State Finals Reached: Opportunistic Negaunee Holds Off Marquette in Little League Minors Baseball District Championship, 7-2 | News, Sports, Jobs

When the break came, Negaunee had a 7-2 victory. That victory started with a run in the first inning and continued with more runs throughout the rest of the game.

A big reason for the win was the work of Negaunee starter Harrison Karki, who pitched four innings and struck out nine.

“It’s a candidate for statehood that we’ve encountered in the districts,” Duex said, “They have great athletes. They’re well-coached. It’s no surprise that they’re as good as they are because they put in the time, they put in the work, and it shows.

“They played a great game. Their ace Karki played a phenomenal game. We had one chance to beat him but it just didn’t go our way.”

Marquette’s Liam Duex (center) rounds third base during the first inning of the championship game against Negaunee of the Little League District 11 Minor Division baseball tournament held Thursday at Range Town Veterans Memorial Park in South Range. (Houghton Daily Mining Gazette photo by Daver Karnosky)

For Negaunee coach Joe Dost and his team, the win meant much more than just a trip to the state tournament next weekend in nearby Ishpeming.

For the Negaunee program, this meant a complete victory in the district titles.

“These kids have been working so hard for this since January,” he said. “We’ve put a lot of time into it. So for them to reap the rewards is just amazing, really happy for (them).

“We have nine first-year all-stars. So, to have those kids experience this, and also the two or three returning players, it’s just keeping the Negaunee tradition going. We made 4 out of 4 in districts this year, our Minors, our Majors, our Juniors and our Seniors, all district champions. So we’re really proud of that.”

Karki impressed on the mound and prevented Marquette from really developing its offensive game.

Dost was impressed with Karki on the mound and is looking forward to counting on his ace at the state tournament.

“He threw strikes,” Dost said: “He pounded the zone. He put them in uncomfortable situations. He threw really, really well.

“Hopefully he can continue to do that in the state tournament because the competition is going to be a little bit tougher. We’re excited to show what we can do.”

Negaunee had defeated Marquette on Tuesday to advance to the championship game. While Dost felt good about what his team could do, he knew Thursday’s game wouldn’t be easy.

“It certainly isn’t, and certainly not in the space of three days, it’s extremely difficult,” he said. “Hats off to Marquette. They made a lot of plays with hard-hit balls. In this tournament, there’s no ‘if needed’ play, so that added a little bit of pressure.

“I’m really proud of the way our kids responded.”

Wyatt Dost got Negaunee going in the first inning when he led off with a single. He stole second and third on separate pitches before a sacrifice by Maddox Halamka brought him home.

Marquette starting pitcher Hayden Rundman then settled down. He collected two strikeouts in the first inning after Dost reached base, then added two more in the second and third innings to keep Negaunee within striking distance.

“Hayden did a great job,” said Duex. “He pitched a great game. We just couldn’t get the bats to work when he was on the mound.”

Negaunee extended their lead in the third inning when Marquette made some defensive mistakes. After a single by Isaac Brancheau, he stole second and third on the same play. With Roman Speaker at the plate, Brancheau stole home.

In the fourth inning, Chapman wanted to score more runs, but he was walked leadoff. After Karki was walked, Bazil Hill sacrificed to get both runners in scoring position. Joel Daavettila was hit by a pitch, loading the bases. Ben Pietila was then walked, scoring Chapman.

Landon Raikko came on for Marquette in place of Rundman with the bases still loaded. Negaunee’s Patrick Pietila then singled when Marquette’s Hunter Bradybaugh dropped the ball at third base. Karki scored on the play to give his team a 4-0 lead.

Marquette finally got on the board in the fourth inning when Raikko singled, stole second, stole third and then scored on a defensive error.

Negaunee got that run back in the top of the fifth. Speaker hit a one-out single to center field. He advanced to second on a passed ball and scored when Wyatt Dost reached first on a defensive error.

Not to fall further behind, Marquette struck back in the bottom half of the inning. With Wyatt Dost pitching for Negaunee, Alex Wilson led off with a walk. Nora Anderson also walked. Both runners moved into scoring position on a passed ball. Even Adams walked and loaded the bases.

Bradybaugh hit an infield fly and Anderson was tagged trying to reach third on the play, ending the inning. Wilson scored before Anderson was caught, so Marquette was back within three, 5-2, with one inning remaining.

To secure the victory, Negaunee scored two more times in the sixth inning, effectively ending the game.

Halamka led off with a single to center field. After Karki was intentionally walked, Daavettila sacrificed to bring in Halamka. A defensive error allowed Karki to score before Ben Pietila fouled out to end the inning.

In the bottom of the inning, all three Marquette batters were retired, ending the game.

“At that moment I couldn’t have wished for more,” Duex said of his team: “I thought they played sportsmanlike and did what we asked them to do, to be more competitive.

“We just have to put in the time this fall and spring, and then we’ll come back next year.”