Escanaba Girls Win Again; Cruise Into State Final 4
SANFORD, Mich.---The Escanaba Major Little League All-Star softball team scored seven runs in the third inning and beat West Branch, 10-1, at the state tournament Thursday in downstate Sanford. The win was Escanaba's second straight in the tournament, and coupled with Tecumseh's 6-4 win over Midland Bullock Creek, guaranteed the girls a spot in Saturday's semifinals. Escanaba trailed, 1-0, in the third inning, after a walk and an error gave West Branch the early lead. But the Upper Peninsula champions sent eleven batters to the plate in the top of the third inningm with six of them getting base hits, and seven crossing the plate. It was #9 hitter Brooklyn Pendergraft who got the team going for a second straight day as she got a two-run base hit to give Escanaba a 2-1 lead. She advanced on an outfielder error and scored on a hit by Carley McInerney. Anna Boutillier followed with an RBI hit, and pitcher Aubrey Stropich helped her own cause with a two-run hit to the fence. McKenzie Engebretson added a run-scoring triple in the sixth inning. Stropich allowed only three baserunners: the first inning walk, a third inning single by Kirsten Nuebecker, and a leadoff triple by Addy Ludwig in the fifth inning. Stropich faced just one batter above the minimum and struck out seven of the 19. The Escanaba-Tecumseh game on Friday will determine the pool champion. It starts at 3:30 and will be broadcast on WCHT-AM (600) and www.rrnsports.com. Then it's on to Saturday morning at 10:00 for the state semifinals. That game will be broadcast on WGKL-FM (105.5) and at www.radioresultsnetwork.com/kool-105/ Click the thumbnails in the ARTICLE HIGHLIGHTS box above to see photos, videos, and hear interviews with Stropich, Boutillier, and Coach Todd. |