GRAND RAPIDS — Negaunee used a big first inning to surge past Hillman, 8-1, on Monday morning in the semifinals of the Little League Senior Division Baseball state tournament being held in Grand Rapids.

The Upper Peninsula team of 15- and 16-year-old players plated five runs in the first inning, the big blow a bases-loaded single by Nash Barabe that game him one RBI.

It came after teammate Devin Jurmu hit an RBI single and Evan DellAngelo a sacrifice fly that brought in another runner.

Another sac fly, this time by Jurmu in the second, scored another run.

Negaunee’s final two runs came in the seventh, an inning after Hillman scored its lone run.

Aiden Steele earned the pitching victory, starting and not allowing a run, a hit nor a walk in 2 2/3 innings while striking out three. Jurmu went 4 1/3 innings in relief, giving up one run on three hits and a walk as he fanned four.

Of Negaunee’s 10 hits, DellAngelo, Owen Cardinal and Killean Ryan each had two hits, while Jurmu was 1 of 3 with two RBIs.

The speedy future Miners had eight stolen bases, including multiple thefts by Cardinal, DellAngelo and Tristan Slater.

The state championship game that was scheduled for later Monday between Negaunee and tournament host Grand Rapids Southern had apparently been delayed by threatening weather, and no result was available by The Mining Journal’s deadline.

Information compiled by Journal Sports Editor Steve Brownlee. His email address is sbrownlee@miningjournal.net.