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Eskymos Bounce Back; Win Doubleheader On Road
 NEGAUNEE---The Escanaba High School baseball team bounced back from a disappointing loss to Gladstone by beating the Negaunee Miners, 6-3 and 15-3, Friday evening at Negaunee's IronTown Field. But the opening game victory was far from easy as the Eskymos trailed late in the game, 2-0, before rallying to win tie the game and then pick up the win in extra innings.  It was the only base hit that left the infield against Eskymo pitcher Courage Krueger, and it almost was enough for a Negaunee win. Tanner Peterson was tough on the Eskymo hitters for a second straight outing. He lost a heartbreaker to the Eskymos in a six-inning walk-off last week, and in this one, he had a shutout going until an error led to an Aaron Young RBI single in the fifth inning. These are six-inning games, so the Miners were three outs away from a win when Peterson walked Johnny Schlenvogt to start the inning. Then Grant LaMarche, who had the walk-off win against Peterson last Friday, surprised him this time with a perfect bunt up the third base line. That base hit put two men on base, and Krueger bunted both of them into scoring position. Zeke Strand was hit by a pitch to load the bases, then Jake LaFave's ground ball brought in the tying run. Peterson got Tyler Lawson to bounce out to end the inning.  In the seventh, Peterson gave way to Munson on the mound, and the Eskymos took advantage. Josh Bruntjens walked to start the inning and was bunted to second by Craig Kamin. Aaron Young followed with a walk, then Schlenvogt smoked one to right field that hit the ground and bounced over the fence for a ground rule double. That put the Eskymos in front, then LaMarche followed with a two-run double to right field. Strand's infield hit brought in Escanaba's sixth run. Negaunee scored an unearned run in the bottom of the seventh inning. Krueger went all seven innings, allowing three runs (one earned) on three hits, with two of those hits coming on the infield. He struck out four and walked just two. "I was excited," Krueger said. "I was ready to go. I knew I had to mix in my curve and my change-up, even though they aren't as good as my fastball, I knew I had to mix it in." In the second game, there was no suspense, as the Eskymos scored seven runs in the top of the first inning. Kamin led the way at the plate in the nightcap with three hits, two runs batted in, and two runs scored. Young had a single, double, RBI, and scored twice.  Negaunee's Carter Richardson had a two-run double in the second inning. Austin Willette threw the first two innings and Bruntjens threw the final two for the Eskymos. Negaunee used four pitchers. Escanaba (7-2) returns home on Saturday for a single game against Marquette. Game time is set for 2:15, after the junior varsity game wraps up. Catch the broadcast on WCHT-AM (NewsTalk 600), and on-line at www.rrnsports.com. Click the thumbnails in the ARTICLE HIGHLIGHTS box above to see photos and video highlights, and hear our interview with Courage Krueger.  |
