WALK-OFF WIN: Bruntjens Hit Caps Eskymo Rally

ESCANABA---The Escanaba Eskymos came from behind to beat the Rudyard Bulldogs, 6-5, Friday, at Al Ness Field. Josh Bruntjens had the walk-off base hit with two out in the bottom of the seventh inning won it after Aaron Young's RBI double in the fifth tied it.

The game was delayed for about a half hour in the sixth inning when Eskymo center fielder Courage Krueger collided with right fielder Justin Malmstead when both went running after a fly ball. Malmstead caught it, and Krueger crashed into him, injuring his back and neck.

In the end, Krueger ended up with a concussion and bruised ribs.

As a precaution, the game was stopped whule an ambulance was called. A stretcher was brought onto the field and Krueger was wheeled off of the field and taken to the hospital.

That's what brought Bruntgens into the game, and the freshman came through, and the Eskymos celebrated their most dramatic victory of the season.

"I was nervous because I didn't want to do bad in Ridge's spot, because he was having a good game," Bruntjens said. "I just didn't want to mess up. I was just thinking 'hit the ball', basically."

"I was looking at Coach Hanson at first, because I was thinking that we were still playing," Bruntjens continued. "And then he looked at me, and he was smiling, and he said 'how does it feel, buddy? You won it'. Then I looked over and everyone started tackling me. It felt amazing."

On the play before Bruntjens' winning hit, Austin Willette made a bid for the game-winner with a fly ball of his own, but Bulldog center fielder Jakob Steikar made a diving catch to keep the game.

The inning started with a base hit by Cody Frappier, his second of the game. Young beat out an infield hit to put two men on, setting up the winning play. "I just had to beat it out, so I wouldn't get two outs on us," Young said.

Young had ripped an RBI double to the center field fence in the fifth inning to tie the game at 5-5, after the Eskymos blew a 4-1 lead and fell behind by a run.

"Right before I went out to home plate, I was like, 'I've got to tie up this game'," Young said. "It was 4-5. I had Cody on first. I just put all I had into it, put it out to the fence, and took off."

Rudyard threatened to take the lead in the top of the seventh inning when Steikar led off with a single, stole second, and went to third on a throwing error.

But when the Bulldogs tried to squeeze home the tying run, Gavin Smith popped up the bunt. The ball flew to Eskymo third baseman Johnny Schlenvogt, who caught it, and tagged third base for the inning-ending double play.

Parker LaMarch earned the pitching victory in relief, throwing five innings, allowing two runs on three hits.

Craig Kamin started the game and pitched two full innings, allowing just one pop fly base hit. He walked six batters, however, and three of them scored.

Rudyard (12-9) stole six bases and had three successful bunts in a losing effort.

Cody Coffey took the loss on the mound for the Bulldogs, throwing six innings. He was relieved twice by James Burton, who allowed Bruntjens' game-winning hit.

Escanaba improved to 15-12 on the season. The Eskymos will host Negaunee at 10:00 Saturday morning, and then will play Rudyard again at 2:30. The Escanaba-Rudyard game will be broadcast live on WCHT-AM (NewsTalk 600) and rrnsports.com.

Click the thumbnails in the ARTICLE HIGHLIGHTS box above to see photos taken by Sandi Young. Also, click the AUDIO buttons to hear interviews with Bruntjens and Young, and hear replays of the big plays.