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Title bound: Xpress Self Storage headed to championship game, 11-1

Eddie O’Neill/Daily Mining Gazette Xpress Self Storage’s Davis Moyle gets instructions while on third base during a Portage Lake Little League Minors playoffs semifinal against South Range VFW Wednesday.

SOUTH RANGE — Xpress Self Storage did it again. The No. 1-ranked team hit their way into the Portage Lake Little League Minors championship game as they defeated the the fifth-seeded South Range VFW, 11-1, on Wednesday.

“Our lineup puts the ball on the bat,” said Xpress manager Brian Donnelly. “When you put the bat on the ball good things happen, and I’ve preached that all year.”

Xpress wasted no time in putting that preaching into practice as their lead-off hitter Brody Donnelly hit a home run in the bottom of the first off of South Range’s starter Jamie Larson.

In the second inning, they got four more after Benny Keranen smacked a bases loaded double to left center that cleared the bases. He came home as well on an error. After two, Xpress led 5-0.

South Range VFW got their one and only run in the third inning thanks to Porter Markham who connected on a fastball to left field off of Xpress’s starter Donnelly. The ball bounced off the fence and Markham crossed home plate standing up with a home run.

In the bottom of the third, Xpress added five more runs mainly off of walks and hits batsmen.

South Range could not put the bat on the ball in the top of the fourth. However, Xpress was able grab one more run and the 10-run mercy rule victory in the bottom.

With the win, Xpress Self Storage will face Rajala’s Kitchen for the championship game at noon on Saturday in South Range.

“We’ve got our work cut out,” said coach Donnelly. “They are a good team. We’ve beat them once, and they’ve taken it to us once so this will be the rubber match.”

While the boys from South Range VFW wished they were playing instead, their manager Kurt Larson said it was a excellent season as his squad went 8-6-2.

“We started out 1-4,” he said, “but our kids worked hard and we were able to get better all around. Everybody improved as it was a fun season.”

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