Marquette from the loser’s bracket forced a second game in the championship round, meaning they played four consecutive games Monday.

“This is a tough tournament, especially from the loser’s bracket,” said Marquette manager Hunter Larson. “But if anyone could play four games in one day and almost pull out a win in the finals, it would be our team. We battled all the way until the end.”

Bonduel came into the championship game undefeated, which meant they had to be defeated twice in a row to not take the championship back to Wisconsin with them for the second time in three years, having also won in 2019.

“We knew we were in a good position coming into today being undefeated,” said Bonduel manager Greg Henn. “Also knowing that whoever we played in the finals, would have to play all day, and then play us.”

Marquette’s Robbie Schuepeltz hurled all seven innings of both championship games for Marquette, earning the tournament’s pitching MVP award.

Prior to the first championship game, former Detroit Tigers pitcher and Iron Mountain resident John Hiller was presented a plaque by tournament director John Benzie. The plaque recognized Hiller for his past participation in the tournament and continued support.

Hiller then threw out the ceremonial first pitch, which was proudly caught by Marquette catcher Dan Sadin. Hiller stayed for the duration of both games, graciously signing baseballs and items for anyone who asked for his autograph.

Marquette pitcher Robbie Schuepeltz, who toed the mound for Marquette in both championship games –14 innings worth of pitching — had to face the top of Bonduel’s batting order in the bottom of the seventh.

After Bonduel No. 9 hitter Wyatt Reinke reached on a walk, Chase Reinke reached safely on a fielder’s choice bunt that Schuepeltz made a spectacular diving play for, flinging the baseball to shortstop Sawyer Pugh. The force-out of Wyatt Reinke came with Marquette leading, 4-3.

After a Baily Dingdien walk with one out, Bonduel shortstop Eric Gruenala blasted a pitch to the left center field fence, nearly striking the 335 feet sign affixed to the outfield fence, plating both Chase Reinke and Dingdien to win the game and the championship.

In the first of the two title-game showdowns, it came down to the bottom half of the final inning, where Bonduel was ahead 5-3 with two outs. Schuepeltz and Jack Marstrict were both on base after singles, when Marquette first baseman Ethan Bemowski came to the plate.

With the game on the line, Bemowski crushed a pitch to left center field, that barely cleared the 340 mark, hitting a car parked behind the fence to win the game for Marquette on a walk-off 3-run home run. It left the crowd in awe, as well as those in the press box.

“We were in shock when he (Bemowski) hit it as well. We almost didn’t get excited,” Larson added.

“That home run that forced a second game, was a huge ket down for us. I wasn’t sure by the guys’ reactions that we’d regroup,” Henn added. “Winds came right out of our sails, but quite a come back for us in the second game.”

Adam Frost of Bonduel, who was named tournament MVP, blasted a solo home run in the opening game of the title games, easily clearing the right-center field fence. Frost had hit multiple round-trippers for Bonduel in the tournament, as well as toeing the mound to start the final championship game.

As well as hitting a crushing solo home run of his own in game one, Bonduel right fielder Hunter Vikemyr got himself into a rundown in game two, between first and second base in the bottom half of inning No. 2. In the process of the Vikemyr rundown, JC Reinke was able to score from third on the play, which tied the game at 1-1.

In the top of the third of game No. 2, with the score still tied at one run apiece, Bemowski blasted his second home run of the day, a mammoth 2-run shot that ended up in the Felch Community Center playground on the fly, to put Marquette ahead, 3-1.

Sticking with game No. 2, Marquette right fielder Nate Becher cracked an RBI single to give his team a 4-1 lead in the top of the fourth inning.

Bonduel, who plays in the 10-team Dairyland league throughout the spring and summer, put a dent in the three-run lead of their opponent in the bottom of the fifth inning.

With both Vikemyr and Wyatt Reinke on base with two outs, Dingdien singled to bring in Wyatt Reinke to make the score, 4-2 Bonduel. With Gruenala at the plate, home plate umpire Jim O’Neil called a balk on Schuepeltz, which scored Vikemyr from third base on the play, which made the score, 4-3 Bonduel.

It was reported by long time supporters of the Felch tournament Andy Anderson and Warren “Windy” Wickman that the crowds all four days were spectacular, especially on Saturday and Sunday.

“This tournament is great, the community is great and supports the tournament, and the field is in such great condition,” Henn stated. “As long as they keep having this tournament, we’ll be back, most definitely.”

NOTES:

Marquette: catcher Sadin was behind the dish for every inning of the team’s four games on Sunday.

Bonduel: Vikemyr’s home run went nearly as far as Bemowski’s 2-run game two dinger did. Vikemyr’s hit the Felch Ambulance garage in left field on the bounce.

Marquette 1 0 2 1 0 0 0 — 4

Bonduel 0 1 0 0 2 0 2 — 5