teammates looking on.
“It’s just incredible, and makes this all
a little bit easier,” Laura said. “It keeps his spirits up, and makes us
feel really good, and hopeful. “We think all the prayers and positive
thoughts he gets from everybody is helping him do so well with it.”
Posted by Dylan Savela,
Manistee News Advocate |
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BOYS BASEBALL ROSTER
# 7 Eno, Joe (12)
# 42 Jacobs, Josh (12)
# 12 McKenney, Curtis (12)
# 8 Reckow, Bryce (12)
# 15 Hearit, Dallas (11)
# 6 Clarke, Mitchel (11)
# 2 Johnson, Tyler (11 BL)
# 7 Eno, Jon (10)
# 41 Bair, Jared (10 BL)
# 22 Clarke, Andrew (10)
# 43 Petrosky, Spencer (9)
# 9 Hunt, Ethan (9) |
# 24 Morley, Hunter (9)
# 3 Emery, Josh (9 BL)
#4 Mertes, Aidan (9 BL)
# 5 Verrett, Cole (9 BL)
# 14 Acton, Jon (9)
# 44 Farfsing, Kamryn (9 BL)
Szarka, Caleb (BL)
Szarka, Josias (BL)
Coach: John Neph
Assistant Coaches: Jim Kosiboski,
Ryan Miller and Steve Brant
Manager: James Eno |
Baseball Schedule (co-op with BL)
Softball Schedule
Track Schedule (co-op with
BL)
Golf Schedule
Onekama
High School 2012-2013
All
High School Sports at Onekama
All Middle School
Sports 2012-2013
Photos by Tracy Bennett |
www.onekama.k12.mi.us
Serving Onekama School since 1997 |
