Escanaba Major Boys Drop First Game At States 8-0

ST. CLAIR, Mich.---The Escanaba Major Little League (age 11-12) All-Star baseball team lost its state tournament opener, 8-0, to Taylor North Central Friday in St. Clair.

Escanaba had two runners on in each of the first two innings, but failed to score. And then after a scoress first three innings, Taylor scored eight runs over the final three innings to take early command of Pool A in the 16-team tournament.

"If we jump out on them, then maybe they tighten up," Escanaba Manager Paul LaChance said. "But, they got us out when they needed to get us out. In the districts, we got timely hits. Timely hits all over the place. Today, it didn't happen."

In the first inning, after Ben Johnson set down Taylor's first three batters, Bryson Lancour got a one-out single and Bon LaChance was safe when the Taylor pitcher threw the ball away to first bases. But with two on and two out, Johnson struck out swinging to end the inning.

In the second inning, Mattie Kaven got an infield hit and Johnny Weinert was hit by a pitch to lead off the inning. A wild pitch moved them both into scoring position, but the next three Escanaba batters struck out to keep the game tied at 0-0.

Taylor got a lead-off walk to start the third inning, but Escanaba turned a slick 4-6-3 double play, with Weinert, Lancour, and Kaven turning the twin-killing. Johnson had a shutout going, but was pulled from the mound after reaching the 35-pitch threshhold.

That's so that he would be able to pitch again on one day's rest. LaChance came in to pitch and got the final out of the third inning, but Escanaba went out 1-2-3 in the bottom of the inning as Taylor also decided to use multiple pitchers.

In the fourth inning, LaChance struck out the leadoff batter but hit the #3 hitter, Calbin Gonzalez. Jordan Footlander then lofted a fly ball to right field that twisted the Escanaba outfielder around, going over his head for a double.

A wild pitch scored the first run, then three straight walks forced in another run to make it 2-0.

Lancour became the third pitcher and after yielding that bases-loaded walk, was able to get a grounder back to the mound, keeping it a 2-0 game.

Escanaba got a baserunner on an error in the bottom of the fourth, but stranded him, and Taylor broke the game open with three runs in the fifth inning. One of them was on a solo home run by Gonzalez, and the other two on a two-out base hit by Dylan Grimm after an Escanaba infield error kept the inning going for Taylor.

Then in the sixth inning, with Gavin Sommers now on the mound, two more errors gave Taylor baserunners. And Gonzalez cashed in with a long three-run homer, his second round-tripper of the game, making it an 8-0 deficit.

Escanaba got a base hit from Eli Gardner, but could not break the goose egg, striking out a total of twelve times in the game.

Also on Friday, Bay City Northwest routed Petoskey, 14-0, in four innings; and West Branch defeated Dexter, 6-1.

Escanaba continues pool play on Saturday afternoon at 2:30 against fellow U.P. team Portage Lake out of Houghton-Hancock.

The Portage Lake team also struggled in its opener on Friday, losing to Ash-Carleton, 5-1.

Saturday's game will be broadcast live on WCHT-AM (NewsTalk 600) and on-line at www.rrnsports.com.

Click the thumbnails in the ARTICLE HIGHLIGHTS box above to see photos, videos taken by Andy Johnson. Also listen to our pre-game interview with Escanaba's on LaChance by clicking the AUDIO button.