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CHARLEVOIX — Ryan Pearl and the rest of his Charlevoix baseball teammates have never really needed any extra motivation to go out and swing a bat or take the mound to the best of their ability.
A talented, self-motivating group, Pearl and the Rayders do have that extra bit this season now.
They’re doing it “For Berg.”
A multi-sport standout with the Charlevoix baseball and boys golf teams, Emmett Bergmann was one of the seven Rayder golfers, along with their head coach, recently involved in the tragic crash just over a week ago.
Injuries sustained in the accident have sidelined Bergmann from baseball, but Pearl and the other Rayder players have his back.
“He’s still showing his support, but we’ve got a new motto, ‘For Berg,’” Pearl said. “Everyone is just buying in for that.”
Many around Charlevoix have showed support for the team, a GoFundMe has been set up, stickers and shirts have been made and even opponents have showed their support as well.
For Pearl, their support can come with their play on the field.
“Everyone’s got good spirits,” he said. “Everyone is just taking it day by day, which is our goal. I’ve seen (Emmett) two times since and every time I see him I just want to do this for him, and all the guys as well. I’ve got seven buddies from that team.”
Boyne, Charlevoix Softball: PHOTOS: Boyne City softball shows Rayder Strong class vs. rival
Rayder Strong Support: #RayderStrong: Area schools, businesses rally around Charlevoix golf team
Kochanny Column: Kochanny: News of Charlevoix boys golf team's crash one of my biggest fears
Late last week, Pearl showed his support with a pair of home runs in a sweep over Brimley, part of a 4-0 week for the Rayders.
“It felt good,” Pearl said. “The second one just made it over, but the first one was really good. You don’t feel it. You don’t feel the ball, it’s just a swing of the bat.”
In the midst of another standout and all-state worthy campaign, Pearl is one of just a select few Rayders still around that were everyday starters off the history-making squads of the past two seasons.
He’s joined by Hunter Lemerand and Bergmann, while the likes of Bryce Johnson and Troy Nickel have graduated and AJ Speigl and Owen Waha are playing elsewhere for their final season.
There were a few growing pains early, though the Rayders don’t exactly schedule light. They’ve been happy to take on any kind of challenge during the regular season.
“We started out struggling a little, but we played a really good team early with Gladwin,” Pearl said. “After that first game I thought, ‘Man, we’ve got some talent on this team, it’s just untapped.’ So we’ve just been working since.”
The Rayders (11-6) were back working on their home field Monday, welcoming in rival Boyne City for a Northern Shores Conference meeting, earning a split between the pair.
Athlete of the Week: Vote for the News-Review's Harbor Brenn Insurance Athlete of the Week: April 28–May 3
Petoskey Baseball: Petoskey baseball suddenly a triple threat, show slugging power over weekend
Pearl and Lemerand worked a dominant 6-0 opener, with Lemerand on the mound and Pearl behind the plate, before Boyne City used a seven-run third to earn a 10-6 game two win.
In the opener, Lemerand went 5 2/3, giving up a lone hit and walk, while striking out nine. Pearl went 2 for 3 with an RBI and three runs, Lemerand and Logan Wadkins each singled twice and Sawyer Blaszczyk was 3 for 3 with an RBI.
Pearl added an RBI single in game two, while Jack Terryberry drove in two runs on a single and double.
Jack Paquette led for the Ramblers (6-13-1) with a single and two RBIs, then pitched two clear innings with a strikeout. Brady Bearss also went 2 for 3 with two RBIs.
While they were hoping for a sweep, taking one from a rival to begin the week will have to do for Pearl and the rest of the Rayders. They’re still taking things day by day after all.
And when that postseason opening day comes, Pearl is confident there’s another run in this group, now motivated by heavy hearts.
“I think it’s just a mentality,” he said. “Everyone just has to buy into it. So far everyone has. We’ve got the skillset, we’ve got the fundamentals, we just have to be crisp and buy in.”
Contact or send game stats/info to Sports Editor Drew Kochanny at [email protected]. Follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter, @DrewKochanny, and Instagram, @drewkochanny
This article originally appeared on The Petoskey News-Review: Charlevoix baseball playing for teammate, classmates of recent crash
Continue reading...
A talented, self-motivating group, Pearl and the Rayders do have that extra bit this season now.
They’re doing it “For Berg.”
A multi-sport standout with the Charlevoix baseball and boys golf teams, Emmett Bergmann was one of the seven Rayder golfers, along with their head coach, recently involved in the tragic crash just over a week ago.
Injuries sustained in the accident have sidelined Bergmann from baseball, but Pearl and the other Rayder players have his back.
“He’s still showing his support, but we’ve got a new motto, ‘For Berg,’” Pearl said. “Everyone is just buying in for that.”
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Many around Charlevoix have showed support for the team, a GoFundMe has been set up, stickers and shirts have been made and even opponents have showed their support as well.
For Pearl, their support can come with their play on the field.
“Everyone’s got good spirits,” he said. “Everyone is just taking it day by day, which is our goal. I’ve seen (Emmett) two times since and every time I see him I just want to do this for him, and all the guys as well. I’ve got seven buddies from that team.”
Boyne, Charlevoix Softball: PHOTOS: Boyne City softball shows Rayder Strong class vs. rival
Rayder Strong Support: #RayderStrong: Area schools, businesses rally around Charlevoix golf team
Kochanny Column: Kochanny: News of Charlevoix boys golf team's crash one of my biggest fears
Late last week, Pearl showed his support with a pair of home runs in a sweep over Brimley, part of a 4-0 week for the Rayders.
“It felt good,” Pearl said. “The second one just made it over, but the first one was really good. You don’t feel it. You don’t feel the ball, it’s just a swing of the bat.”
In the midst of another standout and all-state worthy campaign, Pearl is one of just a select few Rayders still around that were everyday starters off the history-making squads of the past two seasons.
He’s joined by Hunter Lemerand and Bergmann, while the likes of Bryce Johnson and Troy Nickel have graduated and AJ Speigl and Owen Waha are playing elsewhere for their final season.
You must be registered for see images attach
There were a few growing pains early, though the Rayders don’t exactly schedule light. They’ve been happy to take on any kind of challenge during the regular season.
“We started out struggling a little, but we played a really good team early with Gladwin,” Pearl said. “After that first game I thought, ‘Man, we’ve got some talent on this team, it’s just untapped.’ So we’ve just been working since.”
The Rayders (11-6) were back working on their home field Monday, welcoming in rival Boyne City for a Northern Shores Conference meeting, earning a split between the pair.
Athlete of the Week: Vote for the News-Review's Harbor Brenn Insurance Athlete of the Week: April 28–May 3
Petoskey Baseball: Petoskey baseball suddenly a triple threat, show slugging power over weekend
Pearl and Lemerand worked a dominant 6-0 opener, with Lemerand on the mound and Pearl behind the plate, before Boyne City used a seven-run third to earn a 10-6 game two win.
In the opener, Lemerand went 5 2/3, giving up a lone hit and walk, while striking out nine. Pearl went 2 for 3 with an RBI and three runs, Lemerand and Logan Wadkins each singled twice and Sawyer Blaszczyk was 3 for 3 with an RBI.
Pearl added an RBI single in game two, while Jack Terryberry drove in two runs on a single and double.
Jack Paquette led for the Ramblers (6-13-1) with a single and two RBIs, then pitched two clear innings with a strikeout. Brady Bearss also went 2 for 3 with two RBIs.
You must be registered for see images attach
While they were hoping for a sweep, taking one from a rival to begin the week will have to do for Pearl and the rest of the Rayders. They’re still taking things day by day after all.
And when that postseason opening day comes, Pearl is confident there’s another run in this group, now motivated by heavy hearts.
“I think it’s just a mentality,” he said. “Everyone just has to buy into it. So far everyone has. We’ve got the skillset, we’ve got the fundamentals, we just have to be crisp and buy in.”
Contact or send game stats/info to Sports Editor Drew Kochanny at [email protected]. Follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter, @DrewKochanny, and Instagram, @drewkochanny
This article originally appeared on The Petoskey News-Review: Charlevoix baseball playing for teammate, classmates of recent crash
Continue reading...
