By By SCOTT NOVAK / Niles Daily Star
NILES – The Niles Senior League All-Stars are scheduled to face Petoskey at noon today for the state championship in Macomb.
The Niles Junior Baseball All-Stars dropped a pair of games on Monday and were eliminated from the state tournament at South Portage.
Senior League
The All-Stars defeated Gladstone 8-4 in the semifinals to advance to today's championship game.
Petoskey defeated Midland 2-1 to join Niles in the finals.
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.
No further results were available at press time.
Junior Baseball
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.
In the first round of double elimiation play, Niles was edged by undefeated Alpeana, 7-5.
In the consolation semifinals, Niles fell to Tecumseh, 17-1.
No further results from those games were available.
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 its final game of pool play, Niles was defeated by Midland, 12-1.
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.