Eskymos Can't Solve Grenier; Fall On Senior Night

ESCANABA---The good news is the Escanaba High School baseball team won't have to face a college pitcher when the Eskymos open the district tournament next weekend.

The Eskymos faced Kingsford American Legion pitcher Brock Grenier for the second time in less than a week Thursday night, and the result was exavtly the same as it was when the two teams played last Saturday at Al Ness Field: a 2-1 Blues victory.

The Iron Mountain High School graduate and University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh hurler threw a complete-game three-hitter to lead the Blues past the Eskymos.

Nineteen year-old college freshmen are allowed to play on American Legion teams. Kingsford does not have a Flivvers high school baseball program.

Grenier was not overpowering, as he struck out just four batters. But he issued only one walk, and he pitched over four defensive errors.

Escanaba pitcher Justin Popelka also threw a strong game, striking out nine batters in a six innings. Johnny Schlenvogt pitched a scoreless seventh inning in relief.

Kingsford took a 1-0 lead in the fourth inning when Noah Voss led off with a single, moved ahead on a pair of passed balls, and scored on a Kyle Johnson infield hit. That hit with the bases loaded glanced off of Popelka's glove and no one had a play.

Escanaba tied the game in the bottom of the inning as the Blues committed three errors. Brandon Punzel was hit on the elbow with a pitch. Runner Craig Kamin scored.

The Eskymos had a chance to score in the fifth inning when Parker LaMarch singled and Punzel, re-entering the game, got an infield hit as LaMarch stole second. But Hunter LaMarch grounded out to third base, ending the threat.

Kingsford's go-ahead run scored in the top of the sixth inning when Anthony Ribera led off with a single. Runner Kevin Sorensen eventually scored on a wild pitch.

It was Senior Night for the Eskymo Class of 2016: Punzel, Logan Lamb, Jack Valentine, and Hunter LaMarch.

The Eskymos will travel to Gladstone for a Memorial Day game against the Braves on Monday. Game time is 6:30, and it will be broadcast live on WCHT-AM (600).

Date	Time	Opponent	Score	Record

4/11	5:00 PM	at Marinette Marines	1 - 4 (L)	0-1

4/15	6:00 PM	at Mauston, Wis.	7 - 4 (W)	1-1

4/16	10:00 AM	at Adams-Friendship, Wis.	4 - 5 (L)	1-2

4/16	2:00 PM	at LaCrosse Logan, Wis.	3 - 5 (L)	1-3

4/20	5:00 PM	Marquette Redmen	3 - 2 (W)	2-3

4/22	4:00 PM	at Kenosha Tremper High School	2 - 14 (L)	2-4

4/23	11:00 AM	at Westosha Central, Wis.	6 - 8 (L)	2-5

4/23	3:00 PM	at Seymour, Wis.	3 - 2 (W)	3-5

4/27	4:00 PM	Superior Central Cougars	12 - 0 (W)	4-5

4/27	6:30 PM	Superior Central Cougars	12 - 2 (W)	5-5

4/28	5:00 PM	Negaunee Miners	9 - 0 (W)	6-5

4/29	4:00 PM	Bark River-Harris Broncos	7 - 0 (W)	7-5

5/3	5:00 PM	Gladstone Braves	3 - 3 (T)	RAIN

5/6	5:00 PM	at Negaunee Miners	14 - 1 (W)	8-5

5/7	1:00 PM	at Shawano Hawks	12 - 2 (W)	9-5

5/7	3:15 PM	at Shawano Hawks	11 - 1 (W)	10-5

5/9	4:00 PM	at Bark River-Harris Broncos	15 - 1 (W)	11-5

5/11	4:00 PM	at Marquette Redmen	9 - 4 (W)	12-5

5/11	6:15 PM	at Marquette Redmen	8 - 5 (W)	13-5

5/12	4:30 PM	at Gladstone Braves	1 - 2 (L)	13-6

5/13	6:00 PM	Houghton Gremlins	11 - 1 (W)	14-6

5/14	12:30 PM	Sault Ste. Marie Blue Devils	9 - 8 (W)	15-6

5/14	7:00 PM	Houghton Gremlins	6 - 2 (W)	16-6

5/18	5:00 PM	Norway Knights	2 - 0 (W)	17-6

5/21	12:30 PM	Kingsford Legion Blues	1 - 2 (L)	17-7

5/21	3:00 PM	Bark River-Harris Broncos	14 - 2 (W)	18-7

5/24	4:00 PM	North Central Jets	- (T)	RAIN

5/24	6:00 PM	North Central Jets	- (T)	RAIN

5/26	6:00 PM	Kingsford Legion Blues	1 - 2 (L)	18-8

5/30	6:30 PM	at Gladstone Braves	3 - 4 (L)	18-9

5/31	5:00 PM	Rudyard Bulldogs	5 - 5 (T)	18-9-1

6/3	12:00 PM	Petoskey Northmen	4 - 3 (W)	19-9-1

6/3	5:00 PM	at Sault Ste. Marie Blue Devils	16 - 3 (W)	20-9-1

6/11	12:30 PM	Fremont High School	0 - 2 (L)	20-10-1