MARQUETTE – After being held scoreless for four innings, the Portage Lake 11- and 12-year-old Little League baseball team caught fire during the district championship game in Marquette on Sunday afternoon.

The Houghton- and Hancock-area team rallied for two runs in the bottom of the fifth inning, then got three straight outs in the top of the sixth to defeat Negaunee 2-1 to win the district title.

“We don’t want to have to come back like that, but the guys got it done,” Portage Lake head coach Don Hill said. “Negaunee is a very good team and Tanner (Peterson) pitched great today for them.

“We were one hit away and we were looking for it all day, but we finally got it from Mason (Mikesch) and then William (Romano) back-to-back. It was dramatic for sure and a lot of fun.”

With the game scoreless in the top of the third, Negaunee struck first. After Peterson led off with a base hit, courtesy runner Jackson Gladwell caught the Portage Lake infield napping and stole second base. He then made it to third base on the overthrow to second.

Alex Munson followed with a single up the middle to score Gladwell and Negaunee led 1-0.

Peterson continued to keep Portage Lake off the scoreboard through the fourth inning and Negaunee had a chance to add to its lead in the top of the fifth, but couldn’t get anyone home with two runners in scoring position.

In the bottom of the fifth, Colin Cowell got on base with a single and baserunner Karl Rautiola took his place at first. With two outs, Mikesch cranked a double down the line in right field to tie the game. Romano followed with a base hit to drive in the winning run.

Relief pitcher Bill Rautiola then shut down Negaunee in the top of the sixth and the celebration began for Portage Lake.

Portage Lake moves on to the state tournament July 24-25 in Harper Woods.

Ryan Stieg can be reached at 906-228-2500, ext. 246. His email address is rstieg@miningjournal.net.