Penokee Range's run ends with loss to Portage Lake

MARQUETTE - On to downstate St. Clair.

The Portage Lake 9-10 all-stars Friday advanced to state tournament baseball play with a 15-3 four-inning district win over Penokee Range at the North Marquette Athletic Fields.

"It's a great opportunity to represent the district, the Copper Country and the Upper Peninsula," Portage Lake head coach Wes Frahm said of state play scheduled to begin next Friday.

"We'll see some good teams there, but I believe in our team."

It's easy to see why.

Portage Lake rolled through the winner's bracket, then outhit Penokee Range 16-4 Friday to win going away.

A seven-run second inning led to an eight-run third for the winners.

"It wasn't something I was expecting, but hitting is contagious," Frahm said, "I think it calmed (pitcher) Dylan (Primeau) down (early).

With a day off Thursday after taking the winner's bracket, Portage Lake was able to send Primeau - its No. 1 pitcher - to the mound against Penokee Range.

"That was a big part of (our win)," Frahm said. "He was able to throw 75 (total) pitches and he wound up pitching 57.

"He's a seasoned pitcher with good control. He hits his spots on a regular basis and has multiple pitches, which is rare for someone his age."

Primeau walked just one while striking out five to go with his four-hitter, two of the safeties going to Penokee Range's Brayden Nelson.

Primeau and Levi Frahm led Portage Lake with three hits apiece, while teammates Brent Heinonen and Matthew added two each.

Penokee Range took a 1-0 first inning lead on a wild pitch that brought home a run, but Portage Lake exploded in the second with seven runs.

A two-run double by Cody Turner, and run-scoring singles by Simon Rajala, Heinonen and Primeau, highlighted the surge.

Penokee Range got two runs back in the third on a RBI-double by Rukus Betlewski and a run-scoring single by Sean Korpella, but Portage Lake put the game away with the eight-run third.

A two-run double by Primeau, plus RBI-singles by Levi Frahm and David Olson, helped seal the win.

"They hit the ball extremely well," Penokee Range head coach Pat Dabb said. "They were well-hit balls, too.

"We kind of shut down (after the second inning). It was not our game. (Portage Lake) just took it over."

He added the fact Penokee Range played so many games once it fell into the loser's bracket, it stretched his pitching staff.

"It was tough, We were limited on pitchers, but the way (Portage Lake) came out to hit, I don't know if it would have made a difference.

"I'm proud of the boys for how far they went (in the tourney), though."