The ball bounces past REL Inc.-Mohawk Technology pitcher Tyler Loukus as he attempts to tag out Coldwell Banker’s Wes Johnson at the plate during Twilight Baseball League action Tuesday, July 13, 2021, in Hancock, Mich. (Eddie O’Neill/The Daily Mining Gazette)

HANCOCK — After a weekend of baseball at the Leo Durocher Tournament, regular season returned to the Twilight League as REL-Mohawk Technology stayed steady in the field and batted their way past Craig Heinonen Coldwell Banker 9-6 on Tuesday at Driving Park.

The key to REL Inc.-MT’s success was the pitching of their player/manager Tyler Loukus, who made his debut on the mound and pitched five scoreless innings.

“It felt good for a first outing,” said Loukus. “I did better than I thought.”

He added that he was backed up by a great set of fielders who committed just one error.

“We fielded well and stayed steady with the bats, and that made the difference,” he said.

On the Coldwell bench, player/manager Ross Kinnunen expressed an opposite sentiment.

“We left too many men on base and committed too many errors,” he said after the game.

Case and point was the top of the first. REL Inc.-MT’s leadoff hitter Travis Pietila got on base due to an error at third, and then Grant Johnson was hit by a pitch. Both came home to score to put REL Inc-MT up 2-0. They would score two more runs in a similar fashion in the second off of Coldwell’s starter Andrew Kinnunen.

A 4-0 game turned into a 9-0 game after five and a half innings. Coldwell Banker got on the board and started to rally back in the bottom of the sixth.

After a Carson Turner double to right and an Eric Anderson and Owen Kariniemi walk, the bases were loaded for Wes Johnson who smacked a two-run RBI double to center. Kariniemi and Johnson would also come home to score that inning. When all was said and done Coldwell tallied four to make it a 9-4 tilt after six.

“I probably should have pulled myself earlier, quipped Loukus as he yielded mound duties to teammate Alan Jurmu in the sixth. “But we like to make it interesting.”

While Coldwell would get two more tallies in the bottom of the seventh, it would not be enough as REL Inc.-MT held on for the win.

Garnet Garage visits Coldwell Banker at 6:30 p.m. today at Driving Park. REL Inc.-MT’s next game is 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, hosting Northern Driveline at Driving Park.

ALSO: Northern Driveline’s game at Houghton Building Supply-Stanton on Tuesday was canceled. A makeup date has not been announced.

REL Inc.-MT 220 113 0 — 9

Coldwell Banker 000 004 2 — 6