Wild Finishes Highlight Day Two of Legion Tourney

This story was written by RRN Intern Braden Kerr

ESCANABA--- The American Legion Michigan Zone Five tournament saw eight games Friday to conclude pool play. Marquette, Escanaba, Copper Country, and Escanaba advanced to the semifinal round on Saturday. Each semifinal winner will advance to the State Tournament downstate.

Marquette Blues 5 vs. Eastern UP 3 ---The Marquette Blues built a four-run lead going into the last inning behind a gem from Dakota Maki, but when he reached his pitch count Eastern UP put the pressure on. The Wood Duck rally fell just short when Parker Maki struck out the final batter with the bases loaded.

Dakota Maki took the hill and the for the Blues and was dominant all day. Maki allowed one run, unearned, on one hit while striking out five and walking three in six and one-third innings.

In the first inning Dakota Maki walked and later scored on a single up the middle from Pete VandenAvond.

The Blues would add another run in the fourth when Logan Peterson singled and scored on a sacrifice fly from Nash Riipi.

Dakota and Parker Maki led off the fifth inning with a single and a double respectively, to put two runners on for VandenAvond who singled home Dakota Maki. Parker Maki scored on a passed ball and VandenAvond scored on a Logan Peterson sacrifice bunt.

In the bottom of the inning the Wood Ducks got one back when a walk and a throwing error put a runner on third. #19 singled to score the run.

In the seventh inning Maki would leave the game after getting the first out and Peterson would give up back-to-back singles to Avery Wilson and #6. Catcher’s interference would load the bases with two outs.

Peterson walked the next two batters with one run scoring on a passed ball and the next on the second walk. That was the end of Peterson and Parker Maki would come in and strike out the last batter.

The Maki brothers combined for three hits and 20 of the 21 outs on the mound to lead the Blues. Pete VandenAvond had two hits and two RBI and Logan Peterson had two hits and an RBI.

Ethan Chambers got a hit and drove in a run for Eastern UP and Avery Wilson had a hit and scored for the Wood Ducks.

IRON MOUNTAIN 5 vs. MENOMINEE 2--- Nolan Amundson was the hero for the Iron Mountain Golds as he blasted a three-run homerun in the bottom of the fifth inning of a tie ball game. The Menominee Red Wave carried a 2-1 lead into the fifth inning before the Ammundson shot.

Errors plagued both sides as none of the seven runs were earned. It started in the second inning when the first two Menominee batters reached on errors. A sacrifice fly scored Jimmy Coldren and Kevin Boivin scored on a passed ball.

The Golds responded in the bottom of the third when Sawyer Pugh reached on an error with two outs. Gavin Trevillian lined a pitch into right field to score Pugh and make the score 2-1.

In the fifth inning Ian Popp reached on an error and scored on a two-out single from Carlson. Another error put Riley Juneau on base and brough up Amundson.

Nolan Amundson hammered the first pitch over the right field fence and give Iron Mountain their first lead.

Menominee loaded the bases in the seventh inning on a single, a walk, and a dropped third strike all with two outs. With the bases loaded McClean got a ground out to complete the game.

McClean pitched a complete game for Iron Mountain allowing two runs, unearned, on one hit while walking two and striking out four.

COPPER COUNTRY 5 vs. GLADSTONE 0---The Copper Country Flames blanked the Gladstone Indians in a comfortable victory. Kade Farrell threw the complete game shutout for the Flames.

Farrell only allowed one hit in seven innings of work to stifle the Indians. Cam Kelly doubled for Gladstone’s only hit.

ESCANABA 8 vs. ISHPEMING 7--- For the second game in the row, the Escanaba Cubs engineered a dramatic comeback to win a game. The Ishpeming Blue Storm used a sixth run third inning to lead 7-3 going into the seventh inning. The Cubs scored five runs to secure the victory.

Escanaba scored early when Chase Cloutier singled and scored on a single from Jack McEvers. In the top of the third inning Eli Gardner walked on scored when McEvers reached on an error in right field.

In the bottom of the inning Ishpeming loaded the bases on a walk and two HBP. Hunter Smith and Luke Kostreva singled to score three runs. An error allowed another run to score. Sam Dryer and Garrett Sundberg singled home one run each to stretch the lead to 6-2.

Tony Derkos came on in relief of Eli Gardner with one out in the third inning. Derkos kept the game in reach for Escanaba by scattering six hits and allowing one earned run while striking out three and walking none.

Parker Frappier reached on a HBP and scored on an error on a ball hit by Matt Kaven.

Ishpeming added an insurance run in the fifth when LH singled and scored on an error on a ball hit by SD.

In the fateful seventh inning Escanaba had only one hit but drew seven walks including five with the bases loaded to take the lead 8-7.

Derkos sat down Ishpeming in order in the seventh to win the game for the Cubs.

Chase Cloutier had two hits and scored twice for Escanaba and Eli Gardner walked twice and scored two runs.

AJ Bottari had two hits and Luke Kostreva had a hit and drove in two runs for Ishpeming while Logan HurkmansM1 had a hit and scored two runs.

GLADSTONE 6 vs. MENOMINEE 5--- With a 2-2 count and the bases Travis Mack laid down the perfect suicide squeeze bunt to walk-off the Menominee Red Wave. Gladstone has utilized the suicide squeeze numerous times and Scott Kwarciany trusted Mack to get the bunt down in a pressure situation.

Gladstone and Menominee traded runs and the lead back and forth before the Indians got their walk-off.

The Indians jumped out to a 2-0 lead before Menominee answered with three in the third and one more in the top of the fifth to take a 4-2 lead.

In the bottom of the fifth Cam Kelly singled to lead off the inning, then a walk and a Nick Martin hit loaded the bases. Kelly scored on a wild pitch and Tyler Darmogray tied the game on a fielder’s choice. Aedan Creten squeezed home Martin to take the lead in a preview of things to come.

The Red Wave tied the game in the top of the seventh when a walk followed by a bunt and two straight errors loaded the bases. Jimmy Coldren walked to bring home the tying run.

In the bottom on the inning Nick Martin reached on an infield hit and stole second before advancing on a Casey Alworden bunt. The next two batters walked to bring up Travis Mack. Mack fouled off two bunt attempts before the gutsy call to get it down with two strikes and win the game.

MARQUETTE 8 vs. ESCANABA 4 (5 INN/FORFEIT)--- The Marquette Golds and Escanaba Cubs had already clinched spots on Saturday but were playing to win the pool. Escanaba was forced to forfeit when they did not have enough players.

After an ejection in the earlier game the Cubs were down to ten players against Marquette. Another ejection in this game brought the total down to nine and because of the DH, the Cubs could not field a full team.

Before the game was cut short, the two teams were in a battle to win the pool. Marquette took a 5-0 lead before a four run fourth inning brought the Cubs right back into it. The Golds scored three in the bottom of the fifth, but Escanaba has shown this tournament that no lead is safe.

Parker and Dakota Maki were once again leading the charge for Iron Mountain. In the second inning Dakota Maki was HBP with the bases loaded and then Parker Maki singled home to runs to make the score 4-0.

With the score 5-1 in favor of the Golds, Jack McEvers stepped into the box with the bases loaded and doubled to left to clear the bases and make it 5-4.

In the bottom of the fifth the Maki brothers each singled home a run and then scored on a two run double from Pete VandenAvond to make the score 8-4.

The game was called after the bottom of the fifth with Marquette claiming first place in the pool while Escanaba had to settle for second.

EASTERN UP 15 vs. ISHPEMING 2--- In a battle for between to 0-2 teams, the Eastern UP Wood Ducks defeated the Ishpeming Blue Storm by a score of 15-2 to end their tournament on a high note.

COPPER COUNTRY 6 vs. IRON MOUNTAIN 5--- The Copper Country won the game in walk-off fashion against the Iron Mountain Golds to secure a 3-0 record in pool play and a spot in the semifinals. The Flames scored the game winning run on a fielding error from the Golds.

Saturday Schedule--- The Copper Country Flames and Escanaba Cubs play in Escanaba at 11 AM ET, listen live on 93.5 FM and 600 AM or online at rrnsports.com.

The Marquette Blues and Gladstone Indians play in Gladstone at 11 AM ET, listen live on 100.3 FM or online at rrnsports.com (Click "The Point")

The winners will play in the championship at a location TBD.