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RIVALRY BATTLE: Indians Cruise Past Escanaba
 ESCANABA---The Gladstone Indians did the little things right Thursday night and posted an easy 7-1 win over the Escanaba Cubs in Upper Peninsula u19 Baseball League game. The junior game was won by Escanaba, 10-4. In the senior game, Drake Forrest handcuffed the Cubs on two hits over five innings. He struck out six batters and walked only two. Forrest got into trouble only once: in the second inning, when he walked two batters and gave up a bad-hop single to Jake Anderson.  Meanwhile, Escanaba pitcher Hunter Lancour worked in and out of trouble He walked seven batters before leaving with arm problems one out into the fifth inning. Gladstone took a 2-0 lead in the first inning when Zach Hanson singled, Dan Martin drew a one-out walk, and Dayton Bernson lifted sacrafice fly. Parker Frappier followed with an RBI double to make it 2-0. In the fourth inning, Bernson and Frappier delivered RBI again with Bernson brining home Hanson with a grounder and Frappier singling home Martin again. Martin scored three of Gladstone's runs after walking twice and being hit by a pitch. He also stole home while the Cubs tried to get Ian Schwalbach on a pick-off attempt at second base. Noah Lancour relieved Hunter Lancour on the mound for Escanaba in the fifth inning and he allowed two runs in the sixth inning. Bernson and Frappier both had hits in that inning. Escanaba's only run came in the bottom of the sixth inning after Frappier relieved Forrest on the mound. Collin Arnt led off with a double and scored on a single by Riley Lamb. It was a flat performance for the Cubs, after Escanaba upset Menominee the night before, 8-2. The Indians, meanwhile, continued to play consistent ball, following up Wednesday night's 6-0 win over Iron Mountain with Thursday's rivalry victory. Escanaba and Gladstone will meet again in Gladstone on Tuesday at 7:00. The game will be broadcast on WCHT-AM (NewsTalk 600) and on-line at www.rrnsports.com.  The J-Cubs scored two runs in the first inning and the Junior Indians were held off the board until the fourth inning, when Nick Martin led off with a double and was squeezed home by Creten. It looked like Creten would get out of the fifth inning in good shape, but an error kept the inning going. Escanaba took advantage with three runs, with Adam Willette singling home one run and Carson Sprader singling home two runs to make it 5-1. In the sixth inning, Escanaba scored five runs against reliever Tyler Darmogray. Jack McEvers drove in two of the runs with a single. Willette and Jarret Olson added sacrafice flies. Gladstone scored three times in the seventh inning against Lawson, who managed to pitch the entire seven innings for Escanaba. Gavin Frossard had an RBI single for Gladstone duing that inning. Creten and Noah Peterson had base hits during that inning as well. Click the thumbnails in the ARTICLE HIGHLIHTS box above to see photos taken by Dayton Miron. Also see videos and hear post-game comments from Forrest and Frappier.  |
