Portage Lake pitcher Cal Johnson readies to deliver a pitch during a Little League Majors District 11 baseball tournament game against Marquette Wednesday at the Calumet Legion Field. (Daver Karnosky/Daily Mining Gazette)

CALUMET — With three runs quickly in the first inning and three more in the fifth, the Portage Lake Majors baseball team earned a 6-2 win over Marquette in District 11 quarterfinal action Wednesday afternoon at the Calumet Legion Field.

For Portage Lake, it was the second straight win in tournament play after falling to Negaunee.

“(This) feels amazing,” said Portage Lake manager Marty Thompson. “These guys have worked so hard. They started off with a great win, (then) lose to Negaunee, but they didn’t let their spirits get down. (They) came back firing on all cylinders, and then to know that it wasn’t just a one off thing, that they had that discipline and determination in them, was good.”

While Thompson loved what he saw from his own team, he knew it was not an easy victory, as Marquette battled hard.

“I’m happy for these guys,” he said. “They worked really hard. Marquette’s a really disciplined team. I mean, a really disciplined team. I knew we weren’t going to get away with the bobbles and errors giving us free freebies. They weren’t giving us anything.

“We had to earn it. These guys earned it. I’m happy for them.”

Portage Lake jumped all over Marquette in the bottom of the first inning, as the first three batters got on base and eventually scored.

Landon Kinnunen got things started with a lead off walk. He stole second and got to third on a passed ball. Cal Johnson then singled to center field, which brought Kinnunen home. Johnson stole second before James Thompson reached on an error, putting runners on the corners. Two batters later, a passed ball scored Johnson from third. Oliver Pennala singled to bring Thompson home and put Portage Lake up 3-0 at that point.

“We got off to a quick start, and when people are excited and, and they’re cheering each other on, and they’re kind of feeding off each other, it’s contagious,” said Marty Thompson. “It’s important, and I think it also gives you a little more confidence to play when you got a little something (going).”

Johnson got the start for Portage Lake, and struck out three batters in the first inning and racked up two more in the second inning, seemingly in cruise control in a game that both teams needed to win to stay alive in tournament play. Marty Thompson pulled Johnson three batters into the third inning after Marquette’s Dez Loonsfoot picked up his team’s third hit of the game, electing to bring in Lewis Kilpela to pitch.

“That’s the one that keeps me up at night,” Marty Thompson said when asked why he pulled Johnson at that point in the game. “(That) is the one that I’m pacing back and forth in a dugout, because it’s like, ‘I know we could ride him out, but who’s next?’ Then, if we get that, ‘Who’s next?’ I just had to make the call, had to have trust in that the team was going to keep hitting, they’re going to keep playing with passion, and we’d win.”

Kilpela got out of the inning with a strikeout and fly out.

In the bottom half of the inning, Portage Lake loaded the bases with one out when James Thompson singled to center field, Kilpela walked and Levi Nordstrom reached on a fielder’s choice where everyone was safe. However, a fly out and a strikeout ended the threat.

Marquette needed a rally desperately in the top of the fourth, and they found it.

Mason Havel singled to center field. Leo Starkey followed with a single of his own to center. Austin Havel then walked, loading the bases.

Marty Thompson made the move to pull Kilpela at that point and move to Oliver Pennala on the mound. Pennala got two quick strikeouts, but walked Gus Pernsteiner, which got Marquette on the board as Mason Havel crossed home plate. Then Carter Cleary singled to left field, which scored Starkey and suddenly it was a 3-2 game.

Portage Lake was looking for some insurance in the fifth, and found it off the bat of James Thompson.

Kinnunen led off with a double to left field. Johnson then singled to third, putting runners on the corners. Thompson sacrificed, which scored Kinnunen. Kilpela then walked, putting runners on the corners again. Nordstrom laid down a bunt and reached first, scoring Johnson at the same time. Pennala then reached on a fielder’s choice, scoring Kilpela and pushing the lead to four, which is where it stayed.

“The fun part is running the bases, and these guys love it, but, in the big picture, that drove in a run and set up what, one other?” said Marty Thompson about his son James’ sacrifice. “It was important to move people around the bases and to get the sacrifice.”

Marquette had one last chance to get back in the game in the top of the sixth, and they got off to a fast start with a Mason Havel walk to lead off. However, he was later tagged trying to steal second. Then Starkey struck out. Austin Havel ripped a double to left field, but because he slid into second base head first, he was called out, ending the game.