By Journal Sports Staff

ESCANABA — The Marquette Blues American Legion baseball team kept its season going Friday afternoon at the Zone 5 tournament.

The Blues pummeled Escanaba 12-0 in pool play but then fell to the Negaunee Diamonds 6-2. Despite that defeat, Marquette (2-1 at the tournament) earned the No. 1 seed in the Escanaba bracket and will face Gladstone today at noon in the semifinals. If the Blues win, they’ll play the winner of the Bark River-Eastern U.P. game in the championship at 3 pm. in Escanaba.

“We’re happy to advance,” Marquette head coach Derek Swajanen said. “We had already clinched so we were able to save some of our pitchers and I’ll put in Blake (Henriksen) tomorrow. He’s our ace and I’d take him against anybody.”

In the game against Escanaba, the Blues jumped out to a 4-0 lead in the first inning and then piled on with eight more runs in the top of the fourth to help wrap up the blowout win.

Tyler Delmont led Marquette offensively as he went 3-3 with a triple, four RBI and two runs scored.

Braden Wright earned the victory on the mound for Marquette as he only gave up two hits in three innings of work, while striking out two and walking one.

In the game against Negaunee, the Blues took an early advantage with a run in the top of the first, but the Diamonds answered with two runs in their half of the frame.

Marquette tied the game at 2-2 in the third, but Negaunee couldn’t be controlled for long as it plated three runs in the fourth and another in the sixth to help close out the victory.

Jacob Adriano was Negaunee’s offensive leader as he went 2 for 4 with a double and three RBI.

For the Blues, Delmont put forth another strong hitting performance, going 2 for 3 with a double and an RBI.

James Bender earned the victory for the Diamonds as he gave up two runs on six hits in five and two-third innings. just one inning of work.

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