'Rizzo' Leads Delta County Jrs. Into District Final
NORWAY----He's one of the smallest kids, maybe the smallest kid, on the Delta County Junior Boys (age 13-14) All-Star team. But Jake Peterson came through in a big way as his team played Norway Sunday afternoon at Marion Park. Peterson pitched a complete-game five hitter, and helped his own cause with a bases-clearing hit, as Delta County beat Norway, 10-3, to advance to the district title game. Delta County will face Kingsford in Monday's championship game, with a spot in next weekend's sectionals against Ishpeming on the line. Kingsford eliminated Norway Sunday night, 8-1, and would need to beat Delta County twice to advance.
Nick Aird at the plate for Delta County.
Peterson threw 20 pitches in the first inning because of an error behind him, and a botched pick-off play between first and second base that would have ended the inning. Then Bryce Grayvold and Seth Polfus got back-to-back base hits to put the pressure on. Peterson got John Edwardson to ground out to end the scoring threat. In the bottom of the first inning, Delta County sent 11 batters to the plate and scored seven runs, on just two base hits. Edwardson started on the mound and walked Hunter LaMarch and Sean Bissell. Norway decided to pull him, and put Hunter Kaldor on the mound. Brandon Punzel greeted him with a fly down the right field line, but Punzel was robbed by a diving catch by Caleb Tinkey. Then Hunter Garling hit a ground ball to shortstop, and Bobby Kleiman didn't throw to any base, so the bases were loaded.
"Rizzo" Peterson leads off of third base.
That brought up Peterson, and he had a long at-bat with Kaldor. Peterson fouled off six pitches, and with the count 3-2, he ripped one up the gap to score three runs. "I just didn't want to strike out," Peterson said. "I wanted to put the ball into play to give us a chance to score." "He's just smart all the time," Coach Punzel said of Peterson. "He's just baseball smart. The kid's just awesome. He uses his head all the time."
Jake Peterson 3-run base hit.
"Jack is a quiet killer for the other team," Coach Punzel said. "Nobody notices that he's there, then once in a while, he'll put up a double on you. His plate discipline is probably the best that we've got. He just does a great job."
Bryant Beam concentrates at first base.
But Peterson didn't allow another run the rest of the game, giving up only three baserunners over the final four innings of the game, striking out five batters. "It was the first complete game of my career," Peterson smiled. "I was getting really close (to the pitch count). It was only because of my defense. I want to think everybody behind me because I couldn't have did it without them." "It looked to me that he kept getting stronger as the game went on," Coach Punzel said. "I called a curveball, and he'd set them up nice and then blow them away with a fastball." Alternative content
Sean Bissell Double.
"Kudos to Sean," Coach Punzel said. "The experience that he acquired from high school baseball, and taking it out here to help our boys, is just huge. He's another reason that Jake pitched so well because he'd set them up with that high fastball. What an asset."
Sean Bissell at the plate at Marion Park.
The only suspense that remained was whether Peterson would be able to finish the game, as he reached the 95-pitch count. He got Kaldor to strike out on a 3-2 pitch to end the game, leading to the pint-sized "Rizzo" to pump his fist in celebration. And, what about this nickname, Rizzo? "I don't know where it came from," Peterson laughed. "My dad just calling me it a couple of years ago. I don't know." Call him whatever. He went the distance when Coach Punzel didn't think he would. And so that leaves Garling ready to take the ball in the championship game Monday night. "He's chomping at the bit," Coach Punzel said. Monday night's championship game starts at 6:30 ET/5:30 CT. It will be broadcast live on WCHT-AM (600) and on-line at www.rrnsports.com. Click the thumbnails in the "ARTICLE HIGHLIGHTS" box to see pictures taken by Jane Lamb. And radio replays of hits by Peterson and Bissell. |