Jeffers Baseball, LL-H and Hancock Softball Advance in District Tourney – Wednesday Sports Wrap

High School

In baseball yesterday…
• Calumet swept Ontonagon in a regular-season match-up, 9-2 and 11-1.
• Jeffers opened the Division Four district tournament with a 14-4 victory over Lake Linden-Hubbell. The Jets took control early, with eight runs in the first inning. Jeffers will face Ironwood in the district semifinals Friday.

In softball yesterday…
• Calumet swept Rapid River in a regular season match-up, 6-5 and 9-4. In the first game, Morgan Erkkila had a triple and a two-run homer, and Jana Loukus had a three-run triple. Elli Djerf struck out eight. In the nightcap, Erkilla had a double and a triple. Laura Giachino had two doubles. Taylor Vertin struck out four.
• The Division Four district tournament opened with two play-in games. In the first contest, Lake Linden-Hubbell eliminated Baraga 13-5. Olivia Shank struck out 10 for the Lakes, who will play Gogebic in the first semifinal Friday. In the second game, L’Anse scored nine runs in the first inning, but Hancock came from behind with 15 in the third, and ousted L’Anse 28-12. Kaisa Salani, Kaydence Kilpela and Emilie Scholie each had two hits for the Bulldogs. Kilpela was the winning pitcher. Maija Rice had two hits for L’Anse. The Bulldogs will meet Ironwood in the second semifinal Friday.

In high school golf…
• The Division Two Boys and Girls U.P. Finals will be played today at the George Young Recreational Complex in Iron River.

College Soccer

The Michigan Tech soccer team has added a new recruit. Mary Storm was a four-year letter-winner and team captain at Hartland High School.

College Football

The Finlandia University football team has brought in another U.P. player. Louie Mayer made the All-U.P. eight-player first team at Rudyard High School last season.

Slow Pitch Softball

In Copper Country Slow Pitch Softball League play tonight…
• At Miller Memorial Field in Laurium, A and S Industrial/Loukus Tech will face Koppers at 6:30, and Paul Hyrkas Construction at 7:30.
• At the Hancock Driving Park, McGann’s/Northern Auto meets Downtowner Two at 6:30, and Pat’s Foods/Buckos at 7:30.

NBA

In NBA tournament opening-round play last evening…
• The Nets eliminated the Celtics 123-109. Brooklyn wins that series 4-1.
• The Nuggets outlasted the Trail Blazers 147-140 in double overtime. Denver leads that set 3-2.
• The Suns shut down the Lakers 115-85. Phoenix leads that series 3-2.

Tonight…
• The 76ers host the Wizards. Philadelphia leads that series 3-1.
• The Knicks entertain the Hawks. Atlanta leads that set 3-1.
• The Jazz welcome the Grizzlies. Utah holds a 3-1 lead in that series.
• The Clippers host the Mavericks. That set is tied 2-2.

Former University of Michigan head basketball coach John Beilein is joining the Detroit Pistons’ staff. Beilein became the winningest coach in Wolverines history, before leaving for an ill-fated partial season as head coach of the Cleveland Cavaliers. He’ll be a senior advisor with a focus on player development.

NHL

In NHL second-round action last night…
• The Lightning edged the Hurricanes 2-1. Tampa Bay leads that series 2-0.

Tonight…
• The Jets host the Canadiens in the opening game of that series.
• The Avalanche welcome the Golden Knights. Colorado leads that series 1-0.

The NHL draft lottery drawing will be held tonight. The Red Wings have the sixth-best odds of claiming the top pick, at 7.6 percent.

MLB

The Detroit Tigers scored six runs in the second inning, and held off the Milwaukee Brewers 10-7 last night. Eric Haase and Jonathan Schoop each hit two home runs for Detroit. Tigers starter Matthew Boyd gave up five runs before leaving in the fifth inning. Derek Holland got the win with two innings of scoreless relief. Kolton Wong and Tyrone Taylor each hit two home runs for Milwaukee, and Luis Urías added one. Eric Lauer took the loss, giving up seven runs over two innings.

Both teams have today off. The Tigers begin a series against the White Sox in Chicago tomorrow night. Casey Mize will start against Dallas Keuchel. Coverage begins at 7:50 on 99.3 The Lift.

The Brewers open a home set against the Arizona Diamondbacks tomorrow night.

Taylor is back with the Brewers after Lorenzo Cain was placed on the injured list with a hamstring strain.

Former Detroit Tigers pitcher Mike Marshall has died at age 78. The Adrian native spent his first major league season in Detroit in 1967. It took a few years for him to really break through, however, as one of baseball’s early closers. In 1974, he appeared in 106 games for the Dodgers, tossing 208 innings – all in relief. Both are MLB records.

Horseshoes

In Copper Country Horseshoe League play last evening…
• Dreamland One blanked v Dreamland Two 9-0.
• Calumet Electronics shut down Drift Inn 7-2.
• Calumet One turned back Rocky’s Bar 7-2.
• Loading Zone downed Ahmeek Fire Department 6-3.
• 41 Lumber defeated Bucko’s 8-1
• Harter’s and L and L postponed their match until tonight.

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