Houghton Building Supply-Stanton pitcher Bryce Hanner delivers a pitch during the first game of a doubleheader against Coldwell Banker Craig Heinonen Tuesday at Stanton Field. (Daver Karnosky/Daily Mining Gazette)

STANTON — With two games left in the Twilight League regular season for Houghton Building Supply-Stanton and Coldwell Banker Craig Heinonen, both teams had something to play for. By splitting the two games, Stanton guaranteed that they would not play next Tuesday when the playoffs begin, and Coldwell Banker earned the second seed in the playoffs, so they will be the host team for their semifinal matchup next Thursday.

Stanton won the opening game, 2-1, with Coldwell Banker winning the nightcap, 5-2.

Between the two teams, the big star of the day was Stanton pitcher Bryce Hanner, who pitched all 10 innings of the doubleheader and held Coldwell Banker’s bats at bay in the opening game. He struck out two in the contest, while walking two, and surrendering six hits. In the nightcap, he struck out four while giving up eight hits, but it was defensive errors that cost his team in the loss.

“Going 10 innings, (he’s) kind of got a rubber arm, just keeps going,” said Stanton player-coach Daron Durocher. “He ate up a lot of innings for us this year, so I wasn’t surprised. (I) kind of told him he’s starting, he can go as long as he wants, and yeah, and he did fine. He did really good. Maybe five earn runs out of the bunch. I mean, he did great, exactly what we needed him to do.”

Hanner, along with Zach Geborkoff, Joel Durocher, Levi Frahm, and Brycyn Nettell represent the future of Stanton baseball as Daron Durocher sees it, and he felt that they all were a big part of their team’s success.

“Wish a couple of (long fly balls) floated a little longer, because Zach and Joel were all over the place making plays,” Daron Durocher said. “I have a decent lineup hitting. They’re there, and they’re young, too, which helps.”

On the other side of the field, Coldwell Banker player-coach Ross Kinnunen likes what he saw from his team, despite the split.

“I would say they went well,” he said. “So it was a close game, (the). first game. They win it on a walk off. We had a few guys that we left on base, so we didn’t really come through in the clutch the first game. Second game, we hit with guys on base, so we got five runs, pushed five runs across. Cody (Turner) had three RBIs, and a 5-2 win. He pitched a heck of a game, so it was fun to see.

“We had a couple errors today, but overall, I mean, overall we played pretty good baseball.”

Ross Kinnunen really liked what he saw out of Cody Turner, who pitched the second game. In the opener, he drew a pair of walks while playing shortstop. In the nightcap, he struck out five, and gave up only three hits. At the plate, he had a double and two singles, knocking in four runs and scoring once himself.

“Obviously, he’s one of our horses,” said Ross Kinnunen. “He was a good pitcher in high school. He’s been a good pitcher in Twilight League for a few years now, too. Not to say we expected out of him, but when he brings that, he’s one of the best pitchers in the league, and he showed up tonight.”

His older brother, Carson, pitched a solid game in the opener, despite taking the loss. He struck out seven and gave up only three hits.

“Both our pitchers pitched really well tonight,” Ross Kinnunen said. “I think we lost the first game, 2-1. So, they both gave up two runs. We just had better bats in the second game. So, both Carson and Cody pitched really well tonight. So, it was good to see.”

In the opening game, Coldwell Banker took an early 1-0 lead in the second inning.

With two outs, Ross Kinnunen drew a walk. Austin Kinnunen followed with a single to right field. With two men on, Cam Anderson singled to center, which brought Ross home.

In the bottom of the third, Stanton responded.

Hanner singled into right field with one out. Nettell followed by reaching on a fielder’s choice, but Hanner was tagged at second. Geborkoff tripled to the right field fence, which was enough to get Nettell home.

The game remained 1-1 into the bottom of the fifth, when Nettell got on again.

Eli Luoma was hit by a pitch to start the inning. Two batters later, Nettell doubled to left field. Geborkoff was intentionally walked, which loaded the bases with Joel Durocher coming to the plate. Durocher hit into a fielder’s choice, and Luoma was tagged heading for home. With the bases still loaded, Frahm singled to center field to bring Nettell home.

In the nightcap, Coldwell Banker again jumped out to an early lead. With two outs, Eric Anderson reached on a defensive error. Carson Turner was then hit by a pitch. Cody Turner doubled to the center field fence, which brought both runners home.

Coldwell Banker then pushed their lead to 3-0 in the third when Cam Anderson tripled to center field. He was tagged out in a pickle, but Trevor Halonen reached on that play. He later scored on a single to center field by Cody Turner.

Stanton got a run back as Hanner led off by reaching first on a defensive error. He made his way to second before the play came to an end. Two batters later, Geborkoff singled into right field to bring Hanner home.

Looking for some insurance, Coldwell Banker found it in the top of the fifth.

Eric Anderson singled to center field. Carson Turner reached on a fielder’s choice, but Anderson was tagged at second. Cody Turner then singled to center field to score Carson. Cody then scored when Brogan Turner reached with a single.

Stanton, trailing by four, 5-1, tried to rally in the bottom half of the inning. Geborkoff drew a one-out walk. Joel Durocher singled to left field. Frahm reached on a fielder’s choice, where Durocher was forced out at second, but the play left runners on the corners. Brad Juntunen then singled to right field to bring Geborkoff home. Dax Durocher then struck out to end the game.

Up next

Stanton and Coldwell Banker both have Tuesday off as they finished as the third and second seeds for the playoffs. They will meet next Thursday at 6:30 p.m. at Stanton Field in a semifinal matchup.

Coldwell Banker Craig Heinonen pitcher Cody Turner watches his pitch during the second game of a doubleheader against Houghton Building Supply-Stanton Tuesday at Stanton Field. (Daver Karnosky/Daily Mining Gazette)