Houghton Building Supply-Stanton players pose with the winning plaque of the Leo Durocher Memorial Tournament Sunday in Stanton. The team includes Dax Durocher, Sam Jenner, Levi Frahm, Zach Geborkoff, Brad Juntunen, Eli Louma, Bryce Hanner, Saku Cunard, Brycyn Nettell, Harry Kamppf, Tom Durocher, Daron Durocher, and Joel Durocher. (Eddie O’Neill/For the Gazette)

STANTON — The 25th Annual Leo Durocher Memorial Tournament wrapped up Sunday afternoon in Stanton. In the championship game, Houghton Building Supply-Stanton upset two-time returning champs Garnet Garage 2-1 for the title.

In the eyes of Stanton’s player-coach and tournament MVP, Daron Durocher, it was a game won on defense.

“Except for one throwing error, we had a solid performance in the field,” he said. “We took advantage of two one-run games and hung on to win. That is gritty baseball. We came to play ball.”

After two scoreless frames in the final, Garnet Garage got on board in the top of the third. Brandon Norkel scored after reaching on a fielder’s choice courtesy of a hard-hit ball by Kade Farrell. It was 1-0 and stayed that way until the bottom of the fifth.

In that frame, Stanton scored two, and that was all they needed. The first run was Zach Geborkoff, who reached after being hit by a pitch. Joining him on the bases was Joel Durocher, who got on with an error by Garnet’s third baseman Gaborik Carlson. Dax Durocher then slapped a base-hit line drive to left center, and that scored Geborkoff to tie this one at one.

Joel Durocher then scored the go-ahead run courtesy of a hard-hit ball to short by his dad, Daron. The fielder’s choice forced a put out at second for Dax, but was able to get Joel home for the go-ahead run at 2-1.

Bryce Hanner relieved Stanton’s starter Eli Luoma and earned the win from the mound. He and his teammates played well in the field and while Garnet Garage knocked at the door with the tying run at third base in the top of the seventh, that is as close as they got. Chris Saari was the losing pitcher for Garnet Garage.

“We made too many errors at critical moments, and they capitalized on that,” said a disappointed Garnet player-coach Kevin Bostwick.

Road to finals

Garnet’s journey to the championship game included an 8-2 win over Negaunee on Saturday and a 9-6 victory in the semifinal game over REL-Mohawk Technology to start Sunday. They opened the tournament on Thursday with a loss to Coldwell Banker Craig Heinonen, 6-4.

Meanwhile, Stanton went 4-0 in the tournament. They opened with a 7-4 over REL on Friday and then went 8-4 in an extra-inning win over the Channing Railroaders on Saturday. On Sunday, they downed Coldwell Banker, 4-3, in the semifinals.

In that game, Coldwell Banker led 3-2 with just three outs to go. However a walk to Hanner and an error at first on a ball hit by Geborkoff brought Hanner home to even the game at three and force extra-innings.

MVP

Daron Durocher earned part of his MVP award for his heroics in the bottom of the eighth in the Coldwell Banker game. In short, he knocked in the winning run, walk-off style. With Levi Frahm on base and one out, Durocher smacked a single to left and Frahm crossed home for a 4-3 win with ease.

“We played well in the field in the semifinal game against Coldwell Banker, and we battled back,” said Durocher.

He was 2-4 in the semifinal game, and 2-3 in the final game against Garnet Garage.

He said he was humbled by the MVP accolades.

“I was not expecting it at this age,” he said. “But some game-winning hits and being on the bases helped us win this one for dad (Leo Durocher – tournament namesake). Here on the 25th anniversary, I am sure he was looking down on me.”

Up next

The Twilight League takes the week off and picks up again on Tuesday, July 22.

Houghton Building Supply-Stanton players Bryce Hanner (left), Joel Durocher and Eli Louma (26) celebrate their championship win over Garnet Garage in the 25th Annual Leo Durocher Memorial Tournament on Sunday in Stanton. (Eddie O’Neill/For the Gazette)