(Matt McCarthy/Daily News photo) Iron Mountain-Kingsford-Norway utility player Bryce Pietrantonio begins to run to first base Saturday in 19U U.P. Tournament semifinal action.

By MATT “SWEETS” McCARTHY

Sports Writer

IRON MOUNTAIN — Iron Mountain-Kingsford-Norway’s run in the 19 and Under U.P. Championship Baseball Tournament came to an end Saturday afternoon with Menominee edging them 9-8 in extra innings at LiUNA Field.

Both Iron Mountain-Kingsford-Norway and Menominee had advanced from pool play with 2-1 records.

Menominee jumped out to a 5-1 lead after two innings of play, scoring two runs in the opening inning and three in the second, highlighted by Menominee pitcher Keagan Monroe blasting a two-RBI triple.

IM-K-Norway began to mount a comeback in the top half of the fourth inning. First baseman Kody Hendricks led off with an infield single, followed by second baseman Sawyer Pugh of Kingsford reaching base after getting hit by a pitch. Gannon Bray grounded out to score Hendricks, who advanced to third when the ball got away from the catcher while Pugh was at bat.

Next batter, Kingsford’s Jesse Julian cracked a double to bring in Pugh and make the score 5-3. With two outs, Norway’s Hunter McCarthy singled, scoring Julian to shave the deficit to one run at 5-4.

Menominee did load the bases in the bottom of the fourth inning but were only able to plate one run, re-extending their lead to two runs at 6-4.

The top half of the fifth, Nolan Amundson led off for IM-K-Norway with a walk and a stolen base. Hendricks hit a single that scored Amundson to trim the Menominee lead to 6-5. As Hendricks stole second, the Menominee catcher overthrew second base and Hendricks moved to third. Pugh then reached base safely on a Menominee error and Hendricks was able to score the game-tying run.

The game moved into the sixth inning tied at 6-6, as Iron Mountain’s Caleb Johnson was relieved at 106 pitches and replaced by Bray. Johnson recorded two strikeouts in the game.

Both teams went three up, three down in order in the seventh inning, sending the game into extra innings. Menominee manager John Lauzer removed Monroe, as he had reached his limit of 105 pitches.

“Keagan doesn’t get rattled; he keeps throwing the ball and keeps coming at them, no matter who we play,” Lauzer said.

For this particular tournament, International Rules apply once the game reaches extra innings. International Rules place a runner on second base to begin each half inning, which is the player who made the last out of the last inning.

In the top of the eighth inning, Henry McRoberts came in to run for IM-K-Norway’s Bray, who made the last out but was the team’s pitcher so the substitution is allowed. Julian led off with a fly out of right field, and McRoberts moved to third on the play.

Next batter Bryce Pietrantonio grounded out and McRoberts scored on the play to put IM ahead by one run, 7-6. The next three IM batters reached base, starting by McCarthy with a single. Blake Julian then reached base by being hit by a pitch for the third time in the baseball game.

McCarthy stole second the pitch before Blake Julian being hit; next IM batter was Johnson, whose RBI single brought in McCarthy, extending the IM-K-Norway lead to 8-6.

Menominee began their half of the eighth inning with a courtesy runner as well. With one out, Monroe reached base on an IM error and then stole second on the next pitch. With runners on second and third, the next Menominee batter walked to load the bases, with two outs in the half inning.

A ground ball was hit to Pugh, who appeared to commit an error on the play, as the lead Menominee runner scored, which would have won the game. However, the first umpire called the runner advancing from first to second out for obstruction of the play, erasing the run that scored.

Chaos ensued. Lauzer was livid with the call and then a discussion between the three umpires took place at the pitcher’s mound. After conversing with one another, the umpires included the coaches and initially reversed the call, meaning the Menominee run that was disallowed counted and the ball game was over, with Menominee winning 9-8.

At that point, Iron Mountain manager Paul Julian decided to protest the call and the game, which was within either team’s right to do. The umpires then referred to the official American Legion rulebook online on a smartphone and determined that the correct call should have been runner interference.

With the bases loaded, there’s a force out available at each base on the diamond. If a runner impedes a fielder in any baseline, runner interference is the call and the runner is out.

In the meantime, both teams had shaken hands and the Menominee players were packing their gear and leaving like the game was over. The umpires, after a second and final conference between themselves and the online rulebook, determined the game was to continue, and move to the top of the ninth inning.

Iron Mountain failed to score in the top of the ninth, and Menominee capitalized on that. “After we got them out in the ninth inning and they didn’t get any runs, I knew we were going to sacrifice bunt the runner over from second to third,” Lauzer said.

Menominee did just that.

With one out and a runner on third base, the No. 9 hitter in the Menominee order, Ethan Russell, came up to bat. Russell cracked a sacrifice fly to deep right field, and the International Rules runner scored to end the ball game with Menominee winning, 9-8.

Both managers noted they’d had great games against each other in the regular season as well.

“I believe overall we’re an equal team to them. It’s a tough way for the season to end, but our guys fought from beginning to end, to win this game and move on,” Coach Julian said.

“It was anybody’s game starting off, but our errors early in the game led to four unearned runs,” Julian said. “I’m not discrediting them, but if we eliminate those errors, we win and there’s no extra innings.”

“Iron Mountain is a good hitting team. I am not surprised they came back on us, even with Keagan (Monroe) on the mound,” Lauzer said. “Our coaches and I told him to keep shooting (throwing) strikes, force them to make plays. We’re glad to be in the championship game.”

“We knew this game was going to be a barn burner, we know they’re a good hitting team with discipline at the plate,” Coach Julian said. “They’re well coached, and in certain aspect, their team is just like ours.”

He noted the IM-K-Norway team will compete in a pair of upcoming tournaments in Wisconsin to end their season.

Box Score

Innings

IM– 0 1 0 3 2 0 0 2 0 — 8

M– 2 3 0 1 0 0 0 2 1 — 9