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LATE NIGHT WALK-OFF: Cubs Outlast Bark River
 ESCANABA---Noah Lancour's RBI single in the bottom of the ninth inning helped the Escanaba Cubs surprise the Bark River Bucs, 9-8, in the Gregg Johnson Memorial Tournament late Saturday night at Al Ness Field. The result sent Gladstone into the tournament semifinals after Ben Kelly fired a one-hitter to lead Gladstone past Marquette, 1-0, earlier in the day.  For Escanaba, it was the first win of the season for a very young team that had lost its previous three games by a combined score of 32-3. Lancour's RBI single came after the Cubs had failed to get the winning run home from third base in both the seventh and eigthth innings. "I saw that Duner (Englund) was coming on the mound and I knew he was a pretty good pitcher," Lancour said. "So, I just had to get a hit somewhere, and it worked out. He threw me a fastball and it was like chest-high. I just swung and grounded it, and (baserunner) Conner (Aiken) was a little hesitant on the play because he didn't know it was through or not." It also happened after Bark River had built a 6-2 lead before the Cubs chipped away to force extra innings. Once the game reached extra innings, the International Tiebreaker rule was invoked, where each half-inning began with a runner on second base. In the eighth inning, Bark River took control as Adam Cappaert was hit by a pitch to lead off (with a man already on second). That ended the day on the mound for Drew Rodman, who threw seven innings in his Cubs debut. Grant LaMarche took over, and gave up an RBI single to Kadin Mustafa. After intentionally walking Duner Englund, Logan Heim lifted a sacrifice fly to put the Bucs ahead, 8-6.  LaMarche then ripped his fourth base hit of the game, and Riley Lamb drew a walk. Zeke Strand then lifted a fly ball to center field that would have tied the game on a sac fly, but the Cubs got a bonus when it was dropped. The game was tied at 8-8 but the Cubs could get get the run home with a bunt and a strikeout ending the threat. In the ninth inning, LaMarche set the Bucs down in order, with Lancour catching a line drive off the bat of Cole Ray in left field. In the bottom of the ninth, with Connor Aiken on second base, Tyler Lawson bunted, moving the winning run to third. That brought up Lancour, who had struck out three straight times. But this time, with the Bucs infield in, Lancour hit a hard chopped that second baseman Adam Cappaert dove for. He blocked it, but had no play at the plate, and the Cubs celebrated. "We were the underdogs because we were 0-3," Lancour said. "But, we beat Bark River!" Earlier in the day, Bark River lost to a talented Eastern U.P. Travelers team. 13-0.  DePere went 3-1 and also advanced to the semifinals. Their only loss was to Midland on the opening night of the tournament. The EUP Travelers went 4-0 in Pool A, with Gladstone (2-2) beating out Marquette on a tiebreaker to take the second spot in Pool A. Semifinal #1 will see Gladstone host Midland Berryhill at 10:30 Sunday morning, while in Escanaba at 11, DePere and EUP will battle. The championship game is scheduled for 1:00 in Escanaba, and that game will be broadcast on WCHT-AM (600) and on-line at www. rrnsports.com. SATURDAY'S OTHER SCORES Marinette, Wis. 6, Copper Country 1 DePere, Wis. 14, Copper Country 1 Midland Berryhill 5, Marinette, Wis. o Midland Berryhill 15, Sault Ste. Marie "A" 3 Gladstone 1, Marquette 0 Eastern U.P. Travelers 6, Marquette 2 Eastern U.P. Travelers 13, Bark River 0 Click the thumbnails in the ARTICLE HIGHLIGHTS box above to see photos from Saturday's action, a video of the Cubs' winning play, and videos from the EUP-Bark River and Berryhill-Marinette games. Also click the AUDIO buttons to listen to interviews with Lancour and LaMarche.  |
