WELLS----The Delta County Junior Boys (age 13-14) hit four home runs Saturday to beat the Ishpeming All-Stars, 10-5, in the second game of a secional doubleheader at the Wells Sports Complex. But only three of the home runs counted. Confused?
Sean Bissell launched a solo shot in the top of the third inning to seemingly give Delta County a 4-0 lead. Bissell had already hit a home run in the first game of the doubleheader, which was won by Ishpeming, 5-3.
Well, this time, Bissell went into his home run trot and, just like in all home runs, his excited teammates came out to greet him at the plate.
But as his teammates mobbed him, Bissell was called out. Why? Because of an obscure Little League rule that states that nobody can touch the batter until he touches home plate.
So Bissell was literally called out because he got patted on the back.
Moments later, Hunter Garling launched a bomb of his own. This time, nobody came out to the plate to meet him, and he jumped high into the air and landed on the plate. That was pretty much a "take that" in response to what happened earlier to Bissell.
Ishpeming rallied, though, for five runs in the bottom of the third inning as Nick Aird and Justin Popelka had trouble throwing strikes. Walks, a "safe" call on a close play at the plate, a bloop single by Travis Fredy, and a solid single by Connor Hanlin added up to Ishpeming tieing the game at 5-5, and threatening to sweep the sectional title.
But Brandon Punzel took over. He launched a long three-run homer in the top of the fourth inning to break the 5-5 tie, then Punzel hit another long one with a man aboard in the sixth inning to make it 10-5.
Punzel also picked up the win on the mound, going 4 2/3 innings in relief, and not allowing a run (he did allow two inherited runners score, though).
Bryant Beem and Jack Valentine also had RBI hits for Delta County.
Earlier in the day, the two teams hooked up in a well-played game.
Ishpeming's Luke Gray hit a home run in the top of the first and Bissell answered with a solo shot in the bottom of the inning (this one counted).
Then, another bizzare moment as Delta County protested that Gray had used an illegal bat in the first inning.
After a long delay, Delta County's protest was confirmed. Ishpeming lost an out in the second inning, and one coach was forced to stay in the dugout for the rest of the game.
But unlike in Bissell's later situation, Gray's homer was allowed to stand.
Delta County took a 2-1 lead in the second inning on an RBI double by Justin Popelka down the right field line. Logan Lamb drove home Garling with a two-out single in the bottom of the third, and Delta County had a 3-1 lead.
Jake Peterson was pitching in and out of trouble for Delta County, but mnaged to hold the lead until Luke Kuliu ripped a double past a diving Valentine in the outfield. Two runs scored, and the game was tied ay 3-3. Austin Corp continued to hold the Delta County bats quiet, and in the seventh inning, Ishpeming grabbed the lead.
Gray walked, got balked to second, and scored on a double by Dylan Sundberg down the left field line. An error on the play allowed Sundberg to score. In the bottom of the seventh, Popelka walked, but Hunter LaMarch hit into a double play to end it.
Garling, who had come on in relief of Peterson as Peterson reached his 95-pitch limit, took the loss.
So the result sets up a winner-take-all sectional championship game on Sunday, with a trip to the state tournament in Montague/Whitehall on the line. Game time is 1:00. The game 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 some pictures and listen to Ron Plum's call of Punzel's two home runs.
Sorry, the tape didn't start rolling until the second inning of the game, so the other home runs aren't here!
Well, this time, Bissell went into his home run trot and, just like in all home runs, his excited teammates came out to greet him at the plate.
But as his teammates mobbed him, Bissell was called out. Why? Because of an obscure Little League rule that states that nobody can touch the batter until he touches home plate.
So Bissell was literally called out because he got patted on the back.
Moments later, Hunter Garling launched a bomb of his own. This time, nobody came out to the plate to meet him, and he jumped high into the air and landed on the plate. That was pretty much a "take that" in response to what happened earlier to Bissell.
Brandon Punzel HR #1
But Brandon Punzel took over. He launched a long three-run homer in the top of the fourth inning to break the 5-5 tie, then Punzel hit another long one with a man aboard in the sixth inning to make it 10-5.
Bryant Beem and Jack Valentine also had RBI hits for Delta County.
Earlier in the day, the two teams hooked up in a well-played game.
Ishpeming's Luke Gray hit a home run in the top of the first and Bissell answered with a solo shot in the bottom of the inning (this one counted).
Then, another bizzare moment as Delta County protested that Gray had used an illegal bat in the first inning.
Brandon Punzel HR #2
But unlike in Bissell's later situation, Gray's homer was allowed to stand.
Delta County took a 2-1 lead in the second inning on an RBI double by Justin Popelka down the right field line. Logan Lamb drove home Garling with a two-out single in the bottom of the third, and Delta County had a 3-1 lead.
Gray walked, got balked to second, and scored on a double by Dylan Sundberg down the left field line. An error on the play allowed Sundberg to score. In the bottom of the seventh, Popelka walked, but Hunter LaMarch hit into a double play to end it.
Garling, who had come on in relief of Peterson as Peterson reached his 95-pitch limit, took the loss.
So the result sets up a winner-take-all sectional championship game on Sunday, with a trip to the state tournament in Montague/Whitehall on the line. Game time is 1:00. The game 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 some pictures and listen to Ron Plum's call of Punzel's two home runs.
Sorry, the tape didn't start rolling until the second inning of the game, so the other home runs aren't here!
