Former Gremlin Erickson to Skate for FinnU – Saturday Sports Wrap

High School

In high school baseball yesterday…
• Lake Linden-Hubbell split its doubleheader against Ontonagon, dropping the first contest 14-3, and winning the nightcap 9-5.

The WestPAC baseball tournament will be played today in Iron Mountain. Calumet will face the host Mountaineers at 11:00 Eastern time. Houghton will play Negaunee at 1:30 Eastern.

The WestPAC softball tournament will be played today at the Tilden Township Park. Calumet opens against the host Hematites at 9:00. Houghton takes on Hancock at 11:00. 

Also in softball today…
• Baraga plays at L’Anse.

At the Division Two regional track meet at West Iron County yesterday…
• Iron Mountain won the boys team title. L’Anse finished second, Hancock placed fifth, and Jeffers came in sixth. Individually, Nathan Hochstein of the Purple Hornets won the 400-meter run, the high jump and the long jump. Eli Ostermeyer won the discus throw and the shot put.
• West Iron County claimed girls team honors. Hancock finished third, L’Anse fifth, and Jeffers sixth. Sloane Driscoll of the Bulldogs won the pole vault.
• See full results here.

College Hockey

Former Houghton High School standout Brandon Erickson will play college hockey at Finlandia University. Erickson was a member of the Gremlins’ squad that reached the state championship game in the 2018-2019 season. He had 12 points in 21 games for the Protec JR Ducks of the Eastern Hockey League this past season.

College Football

The Finlandia football team has also added a new recruit. Shaun Smith played at Jackson High School downstate.

NBA

In the NBA tournament last night…
• The Grizzlies edged the Warriors 117-112 in overtime, and earned the eighth seed in the Western Conference.

With the play-in games completed, conference quarterfinals begin today…
• The Bucks entertain the Heat.
• The Clippers host the Mavericks.
• The Nets welcome the Celtics.
• The Nuggets host the Trail Blazers.

NHL

In the NHL playoffs yesterday…
• The Bruins defeated the Capitals 4-1. Boston leads that series 3-1.
• The Predators shaded the Hurricanes 5-4 in double overtime. Carolina still leads that series 2-1.
• The Jets blanked the Oilers 1-0 in overtime. Winnipeg takes a 2-0 lead in that series.
• The Avalanche buried the Blues 5-1. Colorado takes a 3-0 lead in that series.

Today…
• The Lightning host the Panthers. Tampa Bay leads that series 2-1.
• The Islanders welcome the Penguins. Pittsburgh leads that series 2-1.
• The Maple Leafs entertain the Canadiens. Montreal is up 1-0 in that series.
• The Wild welcome the Golden Knights. Vegas leads that series 2-1.

MLB

Miguel Cabrera blasted two home runs, as the Detroit Tigers defeated the Kansas City Royals 7-5 last night. Cabrera’s first gave the Tigers an early 1-0 lead. His second was a grand slam in the seventh inning that restored Detroit’s lead after K-C scored three runs in the sixth. José Ureña gave up all five K-C runs over six frames, but earned the win. Bryan Garcia, José Cisnero and Michael Fulmer each contributed a shutout inning of relief, with Fulmer getting the save.

That series continues in Kansas City this afternoon. Matthew Boyd will start against Brady Singer. Coverage begins at 3:50 on 99.3 The Lift.

The Milwaukee Brewers lost 9-4 to the Cincinnati Reds yesterday. Adrian Houser was charged with six runs over four innings. He gave up three home runs, including two to Jesse Winker, who added a third off Josh Lindblom in the eighth.

That series continues in Cincinnati this afternoon. Brett Anderson will pitch against Sonny Gray.

The Brewers have traded relievers Drew Rasmussen and J.P. Feyereisen to the Tampa Bay Rays. In exchange, Milwaukee gets shortstop Willy Adames and reliever Trevor Richards. Adames is highly regarded defensively, and will take over the starting job from Luis Urías, who has struggled this season both at the plate and in the field.

Email sports news and scores to mornings@up.net.