Little League begins play | News, Sports, Jobs

HOUGHTON — Local Little League action began this week.

Here are some highlights from this week’s action:

Thursday

Majors

Houghton Building Supply edged Superior Service 2-1. HBS took the lead in the fourth when Rylan Guilbault reached base via walk and was hit around the basepaths by Benny Keranen and Tanner Kilpela to score. The team turned around and put up a strong defensive fifth and a 1-2-3 sixth for the win.

Wednesday

Minors

Auto Pro beat Range Bank 11-9. Nate Thompson scored the winning run to cap a five-run rally in the bottom of the fourth before the game was called because of time. Thompson also had two hits. Jaron Moilanen scored three runs. Damien Juopperi singled and scored a run for Range Bank.

Tuesday

Majors

South Range Superior Service defeated J. Peltier Construction 8-1. Superior Service got off to a fast start with a three-run first and added five more in the second.

Nolan Hanner scored J. Peltier’s only run.

Erickson Crowley Peterson Funeral Home 11, KBear 6

ECPFH built an 11-0 lead in three innings and held off KBear’s comeback attempt. Owen Loukus and Oscar Loukus, Luke Hamlin and Joe Halonen scored two runs each. Hamlin doubled twice. KBear scored four in the fourth and added a pair in the sixth. Henry Johnson and Josh Asiala scored two runs each for KBear, and each had an RBI.

American Legion Post 61 and Mohawk Technology tied 16-16, but no other details were reported.

Monday

Majors

J. Peltier Construction defeated Tervo Agency 5-4 on Monday in Portage Lake Little League action.

Isaac Wanhala led J. Peltier on the mound, striking out five with no walks. Lucianno Paoli and Chase Keranen combined in relief.

Keranen also went 3 for 3 batting. Nolan Hanner reached base three times and scored twice. Paoli was 2 for 3 with a double and two runs.

J. Peltier Construction coach Jason Jaehnig said a defensive highlight was Sophia Blake chasing down a deep fly ball in the right center alley in the bottom of the sixth.

Tervo Agency pitchers Connor Helminen, Pierce Johnson and Blake Heltunen combined for 14 strikeouts in the loss.

Levi Matteson and Everett Matteson both went 2 for 3, with two doubles and one double, respectively.

Minors

Range Bank beat Pat’s Foods 20-8. Ethan Lasanen and Micah Isaacson had three hits apiece. Adin Asti had two hits.

Damien Juopperi and Blake Helminen both scored three runs.

Pat’s Foods’ Max Pietila reached base with two singles and Wyatt Luskin had a two RBI-double.

In other Minors action, Ralajals Kitchen beat Auto Pro Glass 17-6. Hayden Matteson and Emmett Hainault scored three times. Tash Ralaja hit a three-run home run.