Portage Lake Major Boys Come Up Short In Opener

ST. CLAIR, Mich.---The Portage Lake (Houghton-Hancock) Major Little League baseball All-Stars were competitive Friday at the state tournament in St. Clair, but they couldn't get the big hit and lost their opening game to Ash-Carleton, 5-1.

It was a game that featured two teams from about as far apart as you can get in Michigan, with Portage Lake from the Copper Country and Ash-Carleton from the southern part of lower Michigan at the Ohio border.

Ash-Carleton took a 1-0 lead in the first inning as Nolan Zajac came through with the base hit to score Sean Langston. But in the second inning, Portage Lake came back.

Landon Stevens led off with a double to the fence, then Zach Geberkoff beat out a bunt single, moving Landon Stevens to third.

An intentional walk loaded the bases, and the strategy worked for Ash-Carleton as Cody Turner put down a bunt. Stevens was called out on the force at the plate, on a very close play. Portage Lake's No. 9 hitter Ned Larson draew a bases loaded walk to make it 1-1.

In the fifth inning, Portage Lake trailed, 3-1, but had runners are on second and third with two out. Stevens hit a chopped toward left field but Ash-Carleton third baseman Chad Martin made the play. The downstate team added two runs in the bottom of the fifth inning to expand its lead, and picked up the win with a 1-2-3 sixth inning.

Portage Lake pitcher Levi Frahm threw well, keeping the Ash-Carleton hitters off-balance before having to leave the mound in the fourth inning because he reached his 85-pitch count threshhold.

Portage Lake faces Escanaba on Saturday at 2:30. The game will be broadcast on WCHT-AM (600) and on-line at www.rrnsports.com.

Escanaba lost to Taylor North Central, 8-0, in Friday's earlier pool play contest.

Ash-Carleton takes on Taylor North Central as pool play continues Saturday.

Click the thumbnails in the ARTICLE HIGHLIGHTS box above to see photos, videos from Friday's Portage Lake-Ash Carleton game.