TRAVERSE CITY, MI - The Alpena Baseball team, thanks to a Cadillac upset of Petoskey, earned at least a share of the Big North Conference Championship after a split with Traverse City on Tuesday.  Bruz Copping's strong pitching performance helped the Wildcats to a 5-2 victory in game 1.  Alex Cosbitt went 2-for-3 in the opening game and scored twice.  Copping, Colin Donjakowski, Owen Limback, and Chris DeRocher each knocked in a run.

In game two, the Wildcats made several critical errors in the third inning that allowed the Trojans to take a 5-0 lead.  That inning was the difference in the 5-1 loss to Traverse City Central.  Aidan Goike knocked in the lone run for Alpena in the 5th inning.

Alpena (17-6, 7-1 BNC) have earned a share of the Big North and can win it outright with at least one victory when they travel to Petoskey on May 21.  Petoskey and TC West currently sit tied for 2nd place with identical 5-3 conference records.

ALPENA, MI - The Alpena Baseball team took command of the Big North Conference with an impressive sweep of Traverse City West on Tuesday night.  The night was highlighted by Keegan Spomer no-hitter in game two as he struck out 13 Titans in the 5-0 victory.  Bruz Copping provided the offensive spark for the Wildcats, going 2-for-3 and driving in a run.  In game one, the Wildcats pounded the Titans 10-0 behind a solid pitching performance from Copping.

Alpena also swept Ogemaw Heights on Wednesday night, 6-3 and 13-0.  Chris DeRocher had a pair of hits, an RBI, and earned the win on the mound in game two.  Riley Arlt had a hit and three RBIs and Hunter Canute had a hit and two RBIs.

Alpena (15-4, 6-0 BNC) head to Saginaw Heritage on Saturday for their annual tournament.

ALPENA, MI - The Alpena Baseball team went 2-1 in their annual MacKenzie Invitational Tournament over the weekend at Alpena High School.  On Friday night, the Wildcats had to rally with four runs in the bottom of the 7th to knock-off Marquette, 4-3.  Trailing 3-1 in the 7th, Collin Donajkowski knocked-in Aidan Goike and Bruz Copping to tie the game at 3-3.  With Chris DeRocher at 3rd base, Owen Limback put the ball in play which allowed DeRocher to score the winning run when the Redmen catcher was unable to corral the throw home.

In the early game on Saturday, the Wildcats had no trouble with Sault Ste Marie in a 10-0 mercy rule victory.  Clay Donajkowski had a bases-clearing double in the 2nd inning to blow open the game.  Bruz Copping went the distance on the mound to earn the victory.

In the Championship game, the Wildcats surrendered a solo Home Run in the 5th that proved to be the difference in a 7-6 loss to Standish-Sterling Central.  The Wildcats jumped out early with a 2-0 lead after the opening inning.  Standish rallied in the 3rd to score five runs and take a 5-2 lead over a struggling Keegan Spoomer.  Alpena responded in the bottom of the inning with three of their own to pull even at 5-5.  With game tied at 6-6, Standish's Keagan Wendel led off the 5th inning with a solo home run that would prove to be the difference.  Alpena did place runners on 2nd and 3rd with two outs in the bottom of the 7th but a Colin Donjakowski fly out to center field ended the threat.

Alpena (11-4, 4-0 BNC) host Traverse City West on May 7.

ALPENA, MI - The Alpena Baseball team got two complete-game performances from their starting pitchers for a key Big North Conference sweep over Cadillac on Tuesday.  In game one, Bruz Copping struck out twelve Viking batters while giving up two runs on five hits in the 6-2 victory.  Cadillac scored a run in the top of the first but Copping limited the damage stranding two runners in scoring position.  In the bottom of the inning, Chris DeRocher tied the game when his long fly ball scored Kyle VanDusen from third.  Cadillac reclaimed the lead in the second inning before Copping and the Wildcats shut the door on the Viking offense.  Alpena took the lead for good when Alex Cosbitt executed a perfect squeeze bunt to score Keegan Spoomer and give the Wildcats the 3-2 lead.  

In game two, Keegan Spoomer took the mound and dominated the Vikings in a 10-0 mercy victory for the Wildcats.  Spoomer allowed just three baserunners and struck out 11 in the 6-inning victory.  A Chris DeRocher double in the opening inning gave Alpena the early 2-0 lead that became 3-0 when DeRocher later scored himself.  DeRocher would add two more RBIs later in the game and would finish the night with 5 Runs Batted In.

Alpena (9-3, 4-0 BNC) host the MacKenzie Tournament at Alpena High School this Friday and Saturday.

MIDLAND, MI - The Alpena Baseball team suffered a two-game sweep at the hands of Midland Dow on Friday afternoon.  In game one, the Chargers blew open a 5-2 game by scoring seven runs in the bottom of the sixth to earn a 12-2 victory.  Bruz Copping took the loss on the mound after giving up two runs on four hits but also struck out five.  Kyle VanDusen had both RBI singles for the Wildcats.  In game two, the Wildcats again had to rally from an early deficit as the Charger held a 5-0 lead after three innings.  Alpena got on the board in the fifth when Kyle VanDusen and Bruz Copping each scored on wild pitches.  The Wildcats rally was not enough as the Chargers held on for a 5-3 victory.  Keegan Spoomer suffered the loss for Alpena on the mound as he allowed four hits and five runs.  Alpena (0-2) will travel to Saginaw Nouvel on Saturday

GAYLORD, MI - The Alpena Baseball team opened up Big North Conference play with a sweep of Gaylord on Wednesday afternoon.  In game 1, the Wildcats jumped out to a six-run lead in the opening inning and held off the Blue Devils for the 8-6 win.  Bruz Copping had a strong offensive (3 for 4) and defensive (4 2/3 innings pitched with three strike outs) for the Wildcats.  Keegan Spomer had three runs batted in while the Donajkowski twins each drove in a run.  Jordan Schultz and Spomer each pitched in relief of Copping with Aidan Goike earning the save with a scoreless seventh.  

In game two, the Wildcats again jumped on Blue Devil pitching and never let them back in the game win Alpena's 11-0 mercy victory.  Keegan Spomer pitched a gem going four innings giving up one hit and striking out seven.  Aidan Goike was the offensive star in game two with two stolen bases, two RBIs, and scored two runs.  Kyle VanDusen knocked in a pair of runs, as did Spomer to help his own cause.

The Wildcats (5-3, 2-0 BNC) host Sault Ste. Marie on Thursday afternoon for their home opener.

CHEBOYGAN, MI - The Alpena baseball team got back to the .500 mark with a pair of non-conference victories over Cheboygan on Wednesday night.  In game 1, the Wildcats exploded for a 17-2 victory on 15 hits.  Bruz Copping earned the win on the hill allowing one run on two hits with three strikeouts.  Colin Donajkowski knocked home two runs off of his three hits.  Aidan Goike added an RBI while Clay Donajkowski and Keegan Spomer each had 2 RBIs.  In game two, the Wildcats had to rely on strong pitching and defense to hold off the Chiefs, 2-1.  Keegan Spomer allowed one run on two hits while striking out six.  The Wildcats took the lead in the top of the sixth Chris DeRocher drove in Bruz Copping on an RBI triple.  Owen Limback drove in DeRocher with an RBI single to center field to make it 2-0.  Cheboygan responded in the bottom of the inning with a sacrifice fly.  The Wildcats (3-3) open BNC play on Tuesday at Gaylord.