Negaunee’s Ben Paananen watches the play with his sunglasses on during a Little League baseball Major Division state tournament semifinal game played against Grand Rapids Southern on July 22 in Saginaw. (Photo courtesy BaseballMichigan.com)

NEGAUNEE — It’s always seemed quite rare for Upper Peninsula baseball to be in the national limelight.

One of the most famous ties in the lifetimes of most of us might be Escanaba native Kevin Tapani playing for 13 years in Major League Baseball, mostly in the 1990s.

Now, though, a team from Negaunee is getting on a Midwest stage, which might become the entire country’s stage in a few days.

The Major Division All-Star team from that western Marquette County community won its state Little League tournament just over a week ago and is headed to play i

See Full Page