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Calumet, Iron Mountain split in pitching duel

CALUMET — In a typical high school baseball doubleheader, a combined two-game total of 15 or more runs is normal.

However, that wasn’t the case as the Calumet Copper Kings and the Iron Mountain Mountaineers totaled just seven runs over the course of two games and a sum of 11 innings. In short, it was a pitching duel on display in both games.

The Mountaineers won the first game 2-0 in extra innings, and the Copper Kings took the second one, 4-1.

In Monday’s opener, Iron Mountain senior pitcher Carson McLean was dialed in on the mound. He went the distance, throwing a complete-game shutout. He allowed just two hits over the course of six innings, striking out 11 Calumet batters and walking none.

“Carson threw well, but so did their starter (Alex Tarnowski) to take this one 0-0 in extra innings,” said Mountaineers coach Jeff McLean.

“I think we made one more play than them. They had an error, and we had a timely hit or two after that, and that made the difference.”

McLean opened the sixth inning with a base hit. He was put out on a force play at second as Evan Haferkorn rapped one back to the pitcher. Ian Marttila joined him on the base paths with a fielders’ choice. Both runners crossed home with a hard-hit ball to left by Niko Burgoon.

Iron Mountain’s inning ended, however, with a strikeout and a groundout to first.

While the Copper Kings’ Brayden Cima was able to earn his way to first with a single in the bottom of the sixth, he would not get further than second as those behind him hit into force outs to end the game in the Mountaineers’ favor.

In the second game, it took more than two innings before the Copper Kings tallied their first run. The hometown team began with pitcher Danny Loukus getting on base with a single to right. He stole second and came home trotting as his catcher, Bruce Parisot, blasted a triple off the left center fence to make it a 1-0 Calumet lead after three.

The Mountaineers tied it up at one in the fourth, however, it was short-lived.

In the fourth frame, the Copper Kings took the lead and kept it with a three-run rally that featured singles by Ben Frantti and Lars Peterson and a few errors committed by the Mountaineers, putting Calumet ahead 4-1.

“The tables seemed to turn on us in this one,” said McLean. “We had the errors in this one and they (Calumet) capitalized on them. (Dan) Loukus was then able to shut down in that last inning.”

Loukus earned the win. He pitched all five innings for the Copper Kings allowing just one run as he struck out three and walked two.

“Danny pitched a gem,” said Calumet coach David Yeo. “As well we played better defense and swung the bats better.”

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