Escanaba Junior Girls Roll In State Opener, 17-0

WYOMING, Mich.---One up, one down. The Escanaba Junior girls scored early and often on Saturday, rolling to a 17-0 win over Holton in the first round of the state tournament at Pinery Park in suburban Grand Rapids.

Escanaba scored eight runs in the first inning and ended up with 13 base hits in the game, with ten different girls getting at least one hit.

"Our goal here is not to give up any runs in pool play," Escanaba Coach Jamie Segorski said "If we can do that, then I think we can come out in a favorable spot for bracket play. It's about how the tiebreakers go, and how close this pool is going to be. Our goal is to get all of the 'big name' teams on the same side of the bracket with us."

Callie Heller pitched the first two innings for Escanaba, and retired all six girls she faced...five of them on strikes. Katie Ross threw the next two innings, striking out three batters along the way. She allowed Holton's only base hit...a leadoff single by Emily Larabee in the fourth inning. Larabee was stranded at third base.

Sam Connor pitched a 1-2-3 fifth inning to end the game for Escanaba. The three girls combined to throw ten swtrikeouts amongst the 15 outs that were recorded. And the pitching depth might just give Escanaba an edge if they get to Tuesday's bracket play.

Callie Heller gets a hit, and keeps running

"We're fortunate to have three pitchers who have put in un-Godly amounts of time lover the years," Coach Segorski said. "They've been throwing the ball really well."

The first inning was productive from the start, as Heller got a double and came home as the throw was bad from the outfield. Later in the inning, Rebecca Piron had a two-run double, and JJ Laviolette added a two-run double of her own.

The girls seemed comfortable after those runs crossed the plate.

"It helps," Taylor Segorski said. "Everyone is pumped at that point, and just want to keep going."

And they did keep going.

In the third inning, Escanaba scored three more times...Connor had an RBI hit, another run scored on a wild pitch, and another run scored on an error. Then in the fourth inning, Escanaba scored six more runs as Michelle LaFave had a two-run double, Emily LaFave added an RBI single, and Laviolette had a sacrafice fly.

Last year, many of these same girls played at this same Pinery Park venue for the Major Softball State Tournament., and every game was played in 95-to-100 degree heat. This game was played under 75-degree weather, with a light breeze blowing as well.

Rebecca Piron doubles home JJ Laviolette

"This weather was absolutely fantastic," Coach Segorski said. "Last year, it was as hot as hot can be. We feel very fortunate to play in weather like this."

Escanaba continues pool play with a game Sunday afternoon against Lac St. Clair out of eastern Michigan. Game time is 5:00, and Coach Segorski loves the way the schedule has been set up, with the early game on Saturday and the late Sunday game.

Sunday's game will be broadcast live on WCHT-AM (600) and on-line at www.rrnsports.com, starting at 5:00.

Click the thumbnails in the 'ARTICLE HIGHLIGHTS' box to see more pictures, watch videos, and listen to audio highlights from the game.