SOUTH BEND, Ind.---They were making travel plans for the Senior Softball World Series in Delaware almost from the moment the first pitch was thrown in this week's Central Regional Tournament.
And why not? The Indiana District Eleven senior girls program has won each of the last seven regional championships, so it's good to be prepared.
Who's flying? Who's driving? Should we get a hotel on the beach? What day are you leaving? And all this before the local South Bend team had won the regional.
The Escanaba Senior Girls tried their best to put a dent in the South Bend team's travel plans, but after building an early 3-0 lead, Escanaba lost the championship game, 8-4.
The Eskymos had defeated Cicero, Ill., 10-0 earlier in the day in the semifinals.
In the championship game, Escanaba took the lead in the second inning against an Indiana pitcher, Brooke Versmesse, who they did not get a baserunner against in the loss to the host team during pool play.
This time, the Escanaba girls were ready to go. Jaymie Frappier led off the inning with a base hit, and then Sam Connor followed with a single. With one out, Jessica Gill ripped a single to center to score the first run, then Anna Burch bounced to second with two strikes on her to bring home Escanaba's second run.
Escanaba's third run scored when Alyssa Polequin...with two strikes on her...put down a bunt that was fielded fine, but the first baseman dropped the ball. Escanaba led, 3-0.
But the Escanaba defense sprung a leak, allowing the defending regional champions to get back into the game. Frappier got the first two outs of the bottom of the second inning, and had a fly ball to left that would have made a 1-2-3 inning.
But the ball was dropped, and after a bunt single and another error at third, South Bend had a run.
Then in the third inning, lead-off batter Alyssa Guitierrez was safe on an error at shortstop. She eventually scored on a fly ball by Megan Bonk, and it was 3-2.
Then came the disasterous fourth inning. Versmesse started it with a clean base hit, then after one out, #8 hitter Megan Sink singled with two strikes on her. Then Kelsey Kielman put down a bunt single...the second one to beat the Escanaba defense.
That loaded the bases and Gutierrez hit a fly ball that Leisner tracked down in the center field gap. The fly tied the game at 3-3, and sent #3 hitter Shannon McCarty to the plate.
Frappier got her to pop it up right at the plate. But third baseman Sam Sailer and catcher Becca Piron didn't communicate. They collided at home plate, and the ball dropped in fair territory.
Because there were two out, the runners were going, and two of them scored.
Escanaba Coach Michelle Carne thought one of them helped to cause the colission with some interference. The umpires disagreed.
After that play, things fell apart, as there was another error at short, followed by a two-run single by Hannah Andrysiak.
Just like that, the girls were behind, 8-3.
Leisner gave the girls a bit of life when she slugged a home run over the left fence.
But Escanaba could not get any closer, and the dream of a World Series ended.
Earlier in the day, Escanba mercied the team from Cicero, Ill., 10-0, in six innings.
The Illinois State Champions were playing without their best player, who broke her arm in an outfield colission on Monday. And the team got lost on the drive to South Bend, so they arrived just 30 minutes before the first pitch of the semifinal.
The Cicero team committed eight errors, and Escanaba gradually built a lead as Frappier pitched two innings and Connor threw the last four innings. The two girls combined to throw a no-hitter in those six innings.
Escanaba's big inning offensively was the fourth inning, when the girls scored four times. Frappier's two-run single was the big hit of the inning.
Click the thumbnails in the ARTICLE HIGHLIGHTS box to see photos and videos, and listen to audio highlights and interviews.
And why not? The Indiana District Eleven senior girls program has won each of the last seven regional championships, so it's good to be prepared.
Who's flying? Who's driving? Should we get a hotel on the beach? What day are you leaving? And all this before the local South Bend team had won the regional.
The Eskymos had defeated Cicero, Ill., 10-0 earlier in the day in the semifinals.
In the championship game, Escanaba took the lead in the second inning against an Indiana pitcher, Brooke Versmesse, who they did not get a baserunner against in the loss to the host team during pool play.
This time, the Escanaba girls were ready to go. Jaymie Frappier led off the inning with a base hit, and then Sam Connor followed with a single. With one out, Jessica Gill ripped a single to center to score the first run, then Anna Burch bounced to second with two strikes on her to bring home Escanaba's second run.
Jessica Gill RBI hit vs South Bend
But the Escanaba defense sprung a leak, allowing the defending regional champions to get back into the game. Frappier got the first two outs of the bottom of the second inning, and had a fly ball to left that would have made a 1-2-3 inning.
Then in the third inning, lead-off batter Alyssa Guitierrez was safe on an error at shortstop. She eventually scored on a fly ball by Megan Bonk, and it was 3-2.
Then came the disasterous fourth inning. Versmesse started it with a clean base hit, then after one out, #8 hitter Megan Sink singled with two strikes on her. Then Kelsey Kielman put down a bunt single...the second one to beat the Escanaba defense.
That loaded the bases and Gutierrez hit a fly ball that Leisner tracked down in the center field gap. The fly tied the game at 3-3, and sent #3 hitter Shannon McCarty to the plate.
Sam Sailer interview.
Because there were two out, the runners were going, and two of them scored.
Escanaba Coach Michelle Carne thought one of them helped to cause the colission with some interference. The umpires disagreed.
Just like that, the girls were behind, 8-3.
Leisner gave the girls a bit of life when she slugged a home run over the left fence.
But Escanaba could not get any closer, and the dream of a World Series ended.
Earlier in the day, Escanba mercied the team from Cicero, Ill., 10-0, in six innings.
The Illinois State Champions were playing without their best player, who broke her arm in an outfield colission on Monday. And the team got lost on the drive to South Bend, so they arrived just 30 minutes before the first pitch of the semifinal.
Cicero Illinois girls praised after game.
Escanaba's big inning offensively was the fourth inning, when the girls scored four times. Frappier's two-run single was the big hit of the inning.
Click the thumbnails in the ARTICLE HIGHLIGHTS box to see photos and videos, and listen to audio highlights and interviews.
