ESCANABA — After going 2-1 in round robin play to qualify for the playoff round of the Zone Tournament, the Copper Country Flames’ legion baseball season came to an end in the semifinals against Gladstone.

The Flames led the game 4-0 after three innings and were riding some solid pitching from Eli Oldt. However, things went awry for Oldt after the third. He threw two more innings, but in that stretch, Gladstone racked up nine runs to win the game, 9-4.

Oldt finished with nine runs surrendered on seven hits and four walks through five innings of work. He also picked up two strikeouts.

Reed Heathman came in in relief, holding Gladstone hitters to just one hit, one walk and one strikeout.

In the round robin play, the Flames opened with a 7-4 loss to Marquette that saw the Blues score three runs in the bottom of the sixth to break up a 4-4 tie.

Kade Farrell started on the mound for the Flames, racking up two strikeouts and giving up seven hits and four walks.

Brandon Norkol and Carter Crouch each had two hits for the Flames in the contest.

In their second game, the Flames jumped out to a 5-0 lead and then hung on to defeat host Escanaba, 5-4.

Isaac Bennets got the win for the Flames on the mound, surrendering two runs on four hits and eight walks while striking out three. Kevin Bostwick gave up two runs on two hits and one walk while getting one strikeout in 2 1/3 innings of work. Crouch finished the game with one strikeout in 2/3 of an inning.

Oldt stoked the Flames’ offense with three hits. Justin Norkol, Sam Kiiskila and Farrell each had two hits as well.

Looking to qualify for the elimination round, the Flames turned a 1-0 lead into a 4-0 lead in the fifth en route to a 9-1 win over Iron Mountain.

Crouch got the win on the mound, surrendering just one run, three hits and one walk. He also struck out eight.

Heathman led the way for the Flames offensively with three hits. Crouch helped himself with two hits.

With the loss to Gladstone, the Flames will not advance to the state tournament next weekend as Marquette and Gladstone both qualified for the weekend in Gladwin, Michigan.

The Flames will lose Justin Norkol, but return the rest of the roster next season, which gives manager Andy Crouch a lot to be excited about heading into 2020.