By By SCOTT NOVAK / Niles Daily Star
NILES – The Niles Junior Baseball All-Stars went 2-1 in pool play over the weekend at the state tournament.
Niles finished second in Pool A, losing onto the Midland.
The All-Stars will take on Pool B champion Alpena in the first game of single elimination play today at 3 p.m.
The winner advances to the state semifinals.
Niles opened up tournament play on Saturday with a 15-7 victory over Gladstone. The All-Stars then defeated South Portage 5-4 on Sunday to lock up a spot in the single elimination portion of the tournament.
In it's final game of pool play, Niles was defeated by Midland, 12-1.
Midland advanced to the next round with a 10-0 win over South Portage and a 14-0 victory over Gladstone.
Midland will face the runner-up from Pool B, also scheduled for 3 p.m.
The winner moves on to play at 3 p.m. on Tuesday. The championship game is slated for Wednesday at 3 p.m. If a second title game is needed, it will be played at 6 p.m.
Alpena is also undefeated in the tournament, having defeated Tecumseh 20-3 in its first game and then topping St. Clair, 12-6.
Alpena wrapped up pool play with a 13-0 win over North Saginaw Township.
Gladstone…7
Niles…15
Dustin Bell picked up the victory for Niles with relief help from David Sokowlowski, Kelvin Tweedy and Brian Evans.
Jeremy Zimmerman and Rashad Harris both doubled for the All-Stars.
Niles…5
South Portage…4
Niles scored three runs in the seventh to pull out the victory.
Sokolowski earned the victory.
Nathan Oats, Bell and Tweedy all singled and doubled for the All-Stars.
Midland…12
Niles…1
Niles was limited to just five hits by Midland's Alex Rapanos.
Zimmerman took the loss.
Senior League
The Niles All-Stars are also headed into single elimination play at the Senior League State Tournament being held at Macomb.
The All-Stars were 3-0 in Pool A.
Niles defeated Emmet 10-6 in its first game on Friday.
The All-Stars then defeated Petoskey, 7-5 to lock up a spot in the single elimination portion of the tournament, which began this morning at 9:30 a.m.
On Sunday morning, Niles blanked Harper Woods, 13-0.
Niles took on the runner-up in Pool B, Pinary Park this morning, while Midland (3-0) was scheduled to face Petoskey, the runner-up in Pool A.
No further results were available at press time.