Portage Lake shortstop James Thompson snags a fly ball during the first inning of a Little League Majors District 11 semifinal game against Keweenaw Thursday at the Calumet Legion Field. (Daver Karnosky/Daily Mining Gazette)

CALUMET — Baseball can be a game of streaks, even in Little League. Both Portage Lake and Keweenaw proved that Thursday in a District 11 Majors baseball semifinal game. Portage Lake jumped out to a 4-0 lead early, only to have Keweenaw battle their way back to even the game. However, Portage Lake scored the game’s next 10 runs, six in the third and four more in the fourth, to earn a 14-4 victory at the Calumet Legion Field.

With the win, Portage Lake advanced to take on Negaunee Friday night, needing two wins to claim the district title, as opposed to Negaunee only needing one.

“I was very excited to jump out to that lead,” said Portage Lake manager Marty Thompson. “(But,) just the battle in them. I kind of, honestly, expected them to roll over a little bit. We just kind of overpowered them, but they did not.

“They were not going to go down without a fight. So, it was a little discouraging. I could see the mood in the dugout was a little discouraging. Fortunately, they got each other pumped up again, their efforts as much as anything.”

Thompson was not wrong. Keweenaw strung together four singles and two walks in the top of the second inning to turn a 4-0 deficit into a tie game.

“The kids kept swinging and kept playing, and even the last couple innings when we didn’t score, we had some runners out there and we hit the ball,” said Keweenaw manager Josh Frantti. “Sometimes we just hit it right to them.

“They made the plays. That (Maxx) LaBeske kid had a nice catch out in left there, and those are the plays you have to make. They hit the gaps well tonight, and give them credit. They’re aggressive at the plate, and that’s how baseball is sometimes.”

Portage Lake got things going right away in the bottom of the first inning.

Landon Kinnunen singled to left field. Two batters later, James Thompson walked. The two runners completed a double steal before Oliver Pennala tripled to left field, which brought both of them home. Pennala then scored on a passed ball before Lewis Kilpela drew a walk. Levi Nordstrom singled to left field, which moved Kilpela into scoring position, and he crossed home plate on a Jed Heinonen single to left.

It did not take Keweenaw long to answer. In the top of the second, Andy Bjorn singled to lead off. Zac Therrian followed with an infield single, and suddenly Keweenaw had something brewing. James Haapala walked two batters later, and the bases were loaded with one out and Derek Keranen coming to the plate.

Keranen singled to short, bringing Bjorn home. Two batters later, and with the bases still loaded, Cam McColl drew a walk, scoring Therrian. Colton Bastian then singled to right field, scoring both Haapala and Keranen, and suddenly the game was tied at 4-4.

The game remained that way into the third inning before Portage Lake found their footing again.

Pennala led off with a single to left field. Kilpela walked. Nordstrom then loaded the bases with a single to right. Heinonen sacrificed to score Pennala and things opened up from there.

A passed ball scored both Kilpela and Nordstrom. Two batters later, Parker Linna singled down the left field line. A passed ball moved him to second. Reid Kangas then walked, followed by Kinnunen, which loaded the bases. Cal Johnson doubled to center field to bring home Linna and Kangas. Portage Lake led 9-4 at that point.

Keweenaw had baserunners in the third, fourth, and fifth innings, but could not bring them home. The worst moment came in the top of the fifth when Bastian singled. A passed ball moved him into scoring position. Two batters later, Tanner Frantti tagged a ball to deep left field. LaBeske backed up, then moved into position and caught the fly ball for the second out of the inning. Bjorn followed with a ground out, ending the threat.

For LaBeske, who had struck out three straight times in two games, and grounded out the at bat before that streak began, the catch gave him a confidence boost. He led off the bottom half of the fifth inning with a single to right field, sparking another big inning for Portage Lake.

“Maxx has had a little bit of difficulty at the bat,” said Marty Thompson. “He caught that ball. He comes in. He gets a hit, shoots one over the second base. You need that momentum, even just individually, so it’s big.

“The other team, they think the world of Maxx. So, of course, he makes a good play and everyone kind of rallies around that.”

LaBeske stole second before Linna doubled to left field, putting both runners into scoring position. Kangas then singled to right field, scoring LaBeske. Kinnunen reached on an error to bring Linna home. Johnson then singled to right field before James Thompson hit into a fielder’s choice, but all the runners were safe, which loaded the bases. A passed ball scored Kinnunen, and another scored Johnson to close out the game.

Keweenaw pitcher Zac Therrian connects with a pitch during a Little League Majors District 11 semifinal game against Portage Lake Thursday at the Calumet Legion Field. (Daver Karnosky/Daily Mining Gazette)