GLADSTONE---"We are close".
That's what Escanaba High School softball coach John LaMarch said after his team lost to the Gladstone Braves, yet again, 6-0, in the first game of a doubleheader on Tuesday in Gladstone. Then, a couple of hours later, LaMarch's Eskymos lost the second game of the twinbill, 2-1, to continue Escanaba's long losing streak to the girls' cross-bay rivals.
The Eskymos continued to be snakebitten on Tuesday, despite playing well.
Gladstone scored six runs in the fourth inning of the first game to break a 0-0 tie, and then the Braves scored two unearned runs in the fifth inning to win the nightcap.
This follows last week's dramatic games that ended with the Braves winning, 1-0, in eleven innings, and then taking the nightcap, 6-4, with a big seventh inning rally.
The Braves have dominated the Eskymos over the past five years, but many of the games have been close, and have been decided by a play or two that went Gladstone's way.
And that's exactly what happened on Tuesday.
In the opener, it was a scoreless tie in the fourth inning as Gladstone's Tinner Sharon and Escanaba's Sam Connor renewed their pitchers' duel from last week's eleven-inning marathon. But this time, Gladstone was able to get the bats going a bit earlier, scoring six runs on four hits, along with two errors.
Morgan Kowalski had an RBI triple after Jess Beaudry's fly ball was dropped in left field.
Then Bridget Becker reached base on a high throw from third base, also scoring another run.
Anna Caramella followed with an RBI single, and then Sam Sailor hit a fly ball for a sacrafice fly. Lauren Parrett's RBI single from the #9 spot made it a 4-0 Braves lead.
Sadie Strasser followed with a two-run double to make it a 6-0 game. That was plenty of runs for Sharon, who has not allowed a run to the Eskymos in 22 innings this month. She scattered five hits, struck out eleven batters, and walked just one in seven innings.
Connor took the loss, allowing six runs (four earned) on eight hits in six innings.
In the second game, Escanaba freshman Katie Ross went to the pitching circle to face Gladstone senior Mikayla Depuydt, who was pounded for four runs in three innings by the Eskymos last week.
But this one would be another pitcher's duel.
Escanaba scored an unearned run in the top of the first inning as Becca Piron got a two-out single and advanced on a hit by Michelle LaFave. On that play, Gladstone's Strasser threw the ball away while trying to get Piron at third. Piron scored to make it 1-0.
It stayed that way until the bottom of the fifth inning. With two out, Gladstone's Parrett hit a ground ball to Anna Burch at shortstop. Burch, filling in for the injured Callie Heller (arm pain), bobbled the ball. The Braves pounced on the opportunity.
Tinner Sharon followed with a base hit, and then Strasser smacked an RBI single to tie the game. Then Hongisto followed with a hit to drive home the go-ahead run, with Burch trapping the ball deep in the hole at short to prevent a second run from scoring.
From there, Depuydt retired the final six Eskymos she faced to preserve the win.
It was a far cry from Depuydt's performance last week against Escanaba, when she was nervous and was yanked from the circle after falling behind, 4-0.
Gladstone improved to 21-2 on the season, and the Braves have finished their regular season schedule. Gladstone honored its five seniors between games on Tuesday.
Escanaba is now 16-11 on the season.
The Eskymos have two make-up doubleheaders against Marquette on the schedule to end the regular season: this Thursday in Escanaba, and next Thursday in Marquette.
Click the thumbnails in the ARTICLE HIGHLIGHTS box above to see photos and videos taken by Mike Dagenais and Nate Bellville, and listen to radio highlights and interviews from the game.
That's what Escanaba High School softball coach John LaMarch said after his team lost to the Gladstone Braves, yet again, 6-0, in the first game of a doubleheader on Tuesday in Gladstone. Then, a couple of hours later, LaMarch's Eskymos lost the second game of the twinbill, 2-1, to continue Escanaba's long losing streak to the girls' cross-bay rivals.
Gladstone scored six runs in the fourth inning of the first game to break a 0-0 tie, and then the Braves scored two unearned runs in the fifth inning to win the nightcap.
This follows last week's dramatic games that ended with the Braves winning, 1-0, in eleven innings, and then taking the nightcap, 6-4, with a big seventh inning rally.
The Braves have dominated the Eskymos over the past five years, but many of the games have been close, and have been decided by a play or two that went Gladstone's way.
And that's exactly what happened on Tuesday.
Anna Caramella great catch for Braves
Morgan Kowalski had an RBI triple after Jess Beaudry's fly ball was dropped in left field.
Sadie Strasser interview
Anna Caramella followed with an RBI single, and then Sam Sailor hit a fly ball for a sacrafice fly. Lauren Parrett's RBI single from the #9 spot made it a 4-0 Braves lead.
Sadie Strasser followed with a two-run double to make it a 6-0 game. That was plenty of runs for Sharon, who has not allowed a run to the Eskymos in 22 innings this month. She scattered five hits, struck out eleven batters, and walked just one in seven innings.
In the second game, Escanaba freshman Katie Ross went to the pitching circle to face Gladstone senior Mikayla Depuydt, who was pounded for four runs in three innings by the Eskymos last week.
But this one would be another pitcher's duel.
Escanaba scored an unearned run in the top of the first inning as Becca Piron got a two-out single and advanced on a hit by Michelle LaFave. On that play, Gladstone's Strasser threw the ball away while trying to get Piron at third. Piron scored to make it 1-0.
It stayed that way until the bottom of the fifth inning. With two out, Gladstone's Parrett hit a ground ball to Anna Burch at shortstop. Burch, filling in for the injured Callie Heller (arm pain), bobbled the ball. The Braves pounced on the opportunity.
Gladstone's Sadie Strasser drives home two runs
From there, Depuydt retired the final six Eskymos she faced to preserve the win.
Gladstone improved to 21-2 on the season, and the Braves have finished their regular season schedule. Gladstone honored its five seniors between games on Tuesday.
Escanaba is now 16-11 on the season.
The Eskymos have two make-up doubleheaders against Marquette on the schedule to end the regular season: this Thursday in Escanaba, and next Thursday in Marquette.
Click the thumbnails in the ARTICLE HIGHLIGHTS box above to see photos and videos taken by Mike Dagenais and Nate Bellville, and listen to radio highlights and interviews from the game.
