The Marquette Blues' Peter VandenAvond slides home safely during an American Legion baseball game against the Copper Country Flames played Thursday, July 1, 2021, at Haley Memorial Field in Marquette. (Journal photo by Ryan Stieg)

MARQUETTE — On a beautiful Thursday evening, the Marquette Blues American Legion baseball team bounced back from a rough outing the night before.

The Blues scored two runs in the first inning and another two in the sixth to record a 4-1 victory over the Copper Country Flames. Justin Wenk got the complete-game win for Marquette as he pitched a gem, giving up just four hits and striking out nine.

“Justin was phenomenal,” Blues manager Derek Swajanen said. “He’s been our ace through the high school season and he’s been our ace through the Legion season.

“He mixes speeds and he’s all around the plate. He threw 80 pitches today and 62 were strikes. That’s unreal. Nine strikeouts and no walks. That’s just great baseball right there.

“He’s been like that all year and I think his (earned-run average) is getting down close to 1.00.”

With one out in the bottom of the first inning, the Blues’ Peter VandenAvond laced a single up the middle off Flames starter Kade Farrell and he came around to score on a double by Erik Johnson. Two batters, Jakob Peterson drove Johnson home with a double and Marquette had a 2-0 lead.

CC answered back in the third thanks to some smart base running. The Flames attempted a hit-and-run and it was successful with Cameron Cischke lacing a single and moving Bruce Parisot up to third. With Farrell at the plate, the Blues attempted to pick Parisot off at third, but the throw sailed high and Parisot scored with Cischke advancing to third on the error.

The Flames then attempted a squeeze play with Farrell laying down the bunt, but Cischke was thrown out at home. Marquette then got two straight outs to get out of the inning.

The Blues padded their advantage in the sixth thanks to some CC fielding issues. With two out, Brock Taylor drew a walk and tried to advance on a ground ball by Kyle Frusti. The Flames tried to get Taylor out at second, but the throw was wide and Taylor chugged to third. Then during the Flames’ throw home, Frusti took off for second and the catcher tried to throw him out, but his throw was high, allowing Taylor to score.

Wenk followed with an infield single to score Frusti and pushed Marquette’s lead to three runs. Wenk shut down the Flames in the seventh for the victory.

“We’re 8-4 and now, we’re done with the road stretch,” Swajanen said. “So 8-4 and being on the road almost every day, I’m happy with that. We got some good tournament wins in Green Bay and stuff like that.

“Now, we’re at home for a good long stretch. So hopefully, we can rest our legs a little bit and get some wins and run with it from there.”

Blues 14, Negaunee 1

At Negaunee Friday, the Blues had an even better showing at the plate as they powered past the Diamonds in six innings.

Marquette put one run on the scoreboard in the top of the first and then broke the game open with seven runs in the second. Negaunee scored its only run in the fourth, and it was all Blues after that.

Parker Maki got the win on the mound for Marquette as he gave up five hits and two walks, while striking out five. Luke Kostreva took the loss for the Diamonds as he gave up nine runs on seven hits and seven walks with seven strikeouts in five innings of work.

The Blues were led offensively by Maki, who went 2 for 4 with a triple, two RBI and two runs scored, while Kyle Frusti went 3 for 4 with a double, three RBI and a run scored. Jakob Peterson and Dakota Maki both had two hits for Marquette.

Ryan Stieg can be reached at 906-228-2500, ext. 252. His email address is rstieg@miningjournal.net.