Garnet Garage pitcher Rob Brooks throws against Craig Heinonen Coldwell Banker on Thursday, July 15, 2021, in Hancock, Mich. (Eddie O’Neill/The Daily Mining Gazette)

HANCOCK — Craig Heinonen Coldwell Banker got back on the winning track Thursday with a 9-5 victory over Garnet Garage in Twilight League play at the Driving Park.

Coldwell started the week flat with a poor play on Tuesday which resulted in a loss to REL Inc.-Mohawk Technology. However, the Coldwell lineup got started right away in the first with Brett Halonen, Brian Joupperi and Owen Kariniemi all getting base hits. All three would score. It was a good way to start the game according to player/coach Luke Paul.

“I will keep it simple,” he said after the game. “We had good pitching and good hitting. Both are keys to a good game.”

Carson Turner threw a complete-game winner with eight strikeouts for Coldwell.

Coldwell would make it a 4-0 tilt after adding a run in the second.

However the third inning belonged to Garnet. Starting pitcher Rob Brooks started that inning off with a single. Justin Norkel followed with a base hit of his own and Brandon Norkel brought in on an RBI single of his own to left field. Brandon would then score off an RBI double from the bat of Reid Heathman to right center. In the fourth, Brooks came through again with a single and Eli Heathman took his spot on the base paths as a designated runner and eventually came home to tie the game at four.

The tie, however, was short lived. In the fifth, the Coldwell bats came back alive with two runs. A one-out single by Turner, a hit-by-pitch to Kariniemi and a walk to Wes Johnson loaded the bases. Turner and Kariniemi would score on an error and a fielder’s choice to make it 6-4. An inning later, after doubles by Halonen and Turner, Kariniemi blasted a fastball over the left field fence to give Coldwell a 9-4 cushion.

“We got ahead and they came back to tie, but then our bats came alive,” Paul said. “We kept it interesting.”

While Reid Heathman was able to cross home plate in the top of the seventh, Garnet would fall four short when the third out was called.

“We didn’t come to play tonight,” said Garnet’s manager Joe Romano. “But you can’t win them all.”

Up next

Coldwell Banker visits Garnet Garage at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday at the Houghton High School baseball field, while REL Inc-Mohawk Technology hosts Northern Driveline at 6:30 p.m. at Driving Park.. Houghton Building Supply-Stanton is the away team against Northern Driveline at 6:30 p.m. Thursday at Stanton.

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