Esky Junior Girls Dominate Again; Finals Sunday
ESCANABA----The Escanaba Junior Girls (age 13-14) turned in their second straight dominating performance against a Dickinson County team on Saturday. Escanaba whipped Iron Mountain North, 17-0, one day after smacking Kingsford, 14-1. The result sends the girls into Sunday's district final, and it will be a rematch with Kingsford, after the Maize and Blue won twice on Saturday in the loser's bracket. Escanaba took a 4-0 lead in the first inning on Saturday, with two of the runs coming in on a double by J.J. Laviolette.
Callie Heller in the pitcher's circle.
Rebecca Piron had three hits (including two doubles) and three RBI for Escanaba. Sam Connor added three more base hits, and Callie Heller bunted three times (twice for hits). Escanaba had an unofficial total of 14 hits in the game. Kaitlyn Johnson took the loss for Iron Mountain, allowing nine runs in 4 2/3 innings of work. Escanaba used three pitchers: Katie Ross, Connor, and Heller. All pitched three girls pitched two innings apiece and allowed a combined one base hit. Iron Mountain lost to Kingsford, 10-6, later in the day and was eliminated. On Friday, Escanaba scored six runs in the first inning and cruised to a 14-1 win over the Kingsford All-Stars Friday night at Lemmerand Park. Heller, Ross, and Connor combined to allow just three base hits in the game that ended on the mercy rule in the fifth inning. Offensively, Michelle LaFave and Piron each had four base hits while Connor chipped in with three hits. In Friday's first game, Iron Mountain North edged Norway, 8-6. Escanaba will face Kingsford for the district championship Sunday afternoon. Game time is 2:00, with another game at 4:00 if Kingsford wins. The game will be broadcast live on WCHT-AM (600), and on-line at www.rrnsports.com. Click the thumbnails in the "ARTICLE HIGHLIGHTS" box to see photos from the game, courtesy of Jean Malueg.
Michelle LaFave at the plate during Friday night's game against Kingsford.
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