Team Wireless poses after win the Portage Lake Little League Junior/Senior Championship Wednesday at the Hancock Driving Park. Pictured are (back row, from left): Coach Derrick Ellenich, Dawson Seppala, Jake Mattson, Nate Thompson, Cole Seppala, Owen Cogswell, Camden Seppanen, Max Bier, Tyler Jaehnig, and Coach Martin Thompson. (Front row, from left): (front): Max Pietila, Riley Strom, Nate Coppella, Aaron Blake, and Sam Klein.

HANCOCK — In the championship game of the Portage Lake Little League Junior/Senior division Wednesday, Team Wireless jumped out to an early 3-0 lead in the top of the first and then kept adding to their lead throughout the rest of the game as they came away with an 8-3 victory over Moyle Construction at the Hancock Driving Park.

Team Wireless jumped out to that quick lead thanks to hits by Jake Mattson and Tyler Jaehnig.

Moyle Construction got off to a slow start. In the first inning, Lane Kinunnen got on first with a walk, but was thrown out trying to steal second by a throw from Dawson Seppala. In the second inning, Redik Randell hit a two-out, single over the third baseman, but was left on base after Max Bier struck out the following batter.

Team Wireless added one more in the top of the third when Owen Cogswell scored on a passed ball, bringing the lead to 4-0.

Bier held onto the lead in the bottom of the third, by striking out the side.

In the top of the fourth, Tyler Jaehnig got things started with a single. He was driven in by a stand-up triple by Nate Thompson, who stole home on a passed ball two pitches later. Max Pietila scored the final run of the inning after getting hit by a pitch, stealing second and third, then getting home on a passed ball to bring the score to 7-0 Team Wireless.

Moyle Construction was not ready to give up just yet.

In the bottom of the fourth with two outs, Bier was poised to strike out his seventh consecutive batter, when a dropped third strike put Moe Rajala on first base. After walking Kinnunen and Victor Heinonen who scored on passed balls, Bier struck out the final batter of the inning and his eighth strikeout of the game. But not before Moyle Construction got back in the game by scoring three runs with three innings left to play.

That optimism was short-lived as Team Wireless responded by putting Thompson on the mound, who proceeded to strike out the first five batters he faced, leaving the score at 7-3 as the game entered the seventh and final inning.

Knowing Moyle Construction, the top seed in the tournament, had the top of the order coming up, Team Wireless hoped to add some additional runs and extend their lead. They managed to add one more in the seventh with hits from Camden Seppanen and Bier. With last at-bats and the top of the order up, Moyle Construction was ready to mount their comeback. Thompson struck out the first batter and the final two batters grounded out to the pitcher and catcher, respectively, to dampen the hopes of a rally and earn the save.

Semifinal action


Moyle Construction (1) defeated L’Anse (4) Monday at Dollar Bay Field by score of 9-1. Team Wireless (2) defeated Incredible Bank at the Hancock Driving Park by score of 7-3.