ESCANABA — Five consecutive singles set the early tone for Sheboygan, Wis. in an 11-5 American Legion baseball triumph over Marinette here Sunday.

The victory enabled the A’s to improve to 7-2 and secure their first title in three years in the Gregg Johnson/Al Erickson Memorial tournament on this sunny and seasonably-cool afternoon at Al Ness Field.

Levi Mills and Ryan Stephen each ripped a two-run single to leftfield for Sheboygan, which scored seven times in the opening frame.

“That’s huge,” Sheboygan manager Weston Jurk said. “That gave our pitcher a chance to relax. We played some good ball this weekend and getting playing time for all 16 of our players helped.”

Centerfielder Mark Williams scored Sheboygan’s sixth run on a fielder’s choice and rightfielder Aiden Schmahl made it 7-0 on a wild pitch for the A’s who sent 11 hitters to the plate in the first.

The Marines responded with a trio of runs in the second.

Maverick Williamson scored Marinette’s first run on a sacrifice fly to centerfield and Teagan Anderson’s two-run double to center got the Marines within 7-3.

Sheboygan answered its half of the inning, gaining a 9-3 cushion on a two-run homer to center by left fielder Levi Mills.

“That was a momentum shift for sure,” Jurk said. “It was a good game. Marinette has a good team. We still have to face them three more times this season and need to keep a level head when we play them.”

Sheboygan extended its advantage to 11-3 on a two-run shot to right-center by Collin Thorne in the fifth.

The Marines, taking advantage of a walk and an error, concluded the scoring in the sixth.

“Our kids have a lot of fight,” Marinette manager Brian Lesandrini said. “They didn’t give up. They (Sheboygan) came out swinging and once we settled in, we sort of chipped away. They’re definitely a good group that can swing the bat.”

Sheboygan finished with 11 hits including six off starter Culton Arpke, who walked one and hit two batters and gave up seven runs on eight hits.

“I thought he threw well, but they were swinging the bat real well,” Lesandrini said. “We have a good team. We just came up short today.”

Marinette reliever Levi Hanson struck out three, walked none and allowed four runs on five hits through 5â…” innings.

Logan Michaels and Mills led the A’s with two hits apiece. McGregor, Anderson and third-baseman Elthan Douber had three each for the Marines, who visit Bay Port for a twinbill Tuesday and host Escanaba in the opening round of their Firecracker tournament Friday.

Sheboygan’s Brett Rybasczyk, who threw 5â…” innings, took the win. He fanned seven, walked four and gave up five runs on seven hits.

Kayden Harringon whiffed three, walked one and allowed a hit in relief for the A’s, who visit Fond du Lac, Wis. Wednesday.

In Sunday’s semifinal games, Sheboygan defeated Kingsford 5-3 and Marinette beat Kewaunee County 12-2.

In pool play action Marinette pitcher Cooper Smith threw a no-hitter in a 0-0 tie against Kingsford’s Mason Koski the two pitchers combined for 19 strikeouts in the contest.

Escanaba had a tough weekend as they were handed a pair of mercy rule defeats on Friday night but rebounded with a pair of mercy rule victories on Saturday but fell short of making it to bracket play on Sunday.