Youth Baseball Roundup - June 20

12U Traveling Team

The Superior 12U traveling baseball team lost to Cloquet 6-5 recently at Braun Park in Cloquet.

Using Modified Baseball Rules, Superior opened the scoring in the second inning with Michael LaJoie doubling down the left-field line, advancing to third on a passed ball and scoring on Isaac Rios’ infield single. Rios went on to steal second and scored on Bryce Connelly’s bunt single. Connelly eventually scored on a passed ball.

Cloquet scored one in the fourth inning and the score remained 2-1 until the sixth when Cloquet scored five runs (one earned) with the help of three Superior errors and a walk.

Trailing 6-3, Superior’s Caden Welch led off the bottom of the inning with a perfect drag bunt, stole second and scored on Spencer Udeen’s single up the middle. Udeen advanced to second on a wild pitch and scored on Max Plunkett’s ground ball. With runners on second and third, Superior couldn’t plate the tying run, losing 6-5.

Brandon Wing suffered the loss in relief of Dominic D’Auria and Gunner Johnson.

Altoona tournament

The Superior 12U traveling team finished second in the Altoona Tournament last weekend, losing to Eau Claire twice and defeating Altoona twice.

Superior opened with a 12-2 loss to Eau Claire. Superior was held to three hits while Eau Claire scored eight runs in the bottom of the first inning on four hits and four walks.

Superior’s Michael LaJoie started the second inning with a walk, advanced to second on a passed ball, took third on Bryce Connelly’s single and scored on Brandon Wing’s single.

After Eau Claire scored two more runs in the third inning, Max Plunkett scored Superior’s second run in the fourth inning with a walk, stolen base and an Eau Claire error.

Plunkett had Superior’s third hit. while Dominic D’Auria took the loss on the mound

Superior then defeated Altoona in defensive struggle, 2-1.

Three Superior pitchers allowed three hits. Gunner Johnson started and allowed a single with five strikeouts in three innings. D’Auria pitched the next two innings, striking out one and allowing a double. Brandon Wing got the win after allowing one run on one hit and one strikeout in the sixth inning.

Aaron Hanson’s walk-off single in the bottom of the sixth inning scored LaJoie with the game-winning run.

Superior’s first run was scored in the fourth inning when Johnson walked, advanced to third on wild pitches and scored on a single by Isaac Rios.

Superior defeated Altoona again, 15-3, for a berth in the championship game against Eau Claire.

Superior jumped out to a 4-0 lead on Altoona in the top of the first inning. Ben Rhodes and Rios reached on errors and scored on Max Plunkett’s double. Plunkett advanced to third on when Johnson reached on an error and scored on D’Auria’s sac fly. Johnson then scored on an error off the bat of Brandon Wing. Udeen also singled in the first inning.

Altoona scored a run in the bottom of the second, but Superior scored three more runs in the third inning when Rios reached on an error, advanced to third on a double by Plunkett and scored on a Johnson single. Plunkett and Johnson both scored on a single by LaJoie to make the score 7-1.

Altoona scored two in the bottom of the third to make the score 7-3, but Superior erupted for eight runs in the fifth inning for a 15-3 lead.

Rhodes led off the inning with a double, advanced to third on a passed ball and scored on Rios’ single. Rios then scored on Plunkett’s single, Johnson doubled to score Plunkett, D’Auria’s doubled in Johnson and D’Auria scored on LaJoie’s double. LaJoie advanced to third on Wing’s single and scored on Udeen’s single. Wing and Udeen then scored on a single by Conner Fonger.

LaJoie fanned the Altoona batters in order to end the game. Johnson picked up the win, allowing five hits and three runs while striking out three in three innings. LaJoie struck out four in two innings.

Superior took a 2-0 lead on Eau Claire in the championship game, but that would be the closest they would get as Eau Claire scored the next 10 runs to win the title.

Plunkett, Johnson and D’Auria all reached base with hits in the first inning with Plunkett and Johnson scoring.

Eau Claire scored twice in the second and third inning and six more times in the fifth.

Logan Irvine led the way for Eau Claire with two two-run home runs. Eau Claire pitchers limited Superior to four hits. Four Superior pitchers tried to slow down Eau Claire with D’Auria taking the loss.

Next up for Superior is a game against Northwestern on Friday at Liebaert Field, then they are off to the New Richmond tournament June 30 and July 1.

Cal Ripken League

In recent Cal Ripken action, the Mariners and Rangers were victorious, no scores were reported for a doubleheader between the Cubs and Red Sox and all games were rained out on June 14.

Mariners 17, Cardinals 7

Bryce Conolly was the winning pitcher for the Mariners and a leader at the plate with two singles and two runs scored.

Also for the M’s, Caden Welch was 4-for-4 with four RBIs; Gunner Johnson was 3-for-3 with a home run and three RBIs; and John Smith was 3-for-3 with two RBIs.

The Mariners (4-2-1) took a 17-0 lead after three innings and the Cardinals scored all of their runs in the fourth inning.

Eddy O’Brien also pitched three innings in relief of Conolly.

For the Cardinals (0-7), Kelsey Paquette singled and had an RBI; David Fender walked twice and had an RBI; Austin Buck, Jacob Broux, Reed Rehnstrand and Steven Nutt had a walk and RBI each; Michael Barnaby walked and scored a run; and Caelin Wick scored a run.

Blue Jays 7, Brewers 2

Rhodes doubled, singled and was the winning pitcher for the Blue Jays (6-1), who also got a home run and double from Plunkett, a triple from Fonger and a single from Matt Burger.

Justin Earnest hit a home run for the Brewers (5-2) on the first pitch of the game and D’Auria singled twice.

Second baseman Ryan Hughes made an unassisted double play to stop a Blue Jay rally in the fifth inning.

Babe Ruth League

The Rangers and Northwestern notched victories in recent Babe Ruth League action.

Rangers 7, Yankees 2

Drew Magdzas was the winning pitcher as the Rangers improved to 4-2.

Magdzas also singled twice; Brandon Haller hit an inside-the-park home run, singled and knocked in two runs; Matt Hinaus doubled, singled and had two RBIs; Brett Austin singled twice and had an RBI; Jake Libal tripled in a run; Andy Jaques walked, was hit by a pitch and scored a run; and Logan Rowe walked three times.

Libal, Brandon Moe and Austin also pitched for the Rangers.

Evan Willoughby and Matt Strum both singled and walked and Morgen Moen pitched two scoreless innings for the Yankees (3-3).

Northwestern 12, Reds 4

Drew, Sam and David pitched for Northwestern, which got three hits from Carter and a triple and single from Jay Karich.

Dylan Sanda doubled and singled and Josiah McDonald singled and walked twice for the Reds (2-3).

Tags: sports, baseball, superior, updates