Marquette, MI – June 17th, 2026 – The second annual Cold Weather Baseball Coaches Alliance UP High School All-Star game took place this past weekend at Al Ness Field in Escanaba, giving many of the U.P.’s top graduating seniors one final opportunity to take the diamond together. Prior to the game, players were selected through a draft and split into two teams: Team Superior and Team Michigan. The event brings together many of the region’s best seniors for one last showcase before their high school careers officially come to an end.
Team Superior was coached by Cody Kurta of Ironwood, Jason Siik of Negaunee, Billy Mitchell of Rudyard, and Leo Ribich of Gogebic. The roster featured Cannon Arnt, Owen Fields, and Ashton Rymkos of Escanaba; Daryk McWilliams and C-Jay Wainio of Gogebic; Chad Isaacson of Hancock; Mack Pugh of Manistique; Alex Brennan of Marquette; Owen Cardinal, Devin Jurmu, and Morgan Robar of Negaunee; Cameron Varda of Norway; Chase Monette of Stephenson; Trent Baker of Rudyard; and Isaac Ruspakka and Roman Yuhas of Westwood.
Team Michigan was led by Escanaba coaches Scott Hanson, Phil Arnt, Jared Hanson, Randy Kleiman, Lucas LaCosse, and Bailey Lamb. Their squad included Brian Boutilier and Graham Johnston of Escanaba; Trevor Thorbahn of Gladstone; Ethan Gallo and Brendan McCullough of Ironwood; Max White of Iron Mountain; Caleb Isaacson and Brogan Turner of Jeffers; Britt Fain of Manistique; Desmond Gleason of Marquette; Tristan Slater and Aiden Steel of Negaunee; Owen Baij of Norway; Dyceson Drew of Ontonagon; and Jaxson Clark and Dalton Savoie of Rudyard.
While the game remained close throughout, the action began to intensify in the fifth inning with Team Superior holding a narrow 3-2 lead. Westwood’s Isaac Ruspakka delivered one of the biggest hits of the afternoon, crushing an RBI triple to left field. Ruspakka later came around to score on an errant throw, extending Team Superior’s advantage to 5-2.
Team Michigan quickly answered in the bottom half of the inning. Manistique’s Britt Fain led off with a single to center field and promptly stole second base. A few batters later, Norway’s Owen Baij lined a two-run single, bringing home a pair of runs and knotting the score at 5-5. Neither team could break the deadlock over the remaining innings, sending the game into extra innings under the International Tiebreaker Rule, which places a runner on second base to begin each half inning.
Team Superior took advantage of the opportunity in the top of the extra frame. Capitalizing on two Team Michigan errors and a deep double to center field, Team Superior pushed across two runs to reclaim the lead at 7-5. The drama only increased in the bottom half of the inning. Marquette’s Desmond Gleason led off by ripping a double into the left-field corner, scoring the ghost runner and cutting the deficit to 7-6. Moments later, Gladstone’s Trevor Thorbahn lined a ball into center field, and Gleason rounded third base with the tying run.
What followed proved to be the defining play of the game. Escanaba’s Cannon Arnt, who rarely patrols center field, charged the ball, scooped it cleanly, and unleashed a perfect throw to the plate. Norway catcher Cameron Varda applied the tag just in time to retire Gleason and preserve Team Superior’s lead. Still needing one final out, Team Superior turned to Hancock’s Chad Isaacson, who slammed the door with a strikeout to secure the 7-6 victory.
Cannon Arnt was named Team Superior’s Most Valuable Player after collecting an RBI single, tossing a scoreless inning on the mound, and making the game-saving defensive play in what was his final high school game on his home field.
Team Michigan’s MVP honors went to Owen Baij, whose clutch two-run single erased a three-run deficit in the fifth inning. Baij also contributed a scoreless inning on the mound.
The annual all-star event will continue its tour around the Upper Peninsula, with Gladstone set to host the game in 2027 before Rudyard takes over hosting duties in 2028.
