Over the June 26th to June 28th weekend, the Soo 18U Black Sox travelled to Marinette, Wisconsin to compete in the 2026 Firecracker Tournament. The team took on strong competition while representing the Soo with a weekend full of baseball, teamwork, and tournament action.

In game one of the weekend on Friday, June 26th, the Black Sox fell to Manitowac Ships 5-3 in Marinette.

The Soo got on the board in the bottom of the second inning after Jacob Scornaiencki grounded into a fielder’s choice, Henry Currie singled to left field, and Tye Turco singled down the left field line, each scoring one run.

Manitowac took the lead, 5-3, in the top of the sixth thanks to doubles by Aaron Stephany, and Benson Deckel.
Bennett Johnson earned the win for the Ships. The starting pitcher gave up three hits and three runs over seven innings, striking out four and walking two. Logan Rohe took the loss for the Soo. The hurler went two innings, giving up three runs (two earned) on three hits, striking out two and walking none. Ryan Oliver started the game for the Black Sox. The starting pitcher gave up seven hits and two runs (one earned) over five innings, striking out one and walking two.

Currie, Turco, and J.A Giallonardo each collected one hit for the Soo. Currie, Scornaiencki, and Turco each drove in one run for the Black Sox.

Manitowac amassed 10 hits in the game. Stephany went 3-for-4 at the plate and led the team with two runs batted in. Caden Bauohuin collected two hits for the Ships in three at bats. Manitowac were sure-handed in the field and didn’t commit a single error. Jake Hillman had the most chances in the field with nine.

In game three of the weekend and to open up Saturday’s action in Marinette, the Black Sox could not keep pace with Kimberly 19U Legion 6-2.

Kimberly opened the scoring in the first after Drew Furman doubled, scoring two runs.

Ty Cond doubled down the left field line, which helped the Black Sox tie the game at two in the bottom of the third.

The Legion jumped back into the lead in the top of the sixth inning after Jack DeLeeuw homered to center field, O Grady singled down the left field line, Gavin Dissen singled down the right field line, and Brady Merzlicker hit a sacrifice fly, each scoring one run.

Harper West earned the win for Kimberly. The righty surrendered three hits and two runs over five innings, striking out one and walking five. Tye Turco took the loss for the Soo. The pitcher went six innings, giving up six runs (five earned) on seven hits, striking out five and walking one.

Cond and Ryan Oliver were tough to handle back-to-back in the lineup, as each drove in one run for the Black Sox.

Cond, Turco, J.A Giallonardo, and Oliver each collected one hit for the Soo. Oliver paced the Black Sox with two walks. Overall, the team had patience at the plate, accumulating seven walks for the game. Giallonardo stole two bases. The Soo turned one double play in the game.

Furman drove the middle of the lineup, leading Kimberly with two runs batted in. The shortstop went 1-for-2 on the day. Dissen, Lucas Wong, Merzlicker, Shaefer Peterson, DeLeeuw, Furman, West, and Grady each collected one hit for the Legion.

In game four of the weekend and closing out Saturday’s action in Marinette, the Black Sox couldn’t keep up with Green Bay 19U Southwest Legion and fell 16-4.

Green Bay opened the scoring in the first after Kyan Redling singled, scoring one run.

The Legion scored eight runs on four hits in the top of the second inning. An error scored one run, Daniel Leo doubled, scoring one run, Landon Halbach singled, scoring one run, Redling doubled, scoring two runs, and Jack Herman doubled, scoring three runs.

Green Bay scored seven runs on five hits in the top of the sixth inning. Herman doubled, scoring two runs, Leo doubled, scoring two runs, Jackson Bouthilet singled, scoring one run, and Trevor Kuklinski singled, scoring two runs.

Cash La Combe earned the win for the Legion. The hurler gave up four hits and one run over three innings, striking out six and walking three. Lucas Carriere pitched three and two-thirds innings in relief for the Black Sox. The pitcher gave up eight hits and seven runs (four earned) while striking out eight and walking three. Jakson Carroll took the loss for the Soo. The starting pitcher went one and one-third innings, giving up nine runs (four earned) on four hits, striking out none and walking four.

Henry Currie led the Black Sox with two runs batted in. The pitcher went 1-for-1 on the day. Aaron Keough led the Soo with two hits in three at bats.

Green Bay tallied 13 hits in the game. Herman led the Legion with five runs batted in from the number eight spot in the lineup. The right-handed hitter went 2-for-4 on the day. Redling, Herman, Bouthilet, Leo, and Halbach each collected two hits for Green Bay. Kuklinski paced the Legion with two walks. Overall, the team had patience at the plate, tallying seven walks for the game. La Combe and Halbach each stole multiple bases for Green Bay. The Legion stole eight bases in the game.

On Sunday morning in Marinette in their fifth game in three days in Marinette, the Black Sox met the Escanaba 18U Cubs.

Both teams were strong on the hill on Sunday, but the Black Sox defeated Escanaba Cubs. Jacob Scornaiencki started the game for the Soo and recorded 21 outs.

The Black Sox opened the scoring in the first after Ty Cond singled, scoring one run.

Ashton Rymkos singled to center field, which helped the Cubs tie the game at one in the top of the third.
A sacrifice fly by Cond gave the Black Sox the lead, 2-1, in the bottom of the third.

Scornaiencki earned the win for the Soo. The hurler allowed seven hits and one run over seven innings, striking out two and walking one. Rymkos took the loss for Escanaba. The starter went six innings, surrendering three runs (two earned) on six hits, striking out five and walking four.
Cond provided pop in the middle of the lineup, and led the Soo with two runs batted in. The infielder went 1-for-2 on the day. Number seven hitter, Ryan Oliver, showed the depth of the Black Sox lineup, by leading them with two hits in three at bats. Tye Turco stole two bases. SooBlackSox 18U turned two double plays in the game.

The Soo were sure-handed and didn’t commit a single error. Oliver made the most plays with nine.

Joey Garcia and Brian Boutilier were a force together in the lineup, as they each collected two hits for Escanaba.

Rymkos led the Cubs with one run batted in. The number three hitter went 1-for-3 on the day. Escanaba were sure-handed in the field and didn’t commit a single error. Graham Johnson had the most chances in the field with six.

The Black Sox will now host the Gaylord Baseball Club for a Canada Day doubleheader on July 1st in Sault Ste Marie with opening pitches of 4:00 p.m and 6:00 p.m.