OH, SO CLOSE! Esky Girls Fall In Extra Innings 6-5

SANFORD, Mich.---The Escanaba Major Little League All-Star softball team (age 11-12) was one out way from a state championship on Saturday, but lost a heartbreaker in extra innings to Hudsonville, 6-5, in downstate Sanford.

The Escanaba girls came oh, so close, against a Hudsonville team that had not allowed a run in four state tournament games, winning all of them by the mercy rule.

Escanaba pitcher Aubrey Stopich threw her best game of the All-Star run, keeping the powerful Hudsonville batting order in check, with the exception of the #2 and #3 hitters, who had five base hits against her. But it was the defense behind Stropich that fell apart in the final inning, handing the girls a bitter loss when victory seemed assured.

Hudsonville, the District Nine champions from the Grand Rapids area, scored in the first inning when Megan Beemer hit a double down the left field line and Mabrae Simcox hit a change-up into center field for an RBI single.

Escanaba tied the game in the second inning when Stropich ripped a triple and scored on a pop fly base hit on the infiled by Anna Parlett. Then in the third inning, Escanaba took the lead when Katie Lamb singled and scored on an error. Anna Boutilier later brought Carley McInerney home with a ground ball on the infield, and it was a 3-1 game.

In the bottom of the inning, Hudsonville closed to within 3-2 when Beemer got her second double of the game and scored on another base hit by Simcox.

Escanaba took a 5-2 lead in the top of the fourth when Izzy Braun and Stropich both got base hits to start the inning, and Taylor Forvilly came off the bench to dump one into right field.

The ball skipped past the outfielder and two runs came in to score.

Escanaba had a chance to expand the lead even farther, but the next three batters went out.

Then in the fifth inning, McInernery walked but was thrown out trying to steal.

In the top of the sixth inning, Braun ripped a fly ball ticketed toward the right field corner, but Josie Weber made an outstanding catch to keep it a 5-2 game.

That brought the game into the bottom of the sixth, and Escanaba was three outs away from a stunning upset, and a trip to the regional in Indianapolis.

Elly Coopman led off by hitting a ground ball that went through the second baseman's legs for Escanaba's first error of the game. Anna Savola had a great at-bat for Hudsonville, getting a base hit with two strikes on her to keep it going.

Paige Ryaarsdam then came through with a two-run single, and all of a sudden, it was even more intense, with the Escanaba lead cut to 5-4.

Stropich was able to get the next two girls to ground out, but on the second play, the Hudsonville runner advanced to third.

Instead of holding the ball at first base after the out was recorded, the throw went over to third base and it was in the dirt for an error.

That brought in the tying run. Stropich was able to get the third out, but the damage was done.

In the top of the seventh, with two out, Brooklyn Pendergraft smacked a double to the fence, and McInerney got an infield hit.

With runners at second and third and two out, Boutillier hit a pop fly on the infield that was hauled in by Hudsonville second baseman Avery Hodson, on a nice sliding catch.

In the bottom of the seventh, Stropich was not allowed to pitch anymore because she had already thrown six innings, plus six innings in Escanaba's semifinal win over Grosse Pointe earlier in the day. That maxed out her daily innings limit at 12.

Boutilier, who had not pitched since a brief appearance in the sectionals, had to face the top of the Hudsonville order. And for the second straight inning, the leadoff batter reached on an infield error, this time on a high throw to first base.

That brought up Beemer.

Weber was the special pinch runner at first base, and she promptly stole second, and went to third on a passed ball.

Beemer, with a 3-0 count on her, smacked her fourth base hit of the game, up the middle, for a walk-off base hit that sent Hudsonville to the regional tournament.

Earlier in the day, Escanaba beat Grosse Pointe, 9-1, with a six-run first inning taking all suspence out of the semifinal game.

Maddi Fulsher had the big two-run double for Escanaba during that rally.

But the inability to finish that game off on the four-inning mercy rule ultimately cost Escanaba, as Stropich could not finish what she started in the championship game once it went to extra innings.

Hudsonville had mercied Tecumseh, 10-0, in Saturday's other semifinal game.

Click the above headline to see photos, videos taken by Sheri Lehto. Click the AUDIO buttons to listen back to the exciting championship game, and comments from Coach Todd Milkiewicz.