Marquette's Desmond Gleason, right, pitches and Gibby Jezewski stands by at third base as Gleason readies to pitch against Portage Lake Monday evening at the Burnie Rivers Memorial Field in Negaunee. The game was a District 11 tournament game. (Journal photo by Corey Kelly)

NEGAUNEE — Marquette defeated Portage Lake 7-6 in dramatic fashion during an elimination game of the Little League District 11 Minors baseball tournament Monday night in Negaunee.

Marquette head coach Jamie Ridl said the win was a classic.

“It was a great atmosphere, and it was what Little League is all about,” he said. “Both teams were battling their hearts out and it came down to the final strike. It was a lot of fun and I couldn’t be more proud of how they battled.”

After getting no-hit against Negaunee in the opening round of the tournament on Saturday, Marquette responded with eight hits against PL, including three in a five-run fifth inning.

Portage Lake brought a 5-2 lead into the top of the fifth before Marquette got runs from Jacob Ridl, Jake Toyras, Levi Stauber, Brody Clements and Ian Shelrous to claim a 7-5 lead.

Ridl said that inning is what turned the tide in a game of the tournament for 9- and 10-year-olds.

“It was a crucial inning,” Ridl said. “We’ve been working on our hitting after (the loss to Negaunee). We came back and we’re getting more confidence. At this age, it’s contagious. When someone gets a hit, they all think they can, and we saw that tonight.”

Marquette had a pitching rotation of Ridl, Stauber and Desmond Gleason before sending Noah Wautie out in the sixth inning to close out the win.

But the save didn’t come quite as easy as Ridl hoped for his pitcher. After loading the bases then allowing a run to Portage Lake’s Jaydon Packard, the Marquette team had a 7-6 lead with the go-ahead run in scoring position and just one out.

But Wautie came through when it mattered most, racking up two straight strikeouts to secure the win.

“Noah has been the kid for us,” Ridl said. “He throws hard with gas. We felt good about our chances if we could get him on the mound in the sixth with a lead and he did the job.”

With the win, Marquette plays Ishpeming today at 5 p.m. in the elimination bracket. Ishpeming defeated Keweenaw 5-3 in an earlier elimination game Monday.

Ridl said he hopes his team carries this momentum into today’s game.

“We need more of the same of what made us successful today,” Ridl said. “Hopefully these kids will take this, learn from it and get confidence. We’re looking forward to playing a good team, and everyone should have fun.”

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