SOUTH BEND, Ind.---The Escanaba Senior Girls Little League All-Star team has met its first goal, and now it's time to have some fun before going to war in the Final Four at the Central Regional Tournament in South Bend, Ind.
Escanaba beat Fleming-Neon, Ky., 9-1, and then turned back Jefferson, Mo., 11-2, to finish pool play with a 2-1 record and qualify for the regional semifinals on Wednesday.
Escanaba Manager Michelle Carne says the girls will have a practice on Tuesday, and then, because there are no games on Tuesday, the girls will have the rest of the day to themselves and their families.
Some girls plan to go to a chocolate factory, some plan to visit the University of Notre Dame, others plan to do some shopping and go to a zoo.
"We'll let them sleep in and then have fun and do what they want with the day," Carne said. "We did what we needed to do to get the wins today."
But then it will be back to work on Wednesday in the regional semifinals against Cicero, Ill., and then, if Escanaba wins, a likely rematch with Indiana District Eleven, which has won this tournament seven years in a row. The World Series is in Sussex County, Delaware, starting next Sunday.
"Everyone's gonna bring their ace for the semifinals and for the championship game," Carne said. "So, it's just who can get the timely hits when they need one that will come out with the regional win."
In Monday's first game, Escanaba scored an unearned run in the top of the first inning, and then had to wiggle out of trouble in the bottom of the inning when Jaymie Frappier walked two batters and gave up a bunt single.
She struck out the next two girls to end the threat.
Escanaba took a 3-0 lead in the second inning on a two-run base hit by Becca Piron.
After Escanaba scored another unearned run in the fifth inning to go ahead 4-0, Fleming-Neon scored its only run in the bottom of the inning on a double by McKenzie Griffin and bunts by Cheyanne Stidham and Whitney Creech.
Escanaba put the game away with five runs in the top of the seventh inning, as the Kentucky defense made several errors and there were four walks and several wild pitches. Frappier threw the first six innings for Escanaba to earn the pitching win. She gave up one run on three hits and three walks.
Frappier struck out eight batters.
Sam Connor pitched the seventh inning after Escanaba had taken a 9-1 lead.
Escanaba then faced the Missouri state champions, and the girls fell behind in the first inning when Frappier allowed two hits and a walk. Escanaba tied the game in the second inning when Jessica Gill walked, went to second on a wild pitch, and scored third.
On the stolen base attempt, the throw went off the third baseman's glove and Gill scored.
A key play happened in the third inning when Escanaba had two on base and Frappier had two strikes on her. Carne told her to bunt, and she did. Frappier got it down in fair territory to score Mackenzie Leisner. The ball popped away from the catcher and Piron also scored. That gave Escanaba a 3-1 lead, and they eventually took a 5-1 lead.
"We've done that a couple of times," Carne said. "We did it once against Kingsford, once versus Edwardsburg, and here today. I think Jaymie was two out of the three.
"She bunted on two strikes and got us the timely runs that we needed."
But in the top of the fourth inning, Jefferson mounted a rally against Connor, who relieved Frappier after the third inning.
A single, hit batsman, and error loaded the bases for the Missouri state champs.
Danielle Kemper came off the bench to get an RBI single, and then, with the bases still loaded in a 5-2 game, Piron picked off Afton Ray at third base.
Connor got the next girl on a grounder, and the Missouri threat was over.
"I think that was a game-changer for us, definitely," Carne said of Piron's throw. "She was able to throw behind the runner. Sam Sailer put a good tag on her. Huge monentum changer in our favor. It was a great throw by Becca."
Escanaba scored four runs in the bottom of the fourth to take a 9-2 lead, with Piron getting an RBI single and Connor driving home two runs on a fly ball that was just out of the reach of the center fielder. Connor had another RBI hit in the sixth inning.
Piron ended up with three hits, a walk, and three runs scored. Connor had three hits and three RBI. Leisner had a hit, a walk, two stolen bases, and two runs scored.
Escanaba will play Cicero, Ill., in the regional semifinal game Wednesday morning at 10:00. The game will be broadcast live on WGKL-FM (105.5) and on-line a www.rrnsports.com. The pre-game show will start at 9:30.
Click the thumbnails in the ARTICLE HIGHLIGHTS box to see photos and videos from the games, and listen to audio replays and highlights.
Escanaba Manager Michelle Carne says the girls will have a practice on Tuesday, and then, because there are no games on Tuesday, the girls will have the rest of the day to themselves and their families.
Some girls plan to go to a chocolate factory, some plan to visit the University of Notre Dame, others plan to do some shopping and go to a zoo.
"We'll let them sleep in and then have fun and do what they want with the day," Carne said. "We did what we needed to do to get the wins today."
Coach Michelle Carne post-game interview.
In Monday's first game, Escanaba scored an unearned run in the top of the first inning, and then had to wiggle out of trouble in the bottom of the inning when Jaymie Frappier walked two batters and gave up a bunt single.
She struck out the next two girls to end the threat.
Escanaba took a 3-0 lead in the second inning on a two-run base hit by Becca Piron.
After Escanaba scored another unearned run in the fifth inning to go ahead 4-0, Fleming-Neon scored its only run in the bottom of the inning on a double by McKenzie Griffin and bunts by Cheyanne Stidham and Whitney Creech.
Becca Piron two-run hit vs Kentucky
Frappier struck out eight batters.
Escanaba then faced the Missouri state champions, and the girls fell behind in the first inning when Frappier allowed two hits and a walk. Escanaba tied the game in the second inning when Jessica Gill walked, went to second on a wild pitch, and scored third.
On the stolen base attempt, the throw went off the third baseman's glove and Gill scored.
A key play happened in the third inning when Escanaba had two on base and Frappier had two strikes on her. Carne told her to bunt, and she did. Frappier got it down in fair territory to score Mackenzie Leisner. The ball popped away from the catcher and Piron also scored. That gave Escanaba a 3-1 lead, and they eventually took a 5-1 lead.
Jaymie Frappier bunt vs Missouri
"She bunted on two strikes and got us the timely runs that we needed."
But in the top of the fourth inning, Jefferson mounted a rally against Connor, who relieved Frappier after the third inning.
Danielle Kemper came off the bench to get an RBI single, and then, with the bases still loaded in a 5-2 game, Piron picked off Afton Ray at third base.
Connor got the next girl on a grounder, and the Missouri threat was over.
"I think that was a game-changer for us, definitely," Carne said of Piron's throw. "She was able to throw behind the runner. Sam Sailer put a good tag on her. Huge monentum changer in our favor. It was a great throw by Becca."
Escanaba scored four runs in the bottom of the fourth to take a 9-2 lead, with Piron getting an RBI single and Connor driving home two runs on a fly ball that was just out of the reach of the center fielder. Connor had another RBI hit in the sixth inning.
Erica Sommers interview.
Escanaba will play Cicero, Ill., in the regional semifinal game Wednesday morning at 10:00. The game will be broadcast live on WGKL-FM (105.5) and on-line a www.rrnsports.com. The pre-game show will start at 9:30.
Click the thumbnails in the ARTICLE HIGHLIGHTS box to see photos and videos from the games, and listen to audio replays and highlights.
