(Adam Hinch/Daily Press photo) Escanaba's Bon LaChance celebrates at home plate with his team after hitting a home run against Niagara, Wis., on Saturday at Al Ness Field.

ESCANABA — Victory was within Escanaba’s grasp, but Marinette, Wis., had other ideas in the championship game of the Gregg Johnson/Al Erickson Memorial American Legion baseball tournament here Sunday.

Maverick Williams scored on a balk, lifting Marinette to a 6-5 victory over the Cubs on a sunny and warm afternoon at Al Ness Field.

The Cubs took a 5-3 lead into the bottom of the seventh inning.

A wild pitch enabled Marinette to shave its deficit to 5-4 and Caleb Klinek tied the score on a single to left field by Ethan Doubek, setting the stage for the team’s first Johnson/Erickson title.

“We’ve been here a few times before, but weren’t able to close the deal,” Marinette manager Brian Lesandrini said. “Escanaba has a nice team. We always like coming to this tournament. Most games were very competitive. These were very evenly matched teams.”

“We didn’t strike out that much, but we were hitting the ball right to people or popping it up,” Esky manager Paul LaChance said. “Overall, we played well. For us this was the first time in 12 years we got to Sunday in this tournament.”

Williams took the win in relief of Jackson Schramm. Adrian Mercier, the third of four Esky pitchers, took the loss.

Mercier uncharacteristically surrendered three runs on three hits in the seventh.

“Adrian has been battling an arm issue, but wanted to do it,” LaChance said. “He has been with us for three years and helped our program a lot.”

In the semifinals, Esky edged Plover, Wis., 1-0 in a pitcher’s duel. Esky’s Cannon Arnt threw a two-hitter, fanned 11 and walked none.

The Cubs committed four errors in Friday’s 6-1 loss to Sheboygan, then defeated Niagara, Wis. 7-0 and De Pere, Wis., 3-1 Saturday.

Cooper Curtis fired a three-hitter, whiffed nine and walked two in Esky’s conquest of Niagara. Mason Richtig absorbed the loss, striking out three, walking one and allowing seven hits.

On Friday, Marinette defeated Kingsford 1-0, despite Kingsford’s Mason Koski carrying a no-hitter into the seventh inning. Also on Friday, Kingsford tied Plover, Wis., 4-4. On Saturday, Kingsford defeated Sault Ste. Marie, Canada, 13-3.

Niagara defeated De Pere 11-9 on Friday but fell to Sheboygan, Wis., 8-1 on Saturday.