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Relaxed atmosphere: New Superiorland Baseball League competitive but fun for those who want to continue playing baseball

Negaunee Blasters’ Tylor Robinson pitches to Congress Pizza during a Superiorland Baseball League game Monday evening at Irontown Field in Negaunee. (Journal photo by Rachel Oakley)

“Everyone wants to step to the plate and take a swing, and it has a different feeling.” — Jason Siik, manager,

Negaunee Blasters of the Superiorland Baseball League

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NEGAUNEE — On the first night of the Superiorland Baseball League’s inaugural season, the Negaunee Blasters edged Congress Pizza 3-2 at Irontown Field in Negaunee.

Jason Siik, who serves as the Negaunee high school baseball head coach, returned to the field 48 hours after bringing his Miners to the district championship game at the same field to coach the Blasters in the win, and compiled his roster mainly with players from that varsity team.

Siik said it was a more laid-back atmosphere than his kids’ competition over the weekend.

“We have a younger team, and everyone had a blast,” Siik said. “Everyone wants to step to the plate and take a swing, and it has a different feeling.

“It’s a little bit of a grind with (American) Legion (baseball) coming up, but everyone wants to have fun.

“This league has a few older players we’ll be facing and they’re helping our younger guys learn the game a little more, and it’s pretty cool to see.”

In other games played in this adult-level league on Monday, Coldwell Banker-Craig Heinonen defeated 906 Sports Bar & Grill 11-7 in Gwinn, while the Channing Railroaders prevailed 6-5 at their home field over the Marquette County Mavericks.

Back in Negaunee, Congress Pizza head coach Eli Wolf previously competed in the forerunner to the new set-up, the Wishigan League, which included teams across a wide swath of the Upper Peninsula and northeastern Wisconsin before the league folded after last season.

Now, Wolf said he’s excited to have a local league running in Marquette County.

“We have so many good players in the area, we need to have a league like this,” Wolf said. “In the (Wishigan) league, you would travel three hours, play on a field for two hours than hit the road again for the three-hour ride home.

“This is keeping things more central, and it’s exciting for people who can’t give the game up.

“Baseball shouldn’t end at age 22 if you don’t want it to, so this is a lot of fun and a great experience for all these guys.”

Congress opened the scoring in the top of the first inning when Corey Larson stole home for a 1-0 lead.

The Blasters responded in the bottom of the inning when Carter Richardson drew a leadoff walk, then three batters later Erik Wickman drove Richards home to tie the game.

After Tayler Laurin re-established a 2-1 lead for the Blasters in the second, Wolf responded for Congress in the third with a tying run off an error at second base.

Pitcher Tylor Robinson stood tall for five innings on the mound for the Blasters, eventually scoring the winning run in the sixth inning with recent Northwood University star Tyler Jandron earning the RBI.

All six teams in the league continue playing every Monday night through mid-August, with the exception of the Fourth of July extended weekend, in Negaunee, Gwinn and Channing.

Siik said he is excited for his players and coaches to have the opportunity to continue playing throughout the summer outside of Legion ball.

“Everyone who’s a part of this league is showing how much they love baseball,” Siik said. “It’s still a competitive game that everyone is taking seriously, but everyone’s here to have fun and enjoy the game they love so much.”

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Other games

At Channing, Railroaders starting pitcher Kyle Sexton got the win going five strong inning, striking out four and allowing just two hits. Three later pitchers combined to walk seven and with an error, that’s how the Mavericks got all their runs.

The game ended with the Mavs’ James Larsen II stranded at third base representing the tying run.

The visitors had the first shot at scoring, but Spencer Larson was thrown out at the plate after he and Steve Hintsala singled in the first inning.

Channing broke the scoreless tie with two runs in the third off Mavs’ starter Tony Zampese, who went three innings and allowed two runs on two hits and three walks with three strikeouts.

Hintsala came on in relief and allowed four runs on three hits and an error, then Preston Hutchens finished the job with two more innings of shutout ball.

Lane Holsworth and Ken Pekarek led the Railroaders with a hit and two runs scored apiece.

In Coldwell’s win over 906, the winners cracked three home runs, though other details weren’t available.

Ray Bressette can be reached at 906-228-2500, ext. 251. His email address is rbressette@miningjournal.net.

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