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Escanaba Girls Win Sectional; Head To State Finals
 IRONWOOD---The Escanaba Major Little League All-Stars (age 11-12) won twice over Penokee Range, 3-1 and 10-0, to take the sectional championship Saturday in Ironwood. The girls now advance to the state tournament in downstate Sanford. Aubrey Stropich pitched a complete-game one-hitter in the opener, then she and Anna Boutilier combined to throw a no-hitter in the second game that ended in four innings.  Two of them were on the infield (Izzy Braun in the first inning and Carley McInerney in the fifth inning). Katie Lamb's RBI double in the second inning gave Escanaba a 2-0 lead, and then she scored on a wild pitch to make it 3-0. Penokee Range scored an unearned run in the third inning, and had a chance to tie the game in the fourth when Melissa DiGiorgio smoked a double and Kaedyn Hendricks drew a walk. But Stropich got Prodineau to ground out to third, ending the threat. Stropich struck out eleven batters in the first game, walking three. In the second game, McInerney tripled in the opening inning and scored on a wild pitch. Then Escanaba sent 12 batters to the plate in the second inning, scoring six runs, with Stropich helping her own caused with a fly-ball hit to bring home two runs. Emma Parlet had an RBI single, in fact, she had two base hits in that second inning. Escanaba, which won its district championship last week over Kingsford, now advances to the state tournament in Sanford, located just outside of Midland. The team's first game is against the host team, Bullock Creek, at 3:30 on Wednesday. It will be broadcast live on WCHT-AM (NewsTalk 600), and at www.rrnsports.com. Click the AUDIO buttons above to hear post-game comments from Coach Todd Milwkiewicz and Aubrey Stropich.  |
