|
Norway, Sault Boys Win State Tourney Openers
 GLADSTONE---The Junior Boys (age 13-14) Little League State Tournament began on Thursday in Gladstone. Eight teams from around the state are playing in a double-elimination format. Norway and Sault Ste. Marie are representing the U.P., and they both won their opening games, and will face each other in the next round on Friday. Landon Kaldor's line drive down the left field line in the fifth inning scored Trey Doda with the go-ahead run, giving Norway a 4-3 win over the District Twelve champions from White Lake. Kaldor also had a two-run single in the third inning to give Norway a 3-2 lead, before White Lake scored an unearned run to tie the game. Anthony Hansen's RBI single scored Bret Turini with Norway's first run in the second inning, but White Lake's Nick Stever singled home Eli Buchberger to put his team in front, 2-1. Norway's pitchers Hunter Riley, Doda, and Hansen combined to strike out 16 batters. Hansen had seven of the strikeouts in the final three innings. Norway, the District Ten champions, will take on Sault Ste. Marie on Friday at 3:30 ET/ 2:30 CT in Gladstone. The Sault beat St. Clair, 8-5, in Thursday's second game. The later games on Thursday saw Midland defeat defending state champion Taylor, 5-0; and North Saginaw Township mercied Lincoln, 12-1. |
