IRON MOUNTAIN — The Bark River Bucs and Iron Mountain Golds returned to the diamond Wednesday night, playing the first baseball game in the U.P. this season in their newly formed Under-19 Baseball League. It was also the first local athletic event since COVID-19 started canceling everything in mid-March.

The U-19 League was put in place after American Legion Baseball canceled its season in early April.

The Bucs led 4-2 entering the bottom of the fourth inning before the Golds scored 10 runs to take home a 12-4 decision.

The game was called in the fifth inning because of rain.

The Bucs jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the top of the first before the Golds answered with two runs in the bottom half.

Bark River then went up 4-2 with three runs in the third. After Wyatt Riley walked, Zach Englund and Johnnie Robinette hit back-to-back singles to set the stage for Travis Mack’s double that gave the Bucs a 4-2 cushion.

The Golds, however, took advantage of poor pitching conditions in the fourth, which led to five walks in their 10-run inning.

Bark River hosts Niagra, Wis. in its home opener Tuesday at 6.