Cubs Overcome Errors To Win Tournament Opener

HANCOCK---The Escanaba Cubs American Legion Baseball team fell behind, 8-2, on Thursday thanks to six defensive errors. But they rallied to outlast the Eastern U.P. Travelers from Sault Ste. Marie, 15-13, at the U.P. Zone Tournament in Hancock.

And the Cubs got a big boost from an unlikely source: Jake LaFave, who hasn't played very much this summer.

He came off the bench to get three base hits, score three runs, drive home a run, and make a diving catch in right field to help the Cubs make the comeback.

Justin Popelka's two-run base hit gave Escanaba a 2-0 lead, but the Sault boys put together a six-run second inning to take the lead.

Owen Rawlings had a two-run double and Drew Larson had an RBI single during that inning, and the Cubs made three errors that inning, all by the same player. The Soo scored single runs in the third and fourth innings, also because of errors, and another RBI hit by Larson.

The good news for Escanaba was that the EUP stranded three men on base in both the third and fourth innings, and left two more on in the fifth.

With not much going right, Cubs Manager Jon Bintner went to the bench, bringing in LaFave to replace his struggling shortstop. LaFave went to right field, and Justin Popelka, who was getting a semi-rest out in right field, had to come in and play short.

LaFave helped to field a nine-run Cubs fourth inning that turned an 8-2 deficit into an 11-8 lead. He led off the fourth with a hit, then got another single when he came up later in that very long inning. Cody Frappier smoked a two-run double, Logan Lamb ripped a two-run single, and Popelka added another two-run base hit to make it 11-8.

Escanaba added four runs in the fifth inning, with LaFave adding his third straight hit, this one bringing home a run. Noah Lancour also got an RBI single in that inning.

Johnny Schlenvogt got the start on the mound, but didn't make it past the second inning, walking four batters and being charged with two runs.

Lancour did a nice job in relief, throwing 109 pitches, giving up eight runs, with only three earned, in five innings.

Sam Hall tried to close it out, but he gave up three runs in the seventh inning. Popelka had to come in for the final out, getting a three-pitch strikeout to earn the save.

Escanaba takes on Gladstone Friday afternoon at 2:00 in Hancock. The game will be broadcast live on WCHT-AM (NewsTalk 600), and on www.rrnsports.com.

Click the thumbnails in the ARTICLE HIGHLIGHTS box above to see photos and videos taken by Sheila Olsen, and hear LaFave's radio interview.