ESCANABA----There's no secrets when the Escanaba Eskymos and Gladstone Braves meet on the field, in any sport. But that is especially true when the two teams square off in high school softball. Many of the girls on both teams played together on travel or Little League teams. Some of them have boyfriends who go to the "other" high school.
But when the game starts, it's all-out war, and on Tuesday, there were quite a few battles in the doubleheader at Lemmerand Park. In the end, the Braves found a way to win both games, 2-0 in the opener, and 1-0 in the nightcap.
Eskymo catcher Emily Bogaudo sets up.
"We always have close ballgames with them," Gladstone Head Coach Jerry Smith said. "I think we've had more extra inning games with them than anybody. Both of my pitchers did a spetacular job out there."
"We were happy with our team's effort," Escanaba Head Coach John LaMarch said. "We played great defense, and Codi pitched great in both games. We just need to try to scratch out a run here and there. We've got to give Gladstone credit. They found a way to push three runs across, and well, they got rewarded with two victories."
In the first game, the only runs came in the third inning when Whitney Wells got an infield hit, went to second on a wild pitch, and scored on a single by Christine Sharon. After Katie Becker walked, Jordan Kowalski came through with an RBI single to make it 2-0.
Sharon was crusing along in the circle, allowing just two base hits (both by Codi Jenshak). The Braves, uncharacteristically, made three errors, but the Eskymos never got more than one baserunner on at any given time against Sharon.
Sharon was especially happy because she pitched well against Escanaba.
"It's just more intense," Sharon said. "You just want to go out there and beat them because they're our rival. Everyone knows each other."
Jenshak went all seven innings for Escanaba, allowing seven hits along the way.
"She was changing her speeds real well," Smith said. "She was hitting her corners, and keeping the ball away from us. She did a real good job."
In the second game, it was a tense battle as Alison Austin got the ball for the Braves and Jenshak pitched again for the Eskymos. Both girls seemed to get stronger as the game went on, and it was 0-0 entering the seventh inning.
Kowalski led off with a single, then Nicole Sharon bunter her to second. Grace Zimmerman came in to pinch-run, and with two out, Smith brought Ashley Berthaume off the bench to bat. With a 1-2 count on her, Berthaume lifted a fly ball to center field that landed for a hit and brought in the go-ahead run.
"I had two strikes on me and two outs, and I knew that if I didn't hit it, we were going extra innings," Berthaume said. "There was some hitting that needed to be done. It was right down the middle and I hit right over the shortstop's head. It felt great."
"Can't say enough about her," Smith said. "She did a super job. You haven't been playing steady like everybody else, and that's a pressure situation to go into. She kept her cool, and she did her job."
In the bottom of the seventh, Austin set the Eskymos down in order, and the Braves escaped with a hard-earned win. Gladstone finished 5-0 against Escanaba this season.
Austin allowed just three hits in earning the Game Two victory, while Jenshak yielded five hits in the nightcap. Sharon had three hits in the doubleheader for the Braves.
"It just felt good to to be hitting the ball after going a while without hitting at all," Sharon said. "I just see the ball and hit it, I guess!"
LaMarch was impressed with Gladstone's defense, especially in the outfield.
"Their defense doesn't get enough credit, with all of the seniors they have," LaMarch said. "We take it for granted that, oh, there's a fly ball to center. Our girl hit it on the button, but (Courtney) Nevala makes it look easy. Or Wells makes it look easy. Or Becker makes it look easy. Those girls don't get enough credit for what they do."
Gladstone (24-5-1) played 12 games in the last seven days. But now, the regular season is over for the Braves, and they won't play again until the MHSAA Division Three districts, which the Braves will host for the first time on June 1st.
"That's super," Smith said. "We need the rest."
The Braves' district games will be broadcast live on WCHT-AM (600) and on-line at rrnsports.com, starting with the semifinal at 3:00 on Friday, June 1st.
Escanaba (19-13) will host Marquette in a doubleheader on Thursday. It will be Senior Night and Parent's Night. Game time is 4:00.
Click the thumbnails in the "ARTICLE HIGHLIGHTS" box to see more pictures. and listen to audio highlights and interviews from the game.
Thanks to GHS senior Nick Weinert for taking those photos.
But when the game starts, it's all-out war, and on Tuesday, there were quite a few battles in the doubleheader at Lemmerand Park. In the end, the Braves found a way to win both games, 2-0 in the opener, and 1-0 in the nightcap.
Eskymo catcher Emily Bogaudo sets up.
"We were happy with our team's effort," Escanaba Head Coach John LaMarch said. "We played great defense, and Codi pitched great in both games. We just need to try to scratch out a run here and there. We've got to give Gladstone credit. They found a way to push three runs across, and well, they got rewarded with two victories."
In the first game, the only runs came in the third inning when Whitney Wells got an infield hit, went to second on a wild pitch, and scored on a single by Christine Sharon. After Katie Becker walked, Jordan Kowalski came through with an RBI single to make it 2-0.
Sharon was crusing along in the circle, allowing just two base hits (both by Codi Jenshak). The Braves, uncharacteristically, made three errors, but the Eskymos never got more than one baserunner on at any given time against Sharon.
Tinner Sharon was in control all game.
"It's just more intense," Sharon said. "You just want to go out there and beat them because they're our rival. Everyone knows each other."
Jenshak went all seven innings for Escanaba, allowing seven hits along the way.
"She was changing her speeds real well," Smith said. "She was hitting her corners, and keeping the ball away from us. She did a real good job."
In the second game, it was a tense battle as Alison Austin got the ball for the Braves and Jenshak pitched again for the Eskymos. Both girls seemed to get stronger as the game went on, and it was 0-0 entering the seventh inning.
Listen to Ashley Berthaume's hit.
"I had two strikes on me and two outs, and I knew that if I didn't hit it, we were going extra innings," Berthaume said. "There was some hitting that needed to be done. It was right down the middle and I hit right over the shortstop's head. It felt great."
In the bottom of the seventh, Austin set the Eskymos down in order, and the Braves escaped with a hard-earned win. Gladstone finished 5-0 against Escanaba this season.
Austin allowed just three hits in earning the Game Two victory, while Jenshak yielded five hits in the nightcap. Sharon had three hits in the doubleheader for the Braves.
"It just felt good to to be hitting the ball after going a while without hitting at all," Sharon said. "I just see the ball and hit it, I guess!"
LaMarch was impressed with Gladstone's defense, especially in the outfield.
John LaMarch post-game interview.
Katie Becker in right field Tuesday.
"That's super," Smith said. "We need the rest."
The Braves' district games will be broadcast live on WCHT-AM (600) and on-line at rrnsports.com, starting with the semifinal at 3:00 on Friday, June 1st.
Escanaba (19-13) will host Marquette in a doubleheader on Thursday. It will be Senior Night and Parent's Night. Game time is 4:00.
Click the thumbnails in the "ARTICLE HIGHLIGHTS" box to see more pictures. and listen to audio highlights and interviews from the game.
Thanks to GHS senior Nick Weinert for taking those photos.
