ESCANABA – It’s been a long time coming, but Marquette American Legion baseball finally won a state title.

Needing two wins Saturday to win the Class A championship, the Marquette Blues defeated Gladstone 4-0 and then dominated the nightcap 13-3. McKinley Larson was named MVP of the tournament after going 9-for-14 with 13 RBI and two homers.

“The kids really had great at-bats today and were seeing the ball well. We had so many balls hit to the fence today that I had a great feeling we would win. McKinley, Riley Lynch and Trevor Bratonia did all the pitching for us and carried the day. We are so proud of all the kids and all the hard work they did.”

In the second game, Marquette gave up a run in the top of the first before erupting for six runs in the bottom of the frame. Zack Carter knocked in two runs with a base hit, while Trevor Koski and Brendan Higbie both hit RBI doubles.

The Blues picked up two more runs in the second inning and another two in the third inning. With Marquette up 10-1, Gladstone pulled within two runs of the Blues in the top of the fifth. However, the Blues kept rolling, plating three runs in their half of the frame to clinch the title. Carter hit a two-run single and Brandon Lotterman cranked a RBI double for Marquette in the inning.

Information compiled by Journal Sports Writer Ryan Stieg. His email address is rstieg@miningjournal.net.