The Gladstone Minor Girls (age 9-10) stayed unbeaten at the state tournament on Monday by beating Rogers City, 8-5, in the quarterfinals at Pinery Park. Brittany Schwartz picked up another win in the circle, striking out eleven batters. Taylor Trudeau added three hits and two runs batted in. Click the above headline to read more details about the game.
The Delta County Junior Boys (age 13-14) advanced to the state championship game on Sunday with an impressive 13-3 win over North Saginaw Township at the state tournament in Montague. The boys pounded out 14 hits, with Sean Bissell collecting four of them and Brandon Punzel getting three. Click the above headline to read the story and see pictures, videos, and audio clips.
In what could be a preview of this Wednesday's state championship game, the Gladstone Minor Girls (age 9-10) beat Tecumseh, 1-0, in seven innings as the state tournament continued Sunday night at Pinery Park. Click the above headline to read the story and to see pictures and a video of the only run.
The Delta County Junior Boys (age 13-14) were their own worst enemy on Saturday, as they played two games at the state tournament in downstate Montague. But they overcame a slew of stranded baserunners and several untimely errors to advance to the state semifinals on Sunday. Delta County lost to Taylor North Central, 4-2, but hung on to beat Western Grand Rapids, 8-7, to advance out of pool play. Click the above headline to read the details, see pictures and videos, and listen to highlights and interviews.
The Gladstone 9-10 girls got off to a good start this weekend at the state tournament at Pinery Park in suburban Grand Rapids. Gladstone sat through a long rain delay and then beat St. Clair, 4-0, Friday as darkness fell. Then the girls whipped Ypsilanti Lincoln, 22-1, on Saturday, to improve to 2-0. Click the above headline to read more details and to see photos and pictures from Friday's game.
The Delta County Junior Boys (age 13-14) scored seven runs in the third inning Friday to beat Kalamazoo Parchment, 9-4, in the state tournament opener in Montague. Six different pitchers combined to throw a four-hitter for Delta County. Click the above headline to read more details, see pictures and videos, and listen to audio soundbytes from the game. Pictured: Jake Peterson throws as second baseman Brandon Punzel gets ready.
The Kingsford Senior Boys (age 15-16) beat Parchment, 13-5, but lost to Taylor South, 9-8, at the Senior State Tournament in Petoskey on Thursday. The tournament was delayed by a day because of heavy rains on Wednesday. Click the above headline for more details and to see the full schedule.
In the end, there just wasn't a team strong enough to compete with the Escanaba Junior Little League All-Stars (age 13-14) at the state tournament in Grand Rapids this week. Escanaba rolled past Croswell-Lexington, 9-0, in Wednesday's semifinal, and then bested the host Hudsonville team, 7-3, to earn a trip to Regionals in Ohio. Click the above headline to read all of the details, and to see pictures and videos taken by Morgan Szukalowski.
The Escanaba Junior Girls (age 13-14) continue to dominate their opponents at the Junior Softball State Tournament in suburban Grand Rapids. Escanaba shut out South Portage, 13-0, as Callie Heller and Katie Ross combined to throw a no-hitter. Escanaba advances to the state semifinals against defending Junior World Series champion Croswell-Lexington. Click the above headline to read the details.
The Escanaba Junior Girls (age 13-14) posted their third straight shutout on Monday, beating Boyne City, 13-0, at the Junior Softball State Tournament at Pinery Park. Sam Connor, Michelle LaFave, and Callie Heller all had three hits for Escanaba. Click the above headline to read the story, see pictures and videos, and listen to some of the audio highlights.
The Delta County Junior Boys (age 13-14) took advantage of numerous walks early on, and then swung the big sticks later as they rolled past Ishpeming, 20-2, in the sectional championship game Sunday in Wells. The result sends the boys into next weekend's state tournament in Montague and Whitehall. Click the above headline to read the details, see pictures, and listen to audio highlights.
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.
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.
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.
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 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 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.
