SAGINAW, Mich.---The Negaunee Major Little League All-Stars (age 10-12) finished pool play undefeated on Sunday with a 10-3 win over Ira Township at the Michigan State Tournament in Saginaw. With both teams already assured of a spot in the state quarterfinals, each used three different pitchers and used it as a tune-up game.
Although as Negaunee Manager Joe Dost said the day before that his team would “play to win”, and the boys certainly did that with two runs in the second inning and four more in the third inning to take most of the mystery out of the contest.
Ben Pannanen smacked a two-run single in the second inning, proving that batting in the #10 spot doesn't mean that you can't hit. He also had an RBI single in the sixth inning.
The shot of the game was off the bat of Nathan Harvala, as he clubbed a very long two-run homer to center field during that four-run third inning. And Gavin Hermes added a two-run single in the fourth inning as Negaunee rang up 12 base hits.
Ira, the District Seven champs from the thumb area, managed only four hits against Kalen Johnson, Hermes, and Maddox Halamka. Ira scored two of its runs on a throwing error in the final inning.
Negaunee moves on to the state quarterfinals Monday night against Mattawan. Ira will play in the quarterfinals against Taylor North. The Gladstone-Mattawan game will start at 7:30 Monday night and you can listen live on FM-100.3 The Point.
