Kingsford 9-10 Boys Win Two At State Tournament

DEXTER---The Kingsford Minor Boys (age 9-10) Little League All-Stars won their first two games this weekend at the state tournament in downstate Dexter. The boys beat Mattawan, 10-4, Friday night, then topped Blissfield, 6-3, on Saturday morning.

Kingsford, which includes boys from across the border in Florence, Wis., has now won five straight games, including three in the loser's bracket of last month's district tournament in Escanaba. Kingsford won the district with a walk-off win over Escanaba.

On Saturday, Kingsford grabbed a 3-1 lead early in the game as Brock Flaminio came through with a run-scoring hit.

After the District 16 champions tied the game, Kingsford came back with an RBI hit by Alex Hemgren. Cooper Kreski scored an insurance run on a wild pitch.

"We are a very aggressive baserunning team," Kingsford Manager Chris Steber said. "Some of them didn't go our way because the kids didn't listen, but that's all right. It's still aggressive, and we'll hold our heads up high."

"We're a very good hitting team," he added. "I think they did a hands-down good job with their pitching."

Once Kingsford had the lead again, the pitchers slammed the door. Mason Koski struck out the side in the bottom of the fifth inning and Bradley Steber struck out two in the bottom of the sixth, including the game's final out.

Kingsford wraps up pool play on Sunday with a game against Taylor.

Click the thumbnails in the ARTICLE HIGHLIGHTSbox above to see video clips taken by Ryan Grondin.