Kyle Gingerich avoids getting hit by an inside pitch at the Oscoda Invitational on Saturday.
Brent Baker
AGS coach Mike Whyte congratulates pitcher Isaiah Kauffman after the Wolverines defeated Hillman 7-5 in the second game of their three-game tournament run on Saturday.

OSCODA - May 5, 2007 - AuGres-Sims thought it might be in trouble after dropping the opening game of the Oscoda Invitational to the host Owls on Saturday. Oscoda was the team the Wolverines figured they would have the best chance of beating, but instead were shut down by Jason Jimenez in an 8-0 loss.

Instead, AGS bounced back to take a 7-5 victory over Hillman and an 8-3 decision over Rogers City to earn the runner-up trophy.

Jimenez blanked the Wolverines on two hits in the first game, walking five and striking out 11 and getting stronger as the game went on. Isaiah Kauffman had the only two hits for the Wolverines, while Jimenez supplied a pair of triples and three RBIs in his own support.

Mike Lamrock added two hits, including another triple, and drove in two runs. Oscoda broke the game open in the sixth inning with four runs.

Clark Larson took the complete-game loss for the Wolverines.

In the second game, Hillman pitcher and the Wolverines' Isaiah Kauffman struggled on the mound in the opening innings. The Wolverines struck for seven runs in the top of the first, but the Tigers came back with two in the first and three in the second.

That turned out to be the final score as neither team could make good on any of a few scoring threats over the next three innings. The game was called after five frames due to the 90-minute tournament time limit.

Art Griffore had a hit and two RBIs, Travis Lee had a run-scoring double and Blake Tuttle had a hit and an RBI to lead the AGS offense. Anthony Edgar had two hits and Chris Richards and Sheldon Kasky had two RBIs apiece for Hillman, which went 0-3 for the day and dropped to 13-4 overall.

The Wolverines finished strong with an 8-3 victory over Rogers City, snapping a 3-3 tie with two runs in the third and three more in the fourth.

Art Griffore was the winner in relief of Shane Lynch. Ray Lake, Travis Lee, Lynch, Kauffman and Griffore each had two hits. Lee, Lynch and Griffore each had two RBIs and Lee scored three runs.

The Wolverines improved to 8-5-1, host Atlanta on Monday then face a more meaningful rematch with Hillman on Thursday, May 10.