The Hancock baseball team poses after winning the Division 3 District 65 title Friday at the Hancock Driving Park. Pictured are: Brayden Larson, Caleb Isaacson, Chase Keranen, Connor Helminen, Daniel Sturos, Drew Sturos, Evan Pennala, Gage Chynoweth, Isaac Wanhala, Ben Keranen, Kirby Storm, Luciano Paoli, Nate Thompson, Ted Kilpela, Todd Kilpela, and Trent Pietila. (Eddie O’Neill/For the Gazette)

HANCOCK — Headed into the bottom of the sixth inning, the Hancock Bulldogs baseball team had their work cut out on Friday at the Driving Park.

They had just given up five runs to the Superior Central Cougars in the Division 3 District 65 title game. What was a 3-3 tie between these two was now an 8-3 Superior Central lead. The Bulldogs failed in the sixth -going out one, two and three. However, they also stopped the bleeding in the top of the seventh inning as they prevented the Cougars from going further than first base. There were now down to their last three outs with their season on the line.

However four singles in a row sparked a rally that scored six runs and the hoisting of a district baseball title trophy. The game ended 9-8 in favor of the Bulldogs.

The first four hits of the inning were base raps by Chase Keranen, Benny Keranen, Caleb Isaacson and Brayden Larson. Add a balk in there by Cougar pitcher Andrew Charlebois and it was now 8-5 with nobody out.

After Isaacson scored the sixth run on an Isaac Wanhala single to right, the Cougars got their first out. Before they could get their second out, Trent Pietila grounded into a fielder’s choice, scoring Larson, who beat out a throw to the plate. The tying run was now at third, the winning run was at at second, and Kirby Storm was at the plate.

He struck out swinging, but up stepped Todd Kilpela as a last hope. The senior wasted no time in taking a Charlebois fastball to center field. Wanhala crossed home with ease from third, and Trent Pietila crossed home plate standing up with run nine.

When asked if he was nervous about being down five runs and their season on the line, Bulldogs coach Luke Paul gave an affirmative nod of the head.

“I was thinking, “Oh boy, how are we going to do this? How are we going to produce some runs?’ But, we were able to find base hits and put together some runs.

“As we played some small ball, confidence started to kick in and everybody wanted to get a hit and we won this one. I can’t be more proud of these boys.”

Interestingly, it was the Bulldogs who took a 3-0 lead after two innings only to see Superior Central come back and tie it at three after scoring in the third and the fourth innings.

Nate Thompson came in to relieve Bulldogs’ middle-inning hurler Chase Keranen and earned a late-game win. He threw just 1 2/3 innings, striking out three and walking two.

Charlebois was the loser for the Cougars. He came in to throw the seventh in relief for their starter, Isaac Rondeau.

Wanhala went 3-for-3 at the plate to lead the Bulldogs with hits. Todd Kilpela’s game winning hit led the team with two RBIs.

Superior Central’s road to the district final include a 2-1 win over the Calumet Copper Kings. In that one, both teams tallied a run in the third, however, the Cougars added one more in the fourth off a Jerry Kulik RBI single, and that is how the game stayed after seven. Jaykob Dahm earned the win for the Cougars.

Hancock’s first stop on Friday was a match up against the Westwood Patriots. It too was a walk-off victory for the Bulldogs. After Hancock took a 3-1 in the third, the Patriots tied in the top of the fourth. Knotted at three, the two teams were headed to the bottom of the seventh with the Bulldogs up to bat.

Storm started things off with a single. Then back-to-back bunts by Todd Kilpela and Chase Keranen loaded the bases with no one out. Benny Keranen then single to left and Storm touched home with ease and the 4-3 victory. That was Benny’s fourth single of the game in as many as at-bats.

Benny Keranen was also the winning pitcher. He threw all seven innings for the Bulldogs. He struck out 14 and walked none while giving up three runs (two earned) and four Westwood hits.

Isak Ruspakka took the loss for the Patriots as he was unable to record an out in the final inning of this semifinal game.

Up next

The Bulldogs advance to the Region 33 tournament Wednesday in Gladstone. They will face Menominee at 5 p.m. If they win, they will face the winner of Harrison and Manistee Saturday in Gladstone.