Eddie O’Neill/Daily Mining Gazette Members of Sayen’s Auto Sales storm their pitcher after finishing a come-from-behind victory over J. Peltier Construction in the Portage Late Little League Majors championship Saturday in South Range.

SOUTH RANGE — Sayen’s Auto Sales rallied from behind to defeat J. Peltier Construction, 6-3, in the Portage Lake Little League Majors championship game on Saturday.

In what was a well-played battle on both sides, Sayen’s took charge in the bottom of the fifth inning by scoring four runs, changing a 3-2 deficit into a 6-3 lead.

Their big inning was sparked by a great defensive play to end the top of the fifth.

With two out and nobody on base, Peltier’s Todd Kilpela belted a pitch to right field that rolled to the fence. The speedster made it to third and was not slowing down as he made the turn for home. The ball beat him to the plate and so did the tag thrown down by Sayen’s catcher Matthew Guilbault

The out at the plate was the spark that was needed to light the Sayen’s bats as they had been flat the previous four innings. Brayden Larson started the fifth off with a missed fly ball to center field. Brogan Turner then got on with a hit. Pitcher Jack Sayen loaded the bases. Guilbault tied the game with an RBI to the left side. Hudson Markham followed with double to center to clear the bases and put the score at 6-3.

With the lead, Sayen’s, the No. 1 seeded team in the tournament, was back in familiar territory according to their manager, Dan Sayen.

I was proud that our kids did not get frustrated when we were losing,” he said. “Our team is not used to being behind. We haven’t lost a lot of games. In fact, they are used to being up five or six runs. So it was nice to see them bounce back.”

Peltier scored their first two runs in the second. Pitcher Latham Salmi started it off with a single. Caleb Kentala followed with a walk, and they both came home on wild pitches.

Sayen’s got on the scoreboard as well in the second on a Markham single and a Larson RBI a few batters later.

In the third, Peltier added another run thanks to an Ethan Hainault RBI line drive that brought in Kilpela, who got on due to an error. After three innings, Peltier led 3-1.

“We made some good plays early on,” said Peltier’s manager, Jesse Kentala. “I think the momentum changed in the fifth when Todd was thrown out at home. They came out and had some big hits then in the fifth.”

The game was also characterized by strong pitching. Jack Sayen pitched a masterpiece as he struck out nine batters and walked just one for Sayen’s . Salmi struck out five and walked one for Peltier.

While Liam Tourtillot was able to get a base hit for Peltier in the top of the sixth and provide some hope at first base for a comeback, it wasn’t enough as Caleb Kentala lined out to third baseman Kirby Storm to end the game and the season.

Before the game, coach Kentala told his team that what was important was not how the season began but rather its how it ended and in his opinion this was a good way to go out.

“I told them that they had no need to hang their heads about this game,” he said. We had a great season with a bunch of fun kids.”

When all was said and done, both managers agreed that Saturday’s game was a good one.

“It was a good, close game and that is the way it should be,” said coach Sayen.

“It was a great competitive baseball game,” coach Kentala said. “That’s what you want for your championship game. It was a good game, and Sayen’s beat us fair and square.”