Crush Dominates Fast Pitch Final – Tuesday Sports Wrap

Fast Pitch Softball

Crush/Diamond House/Baby E’s cruised to a 12-2 victory over Superior National Bank in the championship game of the Copper Country Fast Pitch Softball League tournament to claim the Holly McCullah Memorial traveling trophy last evening. The regular-season champions scored five runs in the second inning and five runs in the third. Emily Jokela pitched a complete game, and her two-run double in the bottom of the fifth inning completed the 10-run margin that ended the game early because of the mercy rule. It was her third hit of the night. Sarah Audette had a double, Ryeleigh Johnson, MacKenzie LePage, Ashlee Johnson and Kirstyn Codere each had a single. Codere drove in three runs. Pinch-hitter Janie Berg drove in both of SNB’s runs. Ashley Lehto had two singles, Kim Aho had a double and Janie Berg had a single.

Twilight League Baseball

In Copper Country Twilight League baseball last night…
 • REL-Mohawk Technology defeated Garnet Garage 7-5.

Tonight…
 • Houghton Building Supply-Stanton faces Craig Heinonen Coldwell Banker at the Hancock Driving Park.

College Football

The Finlandia University football team has added a new player. Kejuan Sanders was an AP Division Seven All-Stater as a defensive back at Community High School in Detroit. He is transferring in from Ferris State University.

MTU

Michigan Tech Athletics has named Zach Nicholas as Assistant Director of Athletic Marketing and Communication. Nicholas has been an intern on the MTU staff for the past three seasons.

MLB

The Detroit Tigers had yesterday off, and begin a home set against the Boston Red Sox tonight. Wily Peralta will start against Garrett Richards. Coverage will begin at 6:50 on 99.3 The Lift.

The Tigers added some pitching depth yesterday, claiming right-hander Nivaldo Rodriguez off waivers from the Houston Astros. He’s been assigned to Toledo.

Detroit catcher Eric Haase was named the American League Rookie of the Month in July. He hit nine homers and drove in 29 runs in 23 games.

The Milwaukee Brewers clubbed the Pittsburgh Pirates 6-2 last night. Eduardo Escobar’s three-run homer in the seventh inning put the game away. Eric Lauer got the win, allowing three hits over five innings. Pittsburgh’s runs came in the ninth inning, as 38-year-old John Axford returned to Milwaukee. Axford started his career with the Brewers in 2009, and played four-and-a-half seasons with the Crew. He went on to play for eight other major league teams, and retired after the 2018 season. This spring, he pitched for Canada’s Olympic team, and felt good enough to sign a minor league deal with the Blue Jays. Toronto sold his contract to Milwaukee yesterday for one dollar in a minor league transaction, and Milwaukee promoted him. The good news story was derailed when he retired just one of the five batters he faced, and left the game with an elbow injury.

The Brewers host the Pirates again tonight. Adrian Houser will pitch against Max Kranick.

Milwaukee made several other roster moves yesterday. They sent pitcher Patrick Wiegel to Nashville to make room for Axford. They also placed Josh Hader on the injured list because of a positive COVID-19 test. Infielder Jace Peterson was brought off the injured list, and infielder Pablo Reyes was returned to Nashville.

NBA

The Pistons reportedly added several players as the NBA free agent negotiating window opened yesterday. Deals can’t officially be signed until Friday. The big addition is center Kelly Olynyk, who agreed to a three-year contract worth $37 million. The 30-year-old is heading into his ninth season. He split last season between the Heat and the Rockets, averaging 13 points and seven rebounds per game.

Detroit also inked forward Trey Lyles on a two-year deal worth $5 million. He spent the past two seasons on the Spurs’ bench. And, the Pistons brought back point guard Cory Joseph, whom they waived on Saturday, for two years at $10 million.

Horseshoes

On the final night of play in the Copper Country Horseshoe League…
• Calumet One clinched the regular-season title by sweeping Bucko’s Party Store 9-0.
• Dreamland One wrapped up second place with a 7-2 win over 41 Lumber.
• Third-place L and L blanked Drift Inn 9-0.
• Rocky’s shut down Calumet Electronics 8-1.
• Ahmeek Fire Department stopped Dreamland Two 6-3.
• Harter’s Party Store downed Loading Zone 8-1.

Calumet One will be the top seed when the league tournament begins Monday night, and will face eighth-seed Loading Zone at Agassiz Park. Second seed Dreamland One will host seventh seed Calumet Electronics. Third seed L and L will face sixth seed Rocky’s Bar at the Calumet Dam. Fourth seed 41 Lumber will play fifth seed Harter’s Party Store at the Gipp Recreation Area.

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