COMEBACK KIDS: Berryhill Captures Tournament
![]() ESCANABA---Championship teams find a way to get the job done at crunch time. And there's no doubting that Midland Berryhill has been, and is, a championship team. ![]() Berryhill fell behind DePere, Wis., 6-3, before hitting two late home runs to win their semifinal game, 8-6. Then after Marinette, Wis., scored four runs in the sixth inning to rally past Kimberly, Wis., 9-8, Berryhill again had to rally in the final game. Marinette led, 3-1, in the middle innings before Midland scored twice in the fifth and two more runs in the top of the seventh to win the championship, 5-3. DePere, which beat Midland in last year's Escanaba tournament final, took a 2-0 lead in Sunday's semifinal on a two-run single by Zach Ziesmer. Berryhill got a run back in the bottom of the second inning when Ashton Cooley was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded, and Jeff Landis hit a sacrifice fly in the third inning to tie the game at 2-2. ![]() Trailing 6-3, Berryhill rallied in the bottom of the fifth when Jeff Allen was safe on an error and rode home on a home run to ceneter field by Landis, a shot that just cleared barely the fence. Then in the bottom of the sixth, Gage Chapin led off with a single, and Cooley drew a walk. Shane Juday was asked to get the bunt down, but he fouled away two attempts. Berryhill ened up being pleased with that, however, when Juday smacked a three-run homer to right field, putting them ahead, 8-6, on that one swing of the bat. That was the margin pitcher Adam Randall needed, as he retired the side quickly in the top of the seventh, sending Midland into the championship game. Randall made 105 pitches in a complete-game effort, giving up six runs (three earned) om five hits. Tyler Blum took the loss in relief for DePere. ![]() But in the bottom of the inning, Justin Werner singled home a run for Marinette to tie it. Marinette grabbed the lead in the second inning as Brandon Eich was hit by a pitch, stole second, went to third on a ground out, and scored on a wild pitch. Then in the bottom of the third, Nolan Lemke singled home a run for Marinette. That put Berryhill in a 3-1 hole, but in the fifth inning, Cooley led off with a single and Landis was safe on an error. Derek Beougher came through with a base hit to left field, bringing home both runs and tying the game at 3--3. Then in the sixth inning, Midland took the lead on an RBI double by Chapin, and an insurance run came home on an error. Marinette had a chance in the bottom of the sixth when Berryhill reliever Jeff Allen walked Eich and Will LaLonde. But he got Mason Risner to ground out, and then retired the side in order in the bottom of the seventh to end the game. Allen threw the final three innings and earned the win on the hill. Other than the two walks, he did not allow a hit. acob Stone pitched the first four innings and allowed three runs on three hits and four walks. He settled for a no-decision. Mason Risner took the loss for Marinette. He tossed 5 1/3 innings, giving up five runs (four earned) on eight hits. Braden McMahon threw the final 1 2/3 innings. Berryhill improved to 10-1 on the season. Click the thumbnails in the ARTICLE HIGHLIGHTS box above to see photos and video highlights from the games.
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