All-WestPAC Baseball, Softball Players Honored – Friday Sports Wrap

Click on the highlighted scores for more game information.

High School

In the high school baseball tournament…
• The Division Four district title will be decided today at the Stanton Field. The host Jeffers Jets will face Ironwood in the first semifinal at 11:00. Ontonagon will play Gogebic in the second semifinal at 1:30. The winners will play for the championship at 4:00.
• The Division Three district crown will be decided tomorrow at John Bostwick Memorial Field. The host Houghton Gremlins will face Hancock at 10:00 in the first semifinal, with coverage on 97.7 The Wolf. Negaunee and Iron Mountain will tangle in the second semifinal at 12:30. The championship game will be played at 3:00, with coverage on 97.7 The Wolf.

In the high school softball tournament…
• The Division Four district crown will be awarded today at the Bone Yard in Lake Linden. There are only three teams in the district. The host Lakes will face L’Anse at 2:00. The winner will play Hancock at 4:00.
• The Division Three district title will be decided tomorrow at Calumet. The host Copper Kings will play Negaunee at 10:00. Houghton will face Westwood at noon. The winners will meet in the title match at 2:00. We’ll broadcast both semifinals on KBear 102.3, and will also air the championship game, if the Gremlins and/or the Kings advance.

At the U.P. Division III golf championships yesterday…
• Ontonagon won the girls team title, with an eight-stroke margin over runner-up Big Bay de Noc. Big Bay’s Camryn Pederson medaled, but the Gladiators placed all five of their golfers in the top-10, with Madyson Pantti as runner-up.
• North Central claimed the boys team title, with Lake Linden-Hubbell in second place. The Lakes were led by Bradley Axford, who finished third individually.

The U.P. track and field championships will be staged tomorrow at Kingsford.

Bryce Hanner from Hancock High School has been named the WestPAC Baseball Player of the Year. Iron Mountain’s Niko Burgoon was honored as Pitcher of the Year, and Negaunee’s Jason Siik as Coach of the Year.

Local players named to the all-conference first team include Ned Larson and Zack Gerborkoff from the Bulldogs, Eli Heathman and Henry Switzer from Houghton, and Alex Tarnowski from Calumet. Second team honors went to Benny Keranen and Caleb Isaacson from Hancock, Hudson Markham and Bryce Pugh from Houghton, and Cam Anderson from Calumet. Honorable mentions included Todd Kilpela from Hancock, Rylan Isaacson from Houghton, and Liam Pomroy from Calumet. See the full list of honorees here.

Ishpeming’s Peyton Manning was named WestPAC Softball Player of the Year. Negaunee’s Grace Nardi was named Pitcher of the Year, and Negaunee’s Randy Carlson shared Coach of the Year honors with Houghton’s Melissa Baker.

Local players named to the all-conference first team include Clea Ollanketo and Estella Soumis from Houghton, Sadie Biekkola and Brooke Koskela from Hancock, and Lena Myhren from Calumet. Second team honors went to Kenzie Collard from Houghton, Ella Storm from Hancock, and Isabella Coppo from Calumet. Honorable mentions included Brynn Arko from Houghton, Sydnie Scholie from Hancock, and Ryleigh Johnson from Calumet. See the full list of honorees here.

The Hancock High School football team has started a fundraiser to renovate the locker rooms at McAfee Field. The school recently purchased the McAfee complex from the receiver liquidating the assets of Finlandia University. They got the property, but all loose equipment was removed and sold separately, including lockers and benches. New football coach Jeff Hauswirth has set up a donation site at MoneyDolly.com. To contribute, click here.

Some additional girls soccer teams are being organized for play this summer. Houghton Football Club says the teams will fill a gap between age 13 and the time they can qualify for high school teams. Girls with birth years from 2009 to 2015 are eligible. For details and online sign-up, click here.

College Basketball

Lake Superior State University has a new head women’s basketball coach. Grace Howrigon joins the Lakers after five years as head coach at Lawrence Tech.

NHL

In the NHL tournament last night, the Panthers shaded the Rangers 3-2. Florida leads the Eastern Conference championship series 3-2, and will host game six on Saturday.

The Western Conference championship series resumes tonight, as the Stars host the Oilers. That set is tied 2-2.

NBA

The Mavericks advanced, with a 124-103 win over the Timberwolves last night. Dallas wins the Western Conference title series 4-1. They will face the Celtics in the NBA championship series beginning next Thursday.

MLB

Jack Flaherty flirted with a no-hitter, as the Tigers blanked the Red Sox 5-0 last night. He wound up pitching into the seventh inning, when he gave up his only hit. Alex Faedo and Troy Holton completed the shutout, allowing just one more Boston hit. Akil Baddoo, Riley Greene and Gio Urshela homered for Detroit.

The Tigers visit the Red Sox again tonight. Kenta Maeda will pitch against Tanner Houck. Coverage will begin at 6:45 on 99.3 The Lift.

Gary Sánchez’ two-run homer in the bottom of the seventh gave the Brewers a 6-4 victory over the Cubs yesterday. 

The Brewers host the White Sox tonight. Tobias Myers will start against Erick Fedde.

Local Sports Broadcasts

• Tomorrow – Division Three Baseball District Tournament at Houghton – Hancock/Westwood v Houghton at 10:00; Negaunee/Calumet v Iron Mountain at 12:30 (if Calumet advances); championship game at 3:00 (if local team advances). Games broadcast on 97.7 The Wolf.
• Saturday – Division Three Softball District Tournament at Calumet – Calumet v Negaunee at 10:00; Houghton v Westwood at 12:00; district championship game at 2:00 (if local team advances). Games broadcast on KBear 102.3.

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