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NEGAUNEE -- Penokee Range turned an early 4-0 deficit into a 5-4 lead after just one inning, and then a 5-5 tie into a 10-5 lead the next inning. However, they could only manage one more run as the Portage Lake Little League Majors team was able to score nine more times to come away with a 17-11 victory Sunday in District 11 tournament play.
With the win, Portage Lake advanced to face Ishpeming Monday.
Portage Lake got off to a fast start with Simon Sturos reaching on an error. Chase Aho singled. Two batters later, Devin Lasanen singled. Brad Jupperi also singled. All four runners scored.
Trailing 5-4 after the bottom of the first, Zayne Benda walked with one out to spark Portage Lake in the second. Brooks Bussiere walked. Benda scored before the inning came to an end, evening things at that point, 5-5.
Penokee Range scored another five runs to take a lead in the bottom of the second. In the top of the third, Portage Lake could not figure things out, and they remained trailing by five heading into the fourth.
Two straight strikeouts in the middle of the lineup put the locals in a tough spot with Heltunen stepping to the plate. He singled. Benda reached on an error. Bussiere walked, as did Drea Durocher. All four baserunners crossed home plate before Aho struck out to end the inning.
In the top of the fifth, the bats remained hot for Portage Lake. Eli Mayo led off with a single. Lasanen doubled. Hayden Kirby walked two batters later. Dane Guidotti also got on base with a single. All four baserunners crossed home plate.
Heltunen doubled and scored as well, and Portage Lake led 14-10.
They added three more runs in the top of the sixth.
Sturos drew a leadoff walk. Aho singled. Mayo also walked. All three runners scored before the final out was recorded.
Penokee Range got one run back late, but that was all they could get before the game came to an end.
Given that District 11 has seven teams participating, Ishpeming drew a first-round bye. The winner of Portage Lake and Ishpeming will face the winner of Game 6, which features the winners of Negaunee and Marquette, and will be played on Wednesday, July 8, at 6 p.m.
Negaunee defeated Baraga/LOTC Sunday, 21-0, and Marquette defeated Gwinn, 25-0.
If Portage Lake loses to Ishpeming, they will play Tuesday, July 7, at 4 p.m. against the loser of Negaunee and Marquette.