KINGSFORD - Kingsford Blues survived a pair of late threats and edged the Iron Mountain Golds 8-7 in American Legion baseball Wednesday at Lodal Park's Gary Spigarelli Memorial Field.
The Blues and lefty pitcher Nick Sweig built a 5-1 lead after five innings. But the Golds responded with four runs in the top of the sixth inning.
Kingsford snapped the deadlock in the bottom half with three runs. Austin Murdock singled home one run, an error provided another and Ian Wienke knocked in more for an 8-5 spread.
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Burt Angeli/The Daily News Photo
Iron Mountain Golds executed the “suicide squeeze” in Wednesday’s American Legion baseball game with the Kingsford Blues at Lodal Park’s Gary Spigarelli Field. Golds’ Casey Buckner heads for the plate while Alex Herman (4) takes a full cut and Blues catcher Austin Murdock waits for the pitch. Golds manager Jeff Buckner watches the play.
In the Golds' final chance, two runs crossed the plate and the tying one was left on third base.
The Golds, with Casey Buckner on third base, tried some suicide squeeze plays in the final innings. The first was successful in the sixth when Alex Herman grounded to short and Buckner scored.
In the seventh, Buckner raced for the plate but Riley Johnson was hit by a pitch to negate that attempt. Murdock, third pitcher for the Blues, recorded a strikeout to end the Golds' seventh-inning challenge.
Sweig, Kyle Sexton and Murdock yielded 10 Golds hits - two singles each from Paul Kuoppala, Cole Grenier, Buckner and Gabe Swanson. Brad Blomquist and Logan Nord had the other hits.
Murdock doubled and singled twice for three of the Blues' seven hits. Ian Wienke added a double; Paul Deyaert, two singles, and Sweig, single.
Grenier and Blomquist pitched for the Golds.
Blues (13-11) head to Escanaba on Friday for the Gregg Johnson Memorial Tournament. Kingsford faces state power Midland and the host Cubs on Friday and plays two more Saturday against Ashport, a combination of Ashwaubenon and Bayport high school players, and DePere.
Golds travel to Hancock on Saturday for a doubleheader beginning at 11 a.m. (Central time).
The Blues and Golds will stage a rematch at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday at Ranger Field. American Legion baseball's Jordan Groeneveld Scholarship will be presented before the first pitch.