ESCANABA---A ten-team American Legion Baseball tournament got under way Friday in Delta County. The Gregg Johnson Memorial Tournament, which has been held every year for more than three decades, saw five games on the Escanaba Al Ness Field and five games on the Bay College field in Wells. There will be another ten games on Saturday to determine which four teams will advance to Sunday's semifinals and finals.
There was a ceremony held as well to remember the late Dr. Bill LeMire, who was instrumental in building the Escanaba Cubs American Legion baseball program from 1992-2011. He was also the driving force behind upgrading Al Ness Field, including putting up the money that was needed for the installation of lights, as well as improving the playing surface and the dugouts. LeMire died in 2017 at the age of 81.
LeMire's sons threw out the ceremonial first pitches Friday night before the final game of the night, between the Cubs and the Kewaunee County Lakers.
Below are the scores from Friday's games, as well as Saturday's schedule, and which RRN radio stations will be broadcasting which game.
KEWAUNEE COUNTY 10, ESCANABA 0---Four Lakers pitchers combined to throw a no-hitter against the shorthanded Cubs: Noah Cherwenka (three innings), Eli Derenne (two innings), and Diesel Bosdeck (one inning). They combined for 12 strikeouts. Tatem Klaubauf had five runs batted in for the Lakers. Joey Garica took the loss for the Cubs.
SHEBOYGAN 13, ESCANABA 2---The A's got two hits and three runs batted in from Logan Michaels. Joey Garcia's two-run single scored Escanaba's only runs. Blake Veeser took the loss on the mound for the Cubs. Brett Baker threw four innings for the victory for Sheboygan.
KINGSFORD 0, MARINETTE 0---This the ultimate pitcher's duel. Cooper Smith threw a no-hitter for Marinette and Mason Koski tossed a one-hitter for Kingsford. The game took just 75 minutes and ended in a scoreless tie because of a new tournament rule that did not allow extra inning games.
KINGSFORD 9, PLOVER, WIS. 5---Mason Koski had two hits and drove in five runs, and Pablo Finley was on base five times with two hits and three walks, and had two RBI, as the defending Class A state champion Greens beat the Black Sox from Wisconsin.
NEGAUNEE 7, SOO CANADA 4---Negaunee trailed the whole game but scored six runs in the top of the seventh inning to stun the Black Sox. The Cadadians led 4-0 in the sixth inning but could not hang on.
MARINETTE 19, NEGAUNEE 8---Marinette got two home runs and eight RBI from Peshtigo Bulldog Caleb Klimek. One of his home runs was a grand slam. Negaunee got three runs batted in from Morgan Robar. Isak Ruspakka threw 78 pitches in 2 2/3 innings to the pitching loss.
SOO CANADA 8, PLOVER, WIS. 4---Bryson Palahnuk had three hits in three at-bats to lead the Canadians to the win at Bay College. Henry Roth had three hits and three runs batted in for Plove in the Battle of the Black Sox.
FRIDAY'S OTHER SCORES
Kewaunee County 11, Niagara 1
Sheboygan 16, Eastern UP Wood Ducks 1
Eastern UP Wood Ducks 13, Niagara 7 (5 Innings, Time)
POOL STANDINGS
Sheboygan 2-0
Kewaunee County 2-0
Eastern UP 1-1
Escanaba 0-2
Niagara 0-2
POOL STANDINGS
Marinette 1-0-1
Kingsford 1-0-1
Negaunee 1-1
Soo Canada 1-1
Plover 0-2
SATURDAYS SCHEDULE (ALL TIMES EASTERN)
At Bay College
9 am---Negaunee vs Plover
11:30---Marinette vs Plover LIVE on FM-103.7
2:00---Kingsford vs Soo Canada LIVE on FM-94.3
4:30---Marinette vs Soo Canada LIVE on FM-103.7
7:00---Negaunee vs Kingsford LIVE on FM-94.3, FM 100.3
At Escanaba
10:30---Sheboygan vs Kewaunee County
1:00---Eastern UP Wood Ducks vs Kewaunee County
3:30---Sheboygan vs Niagara
6:00---Escanaba vs Eastern UP Wood Ducks LIVE on FM-93.5/AM-600
8:30---Escanaba vs Niagara LIVE on FM-93.5/AM-600, AM-1450
