The Marlins won all three of their games at the Louise baseball tournament March 11-12 and brought home the first-place trophy. Besides that, Andrew Groseclose and Mac Owens were named to the all-tournament team.

The team started by facing Tidehaven, widely rumored before the tourney to be the toughest team there.

The Tigers started by scoring three runs in the first inning, but the Marlins held them scoreless for the remainder of the game, racking up a 9-3 win despite two errors.

Fletcher Ray jump-started the offense in inning four, hitting a double with two out and two on base and accounting for the Marlins’ first two RBIs.

Groseclose went three for four with three runs batted in. Dillon Martin batted in two and was two for three. Tyler Pate and Ray both got two hits in four trips to the plate, Owens was one for three and Alex Groseclose was one for four. Coltan Marcantel made his one hit count, batting in one run in five at-bats.

Pate took the mound all seven innings for the Marlins, allowing three runs and striking out eight. He walked three batters and allowed four hits; he is now 2-0 on the mound.

Ganado, formerly a 2A team but this year 1A, faced the Marlins next, again taking the lead with two runs during the first inning.

The Marlins scored in the second and fourth, and racked up five runs in the fifth frame to take a lead Ganado couldn’t overcome, despite scoring three in the final inning.

Andrew Groseclose got hits all three times at bat. Owens, Martin and Thomas Winton all went one for three, and Connor Ulch was one for four, but batted in two runs with his hit.

Andrew Groseclose allowed four hits and walked three, but struck out 15 from the mound; he allowed no earned runs, and is now 2-0 pitching.

That left the Marlins to face longtime district foe Woodsboro far from home for the tournament championship on Saturday, March 12.

The Marlins handled that assignment, although it was a close 2-1 call.

Alex Groseclose went three for three, including a double. Tanner Merrill was one for three, and Mac Owens hit once in three trips to the plate, but that one hit was a tworun homer. He followed Alex Groseclose across the plate.

Thomas Winton handled the duties from the mound, allowing four hits, walking one and striking out 11. He allowed no earned runs.

Coach Brian Flack credited great pitching and timely hitting with bringing the Marlins to the top of the tournament.

“Everyone on the team contributed to the championship,” he said.

Questions? Comments? Contact Phil Reynolds at phil@portasouthjetty.com or (361) 749-5131.