The Marquette Old Timers softball team defeated Negaunee 10-3 on Friday night at Hurley Field in Marquette to win the season series against their neighbors “on the hill.” The current and former Marquette Old Timers teams include four men who have been inducted into the USA Softball of Michigan Hall of Fame as inductees over the past two decades. From left: Fran “Pudge” L’Huillier, Rick Schwemin, Ed Bernard and Pedro Flynn. (Photo courtesy of Rick Schwemin)

MARQUETTE — Marquette completed a season-long sweep of Negaunee in Old Timers softball on Friday, defeating its neighbors “up the hill” 10-3 at Hurley Field in Marquette.

It seemed a fitting result after long-time Marquette Old Timer Fran “Pudge” – chubby L’Huillier threw the first pitch before the game began. He was considered the best player in the Upper Peninsula during his playing days and some of his statistics, including more than 800 home runs, were announced to teams and spectators.

All four Marquette players inducted into the USA Softball of Michigan Hall of Fame were in attendance. L’Huillier was the first of the quartet to be inducted in 2004, while Rick Schwemin was inducted in 2014, Pedro Flynn in 2022 and Ed Bernard will be inducted on Oct. 5.

In the 20th century, two players from the Ishpeming area were inducted – Werner Maki in 1989 and Gardner “Insect” Bess in 1995, making a total of six people from Marquette County who have been inducted into this Midlands-based hall.

With Marquette’s win on Friday, the Red-Whites are now only one win (28-27) behind the Blue-Goldens in their overall series standings.

Despite the loss, Negaunee scored the first three runs of the game, all in the first inning and all unearned. Terry Hill singled and scored after Jim Lahtinen Jr.’s fly ball was dropped to right field and rolled to the fence. Dan Niemi later singled and scored a run.

Marquette tied the game in the second inning when John Reetz and Jim Constantine each scored a run and Greg Sutherland hit a sacrifice fly to center field.

Then Hall of Famer Rick Schwemin managed a base-loaded walk in the fourth inning, giving Marquette a 4-3 lead.

Negaunee really stumbled in the fifth inning when Marquette, aided by an uncharacteristic half-dozen errors, scored six runs to make the final score 10-3 in a game that lasted seven innings.

Bob Rabitaille earned the pitching win for Marquette, allowing five hits and just four baserunners over the final six innings. He struck out 11 players, including five in a row, without allowing a walk.

Niemi started for Negaunee and pitched the first four innings, but then lost. Casey Smith pitched the final two innings.

Winners Steve Holman and Jay Kilmer each had two hits, while Rabitalle and Kilmer each scored twice to lead the eight players who scored runs.

In a game the week before, Negaunee defeated Gwinn 12-10 in the opening game of their series against each other this summer. Further details were not available.

Information compiled by Journal Sports Editor Steve Brownlee from a report by former Old Timers player and current referee Roland “Foo” (Foo = yuck) Koski. Brownlee’s email address is [email protected].