WAUPUN, Wis.---The Escanaba Eskymos scored seven runs in the sixth inning to rally past the Beloit Turner Trojans, 10-5, in the opening game of the DeBoer's Diamond Classic Friday night in Waupun, Wis.
The win moved the Eskymos into the winner's bracket of the eight-team tournament, and it meant that the boys would get to play on Saturday on the main field, which has artificial turf and is part of a beautiful $16 million sports complex.
But unfortunately, late Friday night, Eskymo Coach Kirk Schwalbach got a text that the rest of the tournament has been cancelled because the forecast calls for poor weather on Saturday.
And so, the boys will come home Saturday, instead of playing two games.
Schwalbach hoped that tournament officials would wait until Saturday morning to make that decision, and was disappointed to receive the late-night cancellation text.
But Schwalbach was not disappointed with the play of his team against a good Beloit squad, pounding out 14 hits, including eight hits in that big sixth inning.
"I'm proud of the kids. They really battled," Schwalbach said. "They hung in there, and at (down) 4-3, we had a big inning. Kudos to the kids. Baseball is a funny game. It's contagious, when things are going good, or they're going bad."
"Things went well that inning," Schwalbach continued. "The kids saw the ball well and just put that bat on it , and the ball fell where we wanted it to."
"It was a 'team' performance," said Eskymo senior Sean Bissell. "Everybody just getting into it on the bench. I mean, we got like five base hits in a row right there. People came in 'clutch'. Everybody. I can't name just one guy. It was everybody."
Escanaba trailed, 4-3, with two out and nobody on base in the sixth inning.
Lewis Ostrander dumped one into right field, near the foul line, for a base hit. Corey McInerney worked Beloit starting pitcher Seth Smith for a walk, putting two men on.
Beloit went to the bullpen, bringing Zach Virgin to the hill. He was greated by Tyler Hardwick's clutch base hit that tied the game at 4-4. And that brought up the top of the Eskymo batting order.
Bissell came through with an RBI single to put the Eskymos in front, 5-4.
It was Bissell's third hit of the game, and his second run batted in.
And the hits just kept on coming. Tyler Skufca drove in a run with a hit. Justin Popelka hit one to right that the wind took and the Trojan right fielder fell down. So, that brought in another run. Then Brandon Punzel ripped one to left to drive home a run.'
Then Logan Lamb got ahold of one and smacked it for an RBI. It was 8-4.
Beloit went to the bullpen again, bringing in Sam Behm to pitch. And after Hunter LaMarch drew a walk, Jack Valentine welcomed Behm with a two-run single. That pretty much put the game out of reach at 10-4.
Rain started to fall in that inning, but Popelka pitched well, allowing just one run in the sixth inning. He tossed four innings in relief of Skufca, allowing four hits and one walk.
"It was a good game," Popelka said. "I was excited. I just threw a lot of fastballs. The change-ups and curves weren't working quite as good for me today. The first-pitch strikes weren't the best, either. But I just battled through, and was able to get the victory."
Escanaba improved to 5-1 on the season.
With the decision to cancel the rest of this tournament, the Eskymos will now be off until Tuesday, when they make the short trip to Gladstone to face the Braves.
That game will start at 4:30 from the Gladstone Sports Park. It will be broadcast live on WCHT-AM (600), and on-line at www.rrnsports.com.
Click the thumbnails in the ARTICLE HIGHLIGHTS box to see photos and videos taken by Sandi Young, and to hear highlights and interviews.
The win moved the Eskymos into the winner's bracket of the eight-team tournament, and it meant that the boys would get to play on Saturday on the main field, which has artificial turf and is part of a beautiful $16 million sports complex.
And so, the boys will come home Saturday, instead of playing two games.
Schwalbach hoped that tournament officials would wait until Saturday morning to make that decision, and was disappointed to receive the late-night cancellation text.
But Schwalbach was not disappointed with the play of his team against a good Beloit squad, pounding out 14 hits, including eight hits in that big sixth inning.
"I'm proud of the kids. They really battled," Schwalbach said. "They hung in there, and at (down) 4-3, we had a big inning. Kudos to the kids. Baseball is a funny game. It's contagious, when things are going good, or they're going bad."
Sean Bissell RBI hit makes it 5-4
"It was a 'team' performance," said Eskymo senior Sean Bissell. "Everybody just getting into it on the bench. I mean, we got like five base hits in a row right there. People came in 'clutch'. Everybody. I can't name just one guy. It was everybody."
Lewis Ostrander dumped one into right field, near the foul line, for a base hit. Corey McInerney worked Beloit starting pitcher Seth Smith for a walk, putting two men on.
Beloit went to the bullpen, bringing Zach Virgin to the hill. He was greated by Tyler Hardwick's clutch base hit that tied the game at 4-4. And that brought up the top of the Eskymo batting order.
Bissell came through with an RBI single to put the Eskymos in front, 5-4.
It was Bissell's third hit of the game, and his second run batted in.
And the hits just kept on coming. Tyler Skufca drove in a run with a hit. Justin Popelka hit one to right that the wind took and the Trojan right fielder fell down. So, that brought in another run. Then Brandon Punzel ripped one to left to drive home a run.'
Logan Lamb hit makes it 8-4
Beloit went to the bullpen again, bringing in Sam Behm to pitch. And after Hunter LaMarch drew a walk, Jack Valentine welcomed Behm with a two-run single. That pretty much put the game out of reach at 10-4.
Rain started to fall in that inning, but Popelka pitched well, allowing just one run in the sixth inning. He tossed four innings in relief of Skufca, allowing four hits and one walk.
Escanaba improved to 5-1 on the season.
With the decision to cancel the rest of this tournament, the Eskymos will now be off until Tuesday, when they make the short trip to Gladstone to face the Braves.
That game will start at 4:30 from the Gladstone Sports Park. It will be broadcast live on WCHT-AM (600), and on-line at www.rrnsports.com.
Click the thumbnails in the ARTICLE HIGHLIGHTS box to see photos and videos taken by Sandi Young, and to hear highlights and interviews.
