The L'Anse/Baraga Junior Girls (age 13-14) fell behind by eight runs Sunday but rallied to make it interesting at the end. The girls scored six runs in the fifth inning and had the tying run on base in the seventh, but lost to Ypsilanti Lincoln, 8-6, at the Junior Softball State Tournament at Pinery Park. Click the above headline to read more details, see more pictures, and watch videos from the team's six-run rally.
The Escanaba Junior Girls (age 13-14) used good pitching and defense to shut down another opponent Sunday as the state tournament continued in suburban Grand Rapids. Sam Connor, Callie Heller, and Katie Ross combined on a no-hitter as Escanaba beat Lac St. Clair, 23-0. Click the above headline to read the story, see photos, watch videos, and listen to audio highlights.
The Norway Major Boys (age 11-12) fell to 0-2 in the state tournament on Sunday, losing to White Lake, 9-7, in Vicksburg. Conor Ortman hit a home run in a losing effort for Norway. Click the above headline to read more details.
Hayden Hardwick's walk-off, three-run homer in the bottom of the seventh inning lifted the Gladstone Indians to a 6-5 win over the Eastern U.P. Travelers Saturday in Gladstone. The Indians then used a lot of their younger players in the second game and dropped a 16-0 decision. Gladstone finishes the regular season with a 35-9 record. Click the above headline to see more photos and to read previous articles
The Escanaba Junior Girls (age 13-14) scored eight runs in the first inning and cruised to a 17-0 win over Holton in the first round of the state tournament Saturday at Pinery Park. Ten different girls got at least one hit, and three pitchers combined to throw a one-hitter. Click the above headline to see pictures and videos from the game, and listen to audio highlights.
The Delta County Junior Boys (age 13-14) will have to work overtime to punch their ticket to next week's state tournament. The boys lost for the first time in the All-Star tournaments on Saturday, falling to Ishpeming, 5-3, in the sectional opener in Wells. The DC boys managed to pull out the nightcap 10-5. That sets up a winner-take-all game on Sunday. Click the above headline to read details and listen to replays of Brandon Punzel's home runs.
The Norway 10-and-11 year-old Little Leaguers won a district championship earlier this week and will represent the area in the state tournament next weekend in West Branch. The boys' first game will be on Friday, July 27, in the 14-team event.
He may be just 15 years old, but Justin Jurek continues to make his mark on the Gladstone Indians baseball team in clutch situations. Jurek retired two veteran players with the bases loaded in the bottom of the seventh inning to help the Indians beat the Escanaba Cubs, 3-0, Thursday night at Al Ness Field. Click the above headline to read more details, see photos and video, and listen to highlights and interviews.
The Escanaba Junior Cubs completed a season-sweep of the Gladstone Junior Indians, posting a 17-7 win Thursday night at Al Ness Field. Alex Ruatti, Devin Olsen, and Dan LaPalm all had run-scoing doubles for the Junior Cubs in a game that was slowed down by 19 walks. Click the above headline to read more details, and to see photos.
The Gladstone Minor Girls (age 9-10) scored early and often and beat the Escanaba All-Stars, 15-5, Wednesday, to win the District Ten championship at Lemmerand Park. The Gladstone girls advance to the state tournament next week in Grand Rapids. Click the above headline to read more details.
The Norway Major Little League All-Stars (age 11-12) will make the long trip to southwestern Lower Michigan this weekend to compete in the Michigan State Tournament. Norway opens tournament play Saturday morning at 9:30 a.m. CT against Midland Northeast. Click the above headline to read about the tournament schedule.
The 24 best American Legion Baseball players in the Mid Peninsula League met for the annual All-Star game Tuesday night in Channing. The North team, made up of Marquette, Hancock, Ishpeming and Negaunee took a 6-0 lead in the nine-inning game. But the South team, made up of Gladstone, Channing, Kingsford and Iron Mountain scored three runs in the bottom of the ninth inning to pull out an 8-7 win. Click the above headline to read more.
The Escanaba Cubs scored seven runs in the final three innings to beat the Escanaba Junior Cubs, 7-1, in an exhibition American Legion Baseball game Tuesday at Al Ness Field. Alex DeHaan pitched the whole way for the victory. Andrew Sedlar threw five innings for the J-Cubs, with Jeff Lyle finishing up. Click the above headline to see more pictures.
It was a typical Escanaba vs Gladstone softball battle as the Minor Little League Softball District Tournament began Tuesday in Escanaba. The two teams battled to a 0-0 tie through the final inning before Gladstone scored an unearned run to win, 1-0. Click the above headline to see more photos.
The Delta County Junior Boys (age 13-14) scored seven runs in the third inning and rolled past Kingsford, 13-2, Monday to win a district championship at Norway's Marion Park. Sean Bissell hit a grand-slam home run and threw out two base-stealers. Bryant Beam had three hits and four runs batted in. Click the above headline to read the story, listen to highlights and interviews, and see more pictures.
The long wait for high school baseball in Gladstone is over. The Gladstone School Board voted unanimously Monday night to add Braves Baseball to the school's varsity offerings. Gladstone will also sponsor high school girls swimming and bowling during the 2012-'13 school year. Click the above headline to read more.
The Norway Senior Girls (age 15-16) will represent the Upper Peninsula at the Senior Softball State Tournament in downstate Clinton next weekend. Norway earned the long trip downstate by beating Keweenaw twice in the sectionals on Saturday. Click the above headline for more information.
The All-Star season came to an end Sunday for the Escanaba Major Girls (age 11-12), but not before the girls made a last stand against the tournament favorites. Escanaba scored three runs in the sixth inning, but fell to South Portage, 5-3, to end the state tournament with a 1-2 record. Click the above headline to read more details from the game, and to see all of the tournament scores and schedules.
The Delta County Junior Boys (age 13-14) scored seven runs in the first inning and cruised to a 10-3 win over the Norway All-Stars Sunday afternoon at Marion Park. Jake Peterson, nicknamed "Rizzo", threw his first-ever complete game, despite Little League Baseball's pitch count rules. Click the above headline to read the story, see more pictures, and listen to audio highlights. Pictured: Peterson throws a pitch on Sunday. (Jane Lamb photo)
The Gladstone Minor Boys (age 9-10) rallied from six runs down to force extra innings before losing to the Norway All-Stars, 8-7, in extra innings at Marion Park. Hunter McCarthy's walk-off base hit with no outs in the bottom of the seventh inning won it for Norway. Zac Hanson had two hits and scored twice for Gladstone. Click the above headline to read the story, see photos, and videos from the seventh inning.
The Escanaba Major Girls (age 11-12) held off Upper Peninsula rival Negaunee, 13-4, Saturday at the Little League Softball State Tournament in Gladstone. Darby Beckon pitched the whole way for Escanaba, and Hannah Edington drove in five runs. Click the above headline to read more about the game.
The Delta County Junior Boys (age 13-14) started slow but scored eight runs in the third inning and mercied the Kingsford All-Stars, 13-2, Saturday at Norway's Marion Park. Hunter Garling's grand slam home run in the fifth inning ended the game. Click the above headline to read the game story, listen to Garling's home run, and see video highlights.
The Gladstone Indians met another of their team goals Saturday night by winning the Mid Pen League Southern Division Playoffs at Don Olsen Field. Gladstone beat Iron Mountain Gold, 7-0, and then trampled Channing, 14-0, to advance to Sunday's tournament championship game against the North Division champions. Click the above headline to read more details and to see pictures taken by Kym Frazer.
The Norway Senior Girls (age 15-16) won a sectional championship Saturday night at Marion Park. The girls beat Keweenaw, 15-4, in the first game, then took the second game, 6-5 in eight innings. 13-year-0ld Harley Kastor went the distance in the circle in the nightcap, and Bobbi Hulce had the game-winning hit in the eighth inning. Norway advances to the state tournament in downstate Clinton.
The Norway Major Boys (age 11-12) advanced to the district championship game on Friday, but it sure wasn't easy. Norway rushed to a 5-0 lead over Gladstone in the winner's bracket final, but watched as Gladstone tied the game entering the final inning. But Norway scored four runs in the sixth inning to post a 9-5 victory. Click the above headline to read the details, see pictures and videos, and listen to audio highlights.
The Cinderella story of the Tri-County Major Boys came to an end on Friday as Kingsford pounded out nine hits and posted an 11-1 win at the East Kingsford Field. Wes McClain had a pair of doubles and four Kingsford pitchers limited Tri-County to two base hits. Click the above headline to read more details and see photos.
The Escanaba Major Girls (age 11-12) fell behind early and had a late comeback fall short as they dropped a 5-2 decision to Taylor East-West in the first round of the Little League Softball state tournament Friday in Gladstone. Click the above headline to read the game story, see photos, and see the scores from all of the tournament games.
The Gladstone Minor Boys (age 9-10) did what no team has done so far this summer against Iron Mountain North: score two runs in a game. Gladstone lost, 8-2, in the district finals in Norway late Friday night. Click the above headline to read more.
Hayden Hardwick hit a three-run homer and pitched a complete game on the mound as the Gladstone Indians beat the Kingsford Blues, 8-2, Thursday at Don Olsen Field. The win allowed the Indians to finish the Mid Pen League season with a 19-1 record, leading into this weekend's league tournament. Click the above headline to read the details, listen to audio highlights, and see more pictures.
The Escanaba Major Girls (age 11-12) are making their final preparations for their appearance in the Michigan State Tournament in Gladstone. Escanaba will face Taylor Northwest Friday morning at 10:00. Opening ceremonies are at noon on Friday. Click the above headline to see all of the schedules.
