Big Rapids hosted a three-team invite series on Saturday as one of the longest standing traditions in the area.

Each of the three teams came into their respective doubleheaders with over 16 wins on the season. 

Big Rapids got off to a rough start in their first action of the invitational, as Sacred Heart led 4-1 after the first four innings of play; however, the Irish put up 11 runs in the fifth and sixth innings to take a 15-3 victory. The Irish registered 14 hits while Big Rapids gave up a season high seven errors defensively. All four Cardinal pitchers, Corbin Clark, Noah Sweppenheiser, Cole Kiebala, and Nick Teceno, gave up at least three runs in their stint on the slab. Isaac Zocco scored two of Big Rapids’ three runs while Ty Gielczyk and Phillip Wilbur each tabbed two hits.

“(We were) unfocused in the morning and it led to bad defense,” Scarpelli said. “Davis is a solid lefty for them, but we didn’t seem focused at the plate either and we didn’t adapt.”

The Cardinals fought back in game two against Charlevoix, fighting back from an early 2-0 deficit to take a 3-2 lead entering the fifth. Each team would tally three runs in the seventh, leaving the Cardinals victorious 6-5 following the last out. Mason McNeilly led with three singles followed by Zocco and Caiden Schuberg with two apiece. Wilbur also reached base in three of four at bats with walks. Karsen Rehkopf went five innings as the game’s starting hurler, only allowing three hits and two runs. Seth Cline finished the game’s final two frames with three hits, three hits, three runs, and four walks allowed.

According to Coach Scarpelli, the team’s approach was much better following the game one loss.

“Much better focus by the whole team in the afternoon versus Charlevoix. Waha throws hard and we were ready to hit. Rehkopf attacked hitters and our defense was much more focused.”

Charlevoix defeated Sacred Heart in the early neutral-ground game by a scored of 5-3. Big Rapids moves to 19-3, along with Sacred Heart at 21-4 and Charlevoix at 17-8. Sacred Heart took home the Tom Ryan trophy by a runs allowed tiebreaker.

The Cardinals will now await Monday's rivalry series at home against Reed City. Game one is slated for 4:00 P.M. First pitch with game two following approximately 30 minutes after game one’s conclusion.