Over the June 19th and 20th weekend, the 18U Black Sox crossed the St. Marys River and travelled to Escanaba, Michigan to compete in the 2026 Gregg Johnson Memorial Tournament. The event brought together talented teams from across the region, providing the Black Sox with an opportunity to test themselves against strong competition while continuing to build momentum during the summer baseball season. Throughout the weekend, the squad showcased its talent, determination, and teamwork as they represented Sault Ste. Marie on the diamond in one of the Upper Peninsula’s premier youth baseball tournaments.

The Black Sox were the first to get on the board in the second when Richard Cond singled, scoring one run.
Plover took the lead in the top of the third. Roth doubled, scoring two runs, to give Plover the lead, 2-1.

In the bottom of the third inning, the Soo went back into the lead after Plover committed an error, Ryan Oliver grounded into a fielder’s choice, Lucas DiBerardino grounded out, and J.A Giallonardo singled to center field, each scoring one run.

Jacob Scornaiencki earned the win for the Black Sox. The starting pitcher allowed six hits and four runs (two earned) over six innings, striking out two and walking one. Simonson took the loss for Plover. The pitcher went four innings, allowing six runs (three earned) on 10 hits, striking out one and walking two. Kolton Tremblay collected the save.

The Black Sox piled up 11 hits in the game. Oliver drove the middle of the lineup, leading the Black Sox with two runs batted in. The infielder went 1-for-4 on the day. Bryson Palahnuk led the Soo with three hits in three at bats. Tye Turco and Cond each collected multiple hits for the Soo. Turco stole two bases.

Roth drove the middle of the lineup, leading Plover with two runs batted in. The number three hitter went 3-for-4 on the day. Plover turned one double play in the game.

Game two, the Black Sox lost to Negaunee Seniors Legion 7-4 on Friday at Escanaba even though they once led by four runs.

The Soo lost despite out-hitting the Legion five to four. Kolton Tremblay and Tye Turco each collected two hits for the Black Sox.

A fielder’s choice by Tremblay put Soo the board in the bottom of the first.

The Black Sox added to their early lead in the bottom of the third inning after Bryson Palahnuk grounded out, and Thomas Keough lined out, each scoring one run.

Negaunee flipped the game on its head in the top of the seventh, scoring six runs on two hits to take the lead, 7-4.

The biggest blow in the inning was a double by Brayden Gleason that drove in one.

Morgan Robar earned the win for the Legion. The pitcher allowed zero hits and zero runs over one inning, striking out one and walking none. Turco started on the hill for the Black Sox. The starter allowed two hits and three runs (one earned) over six innings, striking out eight and walking two. Killean Ryan opened the game for Negaunee. The hurler gave up five hits and four runs (three earned) over six innings, striking out seven and walking three.
Tremblay and Palahnuk were a one-two punch in the lineup, as each drove in one run for the Black Sox.

Tristan Slater, Ryan, Logan LaJoie, and Gleason each collected one hit for the Legion. Jack Siik, LaJoie, and Gleason each drove in one run for Negaunee. Robar stole two bases. The Legion turned one double play in the game.
With a 1 – 1 record, the Black Sox stayed in it until the end, but Kingsford Senior Greens pulled away late in a 9-7 victory on Saturday. The game was tied at seven in the top of the sixth when Trent McLain doubled, scoring two runs.

The Greens opened the scoring in the first after Andres Finley singled, scoring one run.

In the bottom of the first inning, the Soo went back into the lead after Lucas Carriere lined out, and Ryan Oliver walked, each scoring one run.

Bradlee Bottesi flew into a double play, which helped Kingsford tie the game at two in the top of the second.

A ground out by Finley gave the Greens the lead, 3-2, in the top of the third.

The Black Sox flipped the game on its head in the bottom of the fifth, scoring five runs on five hits to take the lead, 7-5. The biggest blow in the inning was a double by Kolton Tremblay that drove in two.

In the top of the sixth inning, Kingsford went back into the lead after Finley singled to center field, and McLain doubled to center field, each scoring two runs.

Geno Santoni earned the win for the Greens. The reliever gave up one hit and zero runs over one and two-thirds innings, striking out one and walking none. Jakson Carroll took the loss for the BlackSox. The hurler went six innings, allowing nine runs on nine hits, striking out two and walking five. Jack Kriegl began the game for Kingsford. The starting pitcher surrendered eight hits and seven runs over four and two-thirds innings, striking out six and walking four.

Tremblay drove the middle of the lineup, leading the Soo with two runs batted in. The 3-hole hitter went 2-for-4 on the day. Tremblay, Carriere, and Bryson Palahnuk each collected two hits for the Black Sox. The Soo turned one double play in the game.

Finley and McLain were a force together in the lineup, as they each collected two hits for Kingsford.

Finley and McLain were tough to handle back-to-back in the lineup, as each drove in four runs for the Greens.

Kingsford turned one double play in the game.

In their final game and heading into their fourth game of the tournament in Escanaba, the Marinette Marines scored seven runs in the second inning, which helped them defeat the Black Sox 10-0 on Saturday.

Marinette got on the board in the bottom of the first inning after Macgregor homered to left field, and Waters grounded into a fielder’s choice, each scoring one run.

The Marines scored seven runs on four hits in the bottom of the second inning. An error scored one run, Caleb Kumek singled, scoring two runs, Waters drew a walk, scoring one run, Williamson singled, scoring one run, Colten Arpke was struck by a pitch, driving in a run, and a passed ball scored one run.
Jake Farley earned the win for Marinette. The pitcher allowed two hits and zero runs over five innings, striking out eight and walking five. Ty Cond took the loss for the Black Sox. The starting pitcher went two innings, giving up nine runs (six earned) on six hits, striking out one and walking four.

Jacob Scornaiencki and Bryson Palahnuk each collected one hit for the Soo. The Black Sox turned one double play in the game.

Macgregor and Levi Hanson were a force together in the lineup, as they each collected two hits for the Marines while hitting back-to-back. Kumek drove the middle of the lineup, leading Marinette with three runs batted in. The cleanup hitter went 1-for-2 on the day.

The Black Sox will now return home to host the Northern Michigan Patriots on Wednesday, June 25th in a doubleheader with 4:00 p.m and 6:00 p.m starts at Sinclair Yards.