SAULT STE. MARIE - Standing 10 baserunners, the Marquette American Legion Blues baseball team dropped a 2-1 decision to Mancelona Friday night in Marquette's second game in the Lynn Auto Parts Invitational in Sault Ste. Marie.
Earlier in the day, the Blues whipped the Soo (Ont.) Black Sox, 10-2, in six innings.
Nick Kamrada allowed just four hits and struck out three in six innings of work, but the Blues still came up short as they mustered but four singles.
Nathan Mutch drove in the Blues' only run with a single in the third for a 1-0 lead.
But Mancelona scored twice in the fifth - one on an error - to take the win.
"We stranded way too many runners, but that means we were working to get on base," Blues assistant coach Randy Larson said. "It's tough to win when you leave two runners on base each inning
"This was a tough game to lose," he addd, "but when you break it down, we had our chances and Mancelona is a real good team."
In their first game, the Bues got some strong pitching by Adam Gannon and some lusty hitting in beating the Black Sox.
Gannon allowed just two hits and five walks while striking out two.
At the plate, the Blues of manager Derek Swajanen pounded out 12 hits, four - including three doubles and a triple- by Mutch. He drove in four runs.
Cody Nordquist and Spencer Larson added two safeties apiece, while Clint Remsburg contributed a two-run double.
The Blues trailed 2-0 after one inning, but posted a pair of four-run frames in the third and sixth to pull away.
"We did a real good job today of putting the ball in play," Randy Larson said. "Mutch going 4 for 4 with three doubles and a triple was huge for us.
"Gannon did a great job on the mound and threw a lot of strikes for easy outs. He wasn't overpowering, but got a lot of fly balls and easy grounders for us, which is what he needs to do."
The Ishpeming Blue Storm was scheduled to play Mancelona and Alpena in the Soo tourney Friday, but no results were available by Journal press time Friday.