A Close Contest at Al Ness Field
A cloudy, cool afternoon at Al Ness Field set the stage for the Second Annual Upper Peninsula All-Star Baseball game, where Team Superior edged Team Michigan 7-6 in a tightly contested battle.
The contest saw early momentum shift, with Team Michigan taking a 2-1 lead in the second inning before Team Superior answered with a 3-2 advantage after five innings. The game remained deadlocked until the eighth, when a sacrifice fly by Escanaba’s Ashton Rymkos put Superior ahead 6-5.
Michigan fought back in the bottom of the eighth, narrowing the gap to a single run, but key defensive plays by Gladstone’s Trevor Thorbahn and a timely double from Marquette’s Alex Brennan kept the lead intact.
Pitcher Chad Isaacson of Hancock earned the win, while Owen Baij of Ishpeming delivered a two-run bloop single that tied the score earlier, showcasing his clutch hitting.
MVP honors went to Cannon Arnt of Escanaba for Superior and Owen Baij for Michigan, both of whom expressed plans to continue their careers at the collegiate level — Arnt at Bay College and Baij at Century College in White Bear Lake, Minnesota.
The game also highlighted standout performances from players such as Isak Ruspakka of Ishpeming, who tripled in the sixth, and Britt Fain of Manistique, who sparked the sixth-inning rally with a leadoff single.
With contributions from Desmond Gleason, Aiden Steele, and others, the All-Star showcase underscored the depth of talent across the Upper Peninsula, promising an exciting future for the sport in the region.