SUTTONS BAY’S Jake Kiessel reaches to tag out a Kingsley batter on his way to first base Tuesday night. Photo by Jonathan Crocker Suttons Bay will have a chance to climb into first place in the Northwest Conference baseball standings with wins Friday at undefeated Benzie Central.

The Norsemen have been somewhat of a surprise this season, amassing an 8-2 overall record and improving to 3-1 with wins Tuesday over Kingsley. Glen Lake, meanwhile, helped the Norsemen’s cause by handing Buckley its first loss in a split decision Tuesday.

Suttons Bay erupted for five runs in the second inning and four more in the third in a 12-2 decision over Kingsley in its opener. Credit winning pitcher Aaron Orban with helping his cause by swatting two-run singles in both innings. Randy Kelty came in for an inning of relief.

Also for the Norsemen, Jake Kiessel went 2-for-3 and knocked in three runs; Alex Crocker was 2-for-2 with a pair of RBI; and Logan Mikesell provided a two-run single.

“Jake Kiessel pitched a real strong game,” said Suttons Bay coach Doug Periard of the nightcap, a 6-0 decision. Kiessel, who went the distance, allowed three hits, struck out six and yielded a walk.

Crocker “opened up the floodgates,” Periard reported, with basesloaded single as part of a four-run fifth inning. Mikesell went 3-for-3 and scored three runs; Randy and Sam Kelty each singled and scored.

“We played very well last night. We made the plays we’re suppose to make, and rallied together when we needed to,” Periard said.

Glen Lake took advantage of the few opportunities Buckley pitcher Joel Ledford left on the table in a 4-3 win in its opener. Ledford was hurling a perfect game until the fifth inning, when the only single he allowed — a bunt off the bat of Trevor Apsey — combined with three straight hit batsmen, two errors and a walk for all of Glen Lake’s runs. Buckley cut into Glen Lake’s 4-2 lead with a run in the fifth, but was shut down in the Bears’ final at bat.

“I don’t think we beat Ledford as much as Buckley gave one away,” said Laker coach Kris Herman. “But we’ve been on the other end of that. That’s baseball. We scraped for runs anyway we could get them.”

Glen Lake pitcher Thomas Waning also had a strong performance, striking out 12 and yielding just four hits while going the distance.

The Lakers dropped the nightcap, 7-6, after battling back to tie the game with six runs in the fourth inning. Dylan Wendels swatted a two-run double, and singles by Apsey and Curtis Bunek each knocked in two runs. The Lakers used four pitchers.

Glen Lake showed its muscle in 17- 12 and 9-0 wins at Bellaire on Friday. Wendels was the winning pitcher in the first game, going 3 1/3 innings.

“We played the first three innings to a 1-1 tie, and the last three innings took almost two hours,” Herman said.

Geno Peyerk and Apsey each singled and doubled.

Glen Lake’s Logan LaCross collected his first varsity win in the nightcap, allowing 6 hits and striking out 8 over 5 innings. Bunek doubled, tripled and drove in a run; Waning provided 2 singles.

The Lakers, who improved to 10-6 overall and are 2-4 in the Northwest, will travel Friday to Kingsley.