It’s been a bit of a banner year for sports in the Upper Peninsula. In the fall we saw North Central crowned as 8-Player Division 2 MHSAA Football Champions. Then in the winter we witnessed Munising take home the Division 4 State Championship in boys basketball.
Then Tuesday, another team decided to join the party. This time it was the Negaunee Miners 14U Junior Little League Baseball team being crowned as state champions at the Junior Little League Michigan State tournament in Jenison.
The Miners had to win two games Tuesday to be awarded the hardware. First getting revenge on a Birmingham team that knocked them out a year ago, then dominating Muskegon Roosevelt Park 8-4 in the championship game. The boys were welcomed back home Wednesday with a hero’s welcome.
The state championship is not the end of the road for the Miners. They get to get right back on the road next week and once again cross the Mackinaw Bride to Midland for the Junior Little League Regional Tournament as one of 9 teams competing. The Miners will begin their quest to the Junior Little League World Series on Wednesday, August 2 where they will take on the Kentucky state champions at 2 p.m.
Watch the video above to hear from team manager Terry Tincknell.
For more local sports coverage tune into the Sports Drive weekdays from 3 – 4 p.m. on Fox Sports Marquette 105.1 – 99.9.
