Suttons Bay will find out if it's a contender or a pretender for the Northwest Conference baseball title Friday when hosting Benzie Central in a make-up game.

ANTHONY STEWART, shown delivering
a pitch for Suttons Bay, also used his
bat to help the Norsemen win a pair
of games over Buckley Tuesday.

With two easy wins Tuesday over Buckley in the books, the Norsemen improved to 5-3 in the Northwest and 11-8 overall. A pair of wins over the Huskies, who sit atop the conference race with a 7-0-1 mark, would tighten things.

A pair of losses would end the Norsemen’s chances.

“They are big games,” said Suttons Bay coach Doug Periard. “We win them, and we stay in the hunt. We lose and we might be in trouble.”

It was Anthony Stewart who was dishing out trouble at Buckley. He swatted a grand slam and a 2-run homer, doubled and singled — all in the first game, a 10-3 victory.

Adam Moritz was efficient on the mound, scattering 6 hits while striking out 5 in holding on to a 7-0 lead the Norsemen built after two innings. Marty Glowicki doubled in a run, Ryan Manning singled in 2 runs, and Shane Kaufman’s single scored another.

The Norsemen scored 2 runs in all but the third inning in winning the nightcap, 10-2. Glowicki got the win while working 5 innings, striking out 7 and not issuing a walk. Stewart struck out 2 in a perfect inning of relief.

Stewart’s bat stayed hot with a 2-run homer and a single in a versatile performance. He also beat out a sacrifice bunt for a third hit.

Danny Holmes picked up a pair of doubles in going 4-for-4 and scoring 3 runs. Credit Manning with a pair of hits, RBI and 2 runs scored; Moritz with a double and run scored; and Jesus Olivo with a single, RBI and run scored.

Suttons Bay will take on St. Mary today.

Glen Lake, meanwhile, hosted a buzz saw with second-place Mesick, dropping 11-2 and 14-5 contests.

The Lakers trailed 5-2 after 5 innings before a 6-run Bulldog splurge in the sixth put the opener out of reach. Joe Galla collected a pair of singles.

Mesick put away 10 runs in the second and third innings to take control of the second game. KC Novak singled, tripled and drove in 2 runs for the Lakers, while Devin Weber and John Bunek also collected 2 hits each.

Glen Lake led Kingsley 3-0 Friday before the game was cancelled in the third inning due to rain. The doubleheader will be finished May 22.

Glen Lake will host Elk Rapids today, host the John Schlosser Memorial Tournament Saturday (see separate story) and travel to Buckley Tuesday. The Lakers are 9-7 overall and 2-6 in the Northwest.

“We’re really working through the toughest part of our schedule,” said coach Kris Herman.

Leland has found tough times during its first season in the Northwest Conference, The Comets were blanked twice Tuesday by Benzie Central, 12-0 and 21-1, in games that left coach Scott Stoerck impressed with the workman-like ways of the Huskies. He pulled aside a couple freshmen Comets during the game, and asked hem to “watch how these guys go about their business,” Stoerck said.

He’s taking no sides in the Benzie Central-Suttons Bay matchup Friday.

“That will be a good game to watch. I think Suttons Bay is talented, but Benzie Central is loaded at the mound. They don’t take anything for granted; they just work hard out there,” said Stoerck.

Leland is scheduled to play Saturday at the Bellaire Invitational, and to take on Suttons Bay Tuesday. A double header started last week at Mesick was cancelled due to rain in the top of the third inning with the Bulldogs up 8-1. The games will be completed next Friday, May 16.

Northwest Conference
baseball standings

Benzie Central 7-0-1
Mesick 7-1
Frankfort 6-2
Suttons Bay 5-3
Glen Lake 2-6
Kingsley 2-6
Buckley 1-6-1
Leland 1-7