WINNING BIG: Eskymos Beat #1 Livonia Ladywood

GRAND BLANC, Mich.---The Escanaba High School softball team won three games at the Michigan Stars Tournament in downstate Grand Blanc on Saturday. And the biggest win came against the state's top-ranked Division Two team: Livonia Ladywood.

Escanaba Manager Jamie Segorski had been looking forward to the matchup with Ladywood ever since the brackets for this 48-team tournament in suburban Flint were released. And it almost didn't happen, as Utica took the state's top-ranked team to extra innings. But when Ladywood pulled that game out, Segorski got his match-up.

"We came all the way down to Grand Blanc to seek out the best competition," Segorski said. "We've done that, and we've fared well so far."

Indeed they have.

In the game against Ladywood, the Eskymos (ranked #5 in Division Two) opened the scoring with three quick runs in the first inning. Callie Heller drew a walk after a lengthy at-bat, and then Emily Bruntgens put down a bunt in front of the plate...then used her speed for a base hit.

That brought up "the new girl": Taylor Rathe, a transfer student from Illinois. She slugged a three-run homer to put the Eskymos up, 3-0, and Escanaba went on to win, 4-3.

"I just kind of saw a high pitch," Rathe said. "I think it was a 'rise ball', too. And I made contact with it. It took me a while to realize, actutally, that it was over the fence. Knowing what was at stake in this game, it felt great to get on top in the first inning."

Rathe ended up using her left arm to secure the win as she relieved Katie Ross in the pitcher's circle. Ross threw the first three innings, allowing two runs.

Then Rathe tossed the final innings, allowing just one run.

"They're a very good team," Rathe said. "We were really excited to play them. Beating them shows that all the hard work in practice has paid off and it feels awesome right now."

"The speed of the game is everything," Segorski said. "When you can settle in, and play a team like Ladywood and the game slows down for you, it says that you're in a great spot as a program, as a team, and as individuals."

Earlier on Saturday, the Eskymos blasted Birmingham Seaholm as Ross threw the shutout in the circle. And then Escanaba had a war with L'Anse Creuse before pulling out a 1-0 win.

One other Upper Peninsula team is playing in this tournament: the Marquette Redettes, and the Redettes won two of their three games. Marquette lost its opener to Anchor Bay, 9-5, but rebounded to beat Holly, 12-2, and L'Anse Creuse North, 4-2.

Escanaba faces Alpena in the championship bracket Sunday at 11:30 a.m.

Click the thumbnails in the ARTICLE HIGHLIGHTS above to see photos taken by Deb Leisner, hear interviews, and see video of Rathe's home run.

Date	Time	Opponent	Score	Record

3/25	4:00 PM	Gladstone Braves	5 - 2 (W)	1-0

3/25	7:00 PM	Negaunee Miners	15 - 0 (W)	2-0

3/26	12:00 PM	at Marquette Redmen	2 - 2 (T)	2-0-1

3/26	12:00 PM	at Marquette Redmen	2 - 2 (T)	2-0-1

4/15	5:00 PM	at GTE, Wis.	14 - 6 (W)	3-0-1

4/16	1:00 PM	LaCrosse Logan, Wis.	7 - 2 (W)	4-0-1

4/16	4:00 PM	Merill, Wis.	7 - 6 (W)	5-0-1

4/21	4:00 PM	Manistique Emeralds	10 - 1 (W)	6-0-1

4/21	6:00 PM	Manistique Emeralds	11 - 0 (W)	7-0-1

4/23	9:00 AM	Marquette Redmen	3 - 5 (L)	7-1-1

4/23	11:00 AM	Kingsford Flivvers	15 - 1 (W)	8-1-1

4/23	1:00 PM	Norway Knights	6 - 0 (W)	9-1-1

4/27	4:00 PM	at Rapid River Rockets	4 - 0 (W)	10-1-1

4/27	6:00 PM	at Rapid River Rockets	10 - 0 (W)	11-1-1

4/30	9:30 AM	at Birmingham Seaholm	10 - 0 (W)	12-1-1

4/30	12:30 PM	at L'Anse Creuse HS	1 - 0 (W)	13-1-1

4/30	4:00 PM	at Livonia Ladywood HS	4 - 3 (W)	14-1-1

5/1	11:30 AM	Alpena Wildcats	- (T)	RAIN

5/3	4:00 PM	Kingsford Flivvers	9 - 4 (W)	15-1-1

5/3	6:00 PM	Kingsford Flivvers	- (T)	RAIN

5/6	4:00 PM	at Alpena Wildcats	10 - 2 (W)	16-1-1

5/7	10:00 AM	at Grayling Vikings	4 - 0 (W)	17-1-1

5/7	1:00 PM	Garden City High School	12 - 2 (W)	18-1-1

5/7	3:00 PM	at Alpena Wildcats	1 - 0 (W)	19-1-1

5/10	4:00 PM	at Kingsford Flivvers	15 - 1 (W)	20-1-1

5/10	6:00 PM	at Kingsford Flivvers	12 - 0 (W)	21-1-1

5/13	6:00 PM	Marshfield High School	9 - 1 (W)	22-1-1

5/14	9:30 AM	Rapid River Rockets	1 - 6 (L)	22-2-1

5/14	1:30 PM	Neenah, Wis.	13 - 4 (W)	23-2-1

5/14	3:30 PM	Gladstone Braves	10 - 0 (W)	24-2-1

5/16	4:00 PM	Marquette Redmen	6 - 2 (W)	25-2-1

5/16	6:00 PM	Marquette Redmen	3 - 2 (W)	26-2-1

5/17	4:00 PM	Gladstone Braves	10 - 0 (W)	27-2-1

5/17	6:00 PM	Gladstone Braves	6 - 0 (W)	28-2-1

5/19	4:00 PM	at Negaunee Miners	4 - 0 (W)	29-2-1

5/19	6:00 PM	at Negaunee Miners	7 - 0 (W)	30-2-1

5/24	4:00 PM	at Gladstone Braves	- (T)	RAIN

5/24	6:00 PM	at Gladstone Braves	- (T)	RAIN

5/26	4:00 PM	at Marquette Redmen	- (T)	RAIN

5/26	6:00 PM	at Marquette Redmen	- (T)	RAIN

5/31	5:00 PM	Kingsford Flivvers	10 - 0 (W)	31-2-1

6/3	2:00 PM	Cheboygan Chiefs	9 - 1 (W)	32-2-1

6/3	4:00 PM	Petoskey Northmen	3 - 0 (W)	33-2-1

6/11	10:00 AM	Whitehall Vikings	13 - 3 (W)	34-2-1

6/11	2:00 PM	Muskegon Oakridge	10 - 6 (W)	35-2-1

6/14	2:00 PM	Saginaw Swan Valley	- (T)